The NFL approved a new hiring initiative in November that rewards teams that lose minority coaching and GM candidates to other teams by compensating them with draft picks. And fittingly, the Rams are now the first team to benefit from that new rule.
With the Lions hiring Brad Holmes as their new GM, the Rams will receive two third-round compensatory picks – one in 2021 and another in 2022. It hurts to lose their director of college scouting, but the return of two third-round picks eases the pain, for sure.
And the Rams may not be done compiling picks from this new initiative. Ray Farmer is a personnel consultant with the Rams right now and is a candidate to be hired as the Jaguars’ new general manager.
If they lose Farmer, too, they would add another two third-round compensatory picks, just as they have with Holmes.
Per new NFL rules, the Rams will be awarded a 3rd round compensatory pick in each of the next two years w/ Detroit’s hiring of minority GM candidate, Brad Holmes.
If Urban hires Ray Farmer (current Rams consultant) as his GM in Jacksonville, that’d could be 2 more picks for LA.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) January 14, 2021
This new minority hiring initiative was a great idea for the league, as it rewards teams for developing both coaches and executives as they advance their careers. The Rams are the first team to benefit from it, but they certainly won’t be the last.
With a third-round compensatory pick coming in 2021, here’s an updated look at the Rams’ projected draft picks this year.
- 1st round: Traded to Jacksonville for Jalen Ramsey
- 2nd round: Rams’ pick
- 3rd round: Rams’ pick + Holmes compensatory pick
- 4th round: Traded to Jacksonville for Ramsey
- 5th round: Traded to Cleveland for Austin Corbett
- 6th round: Rams’ pick
- 7th round: Rams’ pick
In addition to these picks, the Rams are also likely to receive compensatory picks for losing Dante Fowler Jr. and Cory Littleton. Fowler’s would come in the third round, with Littleton’s being valued at a fourth-rounder, according to Over The Cap.
So it’s possible the Rams will have five picks in the first four rounds this year, with another potentially coming if the Jaguars hire Farmer, as well.
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