Our Draft Reviews

Something to consider. Unless I’ve mixed up the picks, the Rams traded Jalen Ramsey, essentially, for Byron Young and Hunter Long.

Also, on strategy. I think it’s very smart to try to trade down within your board’s “clusters,” whenever possible. If you have takers, do it often — again, within your clusters. I wouldn’t do that if I’m thinking my team is one or two players away, at one or two positions, etc. I’d stick and draft “my guys,” with few exceptions. But few teams exist in that realm. The Rams certainly don’t. The trick is, of course, turning quantity into quality. If you can’t, it’s usually better just to stick and pick.

I’d also say that the Rams’ 14 picks shouldn’t be seen as the top end. Lotsa ifs here . . . but if you have the cap room to sign a large rookie class, there are huge advantages to grabbing a very large group all at once, most of them pretty obvious. First and foremost, perhaps, you control your own window of opportunity for at least four years, and you can supplement the youngins with key vets (and vet holdovers).

The above strategy is maximized if you have a First, especially an early one. There is a massive difference in pick value from Round One on down. For instance, the first pick is worth 3000 points. The Rams’ pick at #36 was worth 540. Once you get into the 5th round, the range has fallen to 37-18. The vast majority of the 7th round has just 1 point per pick.

In the real world, that trade chart isn’t always used, or used to the letter. But it is a rough guide.

Thought I should add this to the strategy deal. If it’s not already assumed, etc.  etc.

I wouldn’t want to do that massive class every year, obviously. Hopefully, the Rams would hit on enough really good picks to cancel the need to go the quantity route more than once or twice. If all goes well, each year within the start of that first window, you’d need fewer and fewer upgrades. That lets them narrow their focus. Really, really need an Edge? Maybe change-up and trade up for the best. Wideout? Left Tackle? Etc.

I’m betting that in the age of AI, NFL teams have software/algorithms to figure out optimum years for this sort of ongoing process. We could even give it a name, like the AD Window. Anno Domini/Aaron Donald, perhaps. I don’t think any team is really doing this yet, but they should, IMNSHO.

Ideally, however, you’d want to build your team with a large influx of talent, all at the same time, and then add on with more and more focus until you lose enough of your first wave to do it all again. Keep the guys you should/can. Be smart about that, not emotional, etc.

Lotsa Super Bowls will result.

;>)

Good thoughts, ZN.

I get that view regarding the Ramsey trade. To me, it’s not so much that they made the trade, as it was their comp. And, of course, there’s a ton we just don’t know. Like, is Ramsey right when he says he never asked for a fat contract with huge guarantees? That he wasn’t trying to pressure the Rams about that? The gossip tried to paint him in a poor light, sparking his response, etc.

Anyway, your point about being sick of the quick passing game screwing over the defense is well taken. I agree with that. They had to get faster, quicker, and more athletic along the front seven. Thing is, they could have helped their back end at the same time, IMO.

Darius Rush (#138 to Indie), for instance, is a potential shutdown corner with excellent size and speed. Nearly 6’2″, long, 4.36 speed (21.65mph at senior bowl), Brugler had him as the #63 prospect overall and 9th best corner. He was there when they chose the QB at #128. I would have taken Rush instead.

Also, Adebawore is roughly the same size as Turner, but a truly freakish athlete. He would have radically increased the speed, quickness, and athleticism of the Rams front seven, above and beyond Turner, who’s no slouch. The more I read about Turner, and see his interviews, the more I like him, but I think Adebawore is just Next Level, especially given the criteria Jourdan mentions. You just don’t come across guys like him every day. 6’1.5″, 282, running a 4.49 forty, with a 1.55 split, 37.5 vert, and a 10.5 broad. Just crazy stuff. Plus, he had 28 on the bench.

. . . .

Also, identity on D. I think Young will have a big impact and make a lot of splash plays from the Edge. He may struggle a bit against the run, though. And there’s might mouse, Hodges-Tomlinson, to surprise us. Aside from crazy good athleticism, he’s fiery and non-stop on the field, and has a serious chip on his shoulder. A sorta NextGen Napoleon complex, with the drive and physical attributes to avoid Elba. And if Kobie Turner can’t win on the field, he’ll at least be able to sing the Rams to higher places.

I think it’s safe to say the Rams will have plenty of “personality,” and they should be fun to watch. But we’re probably a coupla years away from contention.

I guess we just see the talent level and team management in a different light.

I’d bet, for example, that if the Rams had no cap issues, they’d happily re-sign several of the starters that signed with other teams this time (and in recent years). A’Shawn Robinson, Greg Gaines, and Nick Scott stay, for instance. They happily keep Wagner, and don’t trade Ramsey. I’m also pretty sure they’d keep Floyd if they couldn’t trade him. They’d do this because losing them means defensive decline at their respective positions, plus the loss of major intangibles and glue-guys like Wagner.

They didn’t have anyone as good behind them, and they still don’t, even after the Draft, IMO. I do have high hopes for Young at Edge, and Hampton as a solid rotational guy there, but that’s to be determined on the field. The Rams already knew what they had in their departing starters, and it was good enough to win playoff games, at least.

And that’s just their own starters. Because of cap mismanagement, they also couldn’t bring in upgrades from other teams, and they were out there. They always are. Not only were the Rams unable to retain their own guys, they couldn’t dive into the free agency market. Lots of other teams could, and they gained ground on the Rams as a result.

As for those headscratchers. Judging from the numbers of former draft picks defenestrated before their rookie contracts expired, it would seem the Rams FO thought they botched a few picks too.

https://247sports.com/nfl/los-angeles-rams/Team/Los-Angeles-Rams-683/DraftPicks/?year=alltime

The loss of all of those 3rd round picks in recent years is especially troubling to me . . . .

I agree with the majority of that, Zooey. Good points.

But at the risk of being Danny Downer yet again, the Rams were unconventional in the age department too. As in, their elite players were already getting along in years when they won it all, with the exception of Ramsey, and to a lesser extent, Kupp. Three years later, in 2024, how will age factor in? And they also tend to draft relatively older players, which is why I think some public commentators, even Jourdan at times, tend to exaggerate the “youth” of this team. Kupp will be 31 in 2024, which is rather old for a receiver. Donald, who appears to be ageless, will be 33. Stafford, who has been beaten up far more often than most QBs — basically in the KW range — will hit 37 if the Rams make it to the Big Show.

I have a big bias in favor of building through the Draft for a host of reasons, but the age thing and peak times for individual athleticism are near the top. You get the widest window for contention if you can hit on a big batch of picks all at once or within two/three years, and then supplement. It’s a tougher road to hoe/sustain if it’s dependent on relatively older vets, hopefully gelling, etc. etc.

I think the amount/effect of cap space is also being exaggerated for 2024. Last I checked, it was roughly in the 50 million range, which may sound like a lot, but it really isn’t, given the size of contracts these days, the need to re-sign vets, the next rookie pool, etc. etc. It’s also the case that most of the rest of the league has cap space too, and unlike the Rams, they’ve had 1st round picks to team-build and keep costs down for the last umpteen years.

(Philadelphia’s Draft, for instance, was crazy good, and their roster was already near the top. Seattle and Arizona have also improved their teams, with the latter adding extra picks in 2024 as well.)

Long story short, I think we’re in for a rough ride in the next few years. Hope I’m 100% wrong about that. But my post-draft sense of things isn’t as elevated as it has been in the past.