In Aaron Schatz’s latest article on ESPN, titled ‘Bold moves, trades in free agency, draft for all 32 teams’ offered the Los Angeles Rams a simple incisive suggestion on the craziest most earth-shattering move they could make this offseason: Use their first-round pick.
The Los Angeles Rams Draft Strategy In Practice
While it’s a clever barb from Schatz and one that has circulated all corners of the media, has this approach hurt the Rams? In that time the Los Angeles Rams have gone 70-45, six winning seasons, five trips to the playoffs, two NFC Championship wins, a Lombardi trophy, and a partridge in a pear tree.
One could argue that 2022, Sean McVay’s one losing season, was the year it all came home to roost. Which isn’t entirely false, but neither is it entirely true. 2023 proved not to be the disaster that many predicted it would be.
The Rams have gone seven seasons without using a first-round pick. The franchise has traded its first-round picks for Jared Goff (2016, 2017) Brandin Cooks (2018), Jalen Ramsey(2020,2021), and Matthew Stafford (2022,2023). In 2019 the Rams traded back several times. Six of the eight players in that draft played a significant amount in the 2021 Super Bowl-winning season.
Rams general manager, Les Snead, who famously wore a t-shirt emblazoned with his face and the catchphrase, ‘F*ck Them Picks’ made it clear in his offseason press conference that he is more than willing to trade the Rams 2024 19th overall pick for either a player or to rake in more draft picks in later rounds.
The Los Angeles Rams non-drafting streak is currently tied with the Washington football team, who went from 1984 to 1990 without drafting in the first round. If they trade this year’s pick they will still be in second place behind an earlier Washington team. From 1969-1979 the team from DC went without a first-rounder. Apparently, George Allen, Washington’s head coach for much of that time, lacked patience with rookies.
That certainly isn’t the case with Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams.
Should The Los Angeles Rams Draft In 2024’s 1st Round?
Schatz’s point is not without merit. Landing a starter in the first round is valuable and the Rams do have needs at high-value positions. Taking a chance on an edge rusher or offensive tackle could end up saving them millions over the next few years.
Schatz suggests picking from the incredibly deep offensive tackle class, his choices include Alabama’s JC Latham, Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, and Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton.
