The Los Angeles Rams have never shied away from zigging while the rest of the league zagged. It’s been six years since the team selected a player in the first round of the NFL Draft – and that was by virtue of trading up for the number one overall pick to select Jared Goff. Instead of drafting young players in the early rounds of the draft, the Rams approach has been to trade away high draft picks in search of proven talent. Regardless of the outcome of the Super Bowl, it’s a strategy that has paid off.
The decision to continuously trade away draft picks for high-quality players has often been criticized for the lack of emphasis on long-term development. Drafting homegrown players often constitutes the structural integrity of most rosters, and neglecting that in lieu of players who are ready to win now – but might not have the shelf life of a younger player – can lead to issues down the line. Especially when you’ve expunged future draft picks.
Financially, building a team around rookie contracts is appealing and, ironically, the Rams are the poster child for the success of that strategy. Their 2018 Super Bowl run with Goff under center was built on the foundation of his rookie contract, with the Rams able to shell out for free agent talent like Ndamukong Suh while also being able to re-sign center John Sullivan and trading for Marcus Peters midseason. Financial flexibility while also developing young talent with high upside and crafting a roster built to compete now and in the future as well is an enviable process.
However, there’s no guarantee that you’ll consistently hit on first-round picks. That can be for a litany of reasons, from anything to a misevaluation from the scouting team, to a team’s inability to truly develop and nurture talent. The amount of data available on players nowadays is truly astounding, but front office staff and coaches still have a personal bias that can affect draft choices. Look no further than the then-Oakland Raiders decision to draft Clelin Ferrell fourth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.
By trading away their first-round picks, the Rams weren’t intentionally avoiding those mistakes. But when faced with the choice of taking a potential gamble on a prospect or trading those picks for an established player, the Rams took the latter. It led them to Brandin Cooks, Jalen Ramsey, and most recently, Matthew Stafford. All three have helped the team in a variety of ways. Cooks was a vital playmaker in the Rams’ run to the Super Bowl in 2018, while Ramsey has cemented himself as the best corner in the NFL in his three years with the Rams.
Then there’s Stafford. The Rams made the Super Bowl with Goff playing at his peak, but his regression was fast and, despite a talented roster, Goff always seemed like he was holding the Rams back. Inevitably, Snead and McVay agreed and traded for Stafford in March 2021, a trade that cost them a third-round pick in 2021, and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023. When the 2024 NFL Draft rolls around, it’ll be eight years since the Rams have owned their first-round pick – assuming of course they don’t trade it first.
Despite the Rams’ lack of capital over the next few years, they’re in an enviable position. They have a roster loaded with talent, a young head coach, and an elite quarterback that is still only 33 years old. Oh, and they’re competing for a Super Bowl which isn’t an easy thing to do, no matter how good a team is. They’re not just built to win now, they’re built to be contenders for years to come.
The Rams roster construction might not follow the standard script of the NFL, but the process has paid off and will continue to do so for the next couple of years.
-Thomas Valentine
Twitter: @ThomasValenfine