Written by: Tyler Deakin
NFL team builders & talent evaluators tell anyone who listens that the best way to build a team is through the NFL Draft. That’s been the conventional wisdom from around the league for a long time, but is it really true? One team that is bucking this trend recently is the LA Rams, and I want to see how they’ve fared in recent years. Their draft strategy is unique in that they frequently use their first-round picks as currency to trade for proven veteran players. This makes for top-heavy rosters that rely on players drafted after the first round. Let’s examine the players the Rams have acquired in recent years & the opportunity cost involved in making these trades.
2016: Jared Goff trade (Part I)
The Rams traded with the Titans before the 2016 NFL Draft, sending the Titans their 2016 1st round pick, two 2nd round picks, 3rd round pick, 2017 1st round pick, & 2017 3rd round pick in exchange for the Titans 2016 1st round pick, 4th round pick, and 6th round pick. They selected QB Jared Goff with the 1st overall pick. Goff was underwhelming as a 1st overall pick; however, he did guide the team to a Super Bowl berth in 2019. What was the opportunity cost from this trade? It was a big one in that the Titans selected RB Derrick Henry in the 2nd round. LA previously drafted RB Todd Gurley though, so it’s unlikely they would’ve picked Henry anyway. They also missed out on an opportunity to draft stud OT Taylor Lewan, but that’s a technicality as the Titans used their No. 15 pick to trade up with the Browns at No. 8 to get him.
2017: Jared Goff (Part II)
Now, what about the rest of the fallout from the Goff deal? The Titans used their 2017 1st round pick to select WR Corey Davis. Davis was a bust for the Titans as the team declined his 5th year option in 2020 & allowed him to sign with the Jets in free agency this offseason. He did play well for them in 2020, but it was too little too late for him to salvage his Titans career. I believe that this part of the trade worked out well for the Rams, because Goff provided decent QB play over the years for the Rams while Davis was mostly underwhelming for the Titans.
2018: Brandin Cooks
Trading for WR Brandin Cooks signified the Rams investment into their championship window as they sent a 2018 1st round pick and a 6th round pick for the veteran receiver & a 2018 4th round pick. Cooks was then given a 5-year contract extension before the 2018 season. He was a solid player for the Rams in his 1st year with 80 receptions for 1,204 yards & 5 TDS; however, his numbers fell off the year after with 42 receptions for 582 yards & 2 TDs. LA missed out on drafting OL Isaiah Wynn, an oft-injured but solid player, with their 2018 1st round pick given to New England. They later traded Cooks to the Texans for a 2nd round pick in a salary dump transaction of sorts. Their trade return from the Texans netted them WR Van Jefferson, a solid starting receiver for the team. You could say that the Rams whiffed badly on this trade, as they spent a ton of money & draft capital for one good season of production from WR Brandin Cooks.
2019: Traded down for more picks
The Rams made a series of brilliant trade maneuvers during the 2019 NFL Draft, turning their 1st round pick into a 2nd round pick, two 3rd round picks, and several other late round selections. With their bounty of picks, they selected starting safety Taylor Rapp, lead RB Darrell Henderson, and several depth players. The best part for them is that they didn’t miss out on any impact players despite all of their wheeling and dealing. This was an adjustment in strategy on the team’s part from previous years; however, it’s hard to argue with the positive results here.
2020: Jalen Ramsey (Part I)
The LA Rams acquired star CB Jalen Ramsey from the Jaguars in the biggest trade deadline deal in recent memory. They forfeited their 2020 1st round pick & 2021 1st round pick to the Jaguars to get him. Ramsey’s been a shutdown corner for the Rams since being traded there in 2019. He signed a huge five-year contract extension in 2020. His play has correlated with a Rams defensive resurgence in recent years. It’s a little early to judge what the Rams might’ve missed out on, but the Jaguars selected DE K’Lavon Chaisson at No. 20. He hasn’t impressed yet, but he’s a bright young player on a terrible football team. That said, the value of having a shutdown corner in the NFL is huge so it’s hard to argue with the Rams results here.
2021: Jalen Ramsey (Part II)
The Jaguars took RB Travis Etienne with their No. 25 pick from the Rams in the ’21 draft. Etienne is a great player, but he misses the entire 2021 season due to injury. None of this really affects the Rams, because they wouldn’t have drafted a running back at No. 25 anyways.
2022 & 2023: Matt Stafford
The Rams sent their 2022 & 2023 1st round picks to the Lions for Matt Stafford this offseason. We won’t know the opportunity costs associated with this trade until a few years from now; however, the Rams have benefitted from the instant credibility & playmaking that Stafford brings them. He has opened up the offense & kept the team in the hunt for an NFC playoff berth.
Closing Thoughts
Maybe there are other beneficial ways to build a team besides the NFL Draft after all. The Rams have eschewed the draft in recent years, and they are constantly in the playoff picture. I still believe that the best way to build a team long-term is through the draft; however, “going for it” while in your team’s championship window is also essential. Bill Belichick admitted that he exhausted the team’s resources in prior years when asked about his team’s 2020 struggles, “we sold out and won three Super Bowls, [and] played in a fourth, and played in an AFC Championship Game. This year we have less to work with. It’s not an excuse. It’s just the facts.” It’s possible that the Rams never win the big game, but they won’t know unless they keep trying.