Los Angeles Rams keep spurning first-round picks with all-in approach
After trading away two future first-round picks to land Matthew Stafford, the Los Angeles Rams won’t have a Day 1 pick in the NFL Draft until 2024.
Since 2016, the Los Angeles Rams have not had an opportunity to choose a player on the first day of the NFL Draft, largely due to their aggressive nature in the trade market. More often than not, the trades are made with the idea of mortgaging their future to win immediately in a results-oriented business that is the NFL.
Lo and behold, they did it yet again in dealing for quarterback Matthew Stafford. In return, the Rams are sending the Lions first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, a 2021 third-round pick and quarterback Jared Goff. This means the Rams won’t have a first-round pick until 2024 unless they trade for one.
It’s almost unbelievable to see this long trend from the Rams but it gives you the sense that the Rams trust in their talent evaluators and working to stay under the salary cap. There are times, however, that it’s not always a good deal.
The Los Angeles Rams need first-round picks to replenish the talent on their roster.
Teams won’t always hit on every first-round pick they have. However, even though teams such as the Rams can always find late-round gems that won’t cost much initially, they will get paid at some point — and it’s best to have the draft capital to help reload the team’s talent.
First-round picks helping other teams isn’t an idea that teams should be considering. The Herschel Walker trade, the Jeff George blockbuster, etc.; the list goes on with deals that elevated one franchise and sunk another. Will Matthew Stafford sink the Rams? Highly unlikely, but it’s worth understanding the history of large trades that mortgage the draft future.
Next. 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Dolphins take Sewell, Waddle. dark
The Rams believe they have a system that works, and they should be given credit for sticking to their guns. But then again, wouldn’t it be fun to take a player on Day 1 once in a while? If Stafford can win them a Super Bowl, however, that would be just as fun all the same.