Rams general manager Les Snead has never been afraid to wheel and deal in the NFL draft, whether it’s ahead of the big event (Brandin Cooks, Jalen Ramsey) or during it. The Rams have gone three straight years without a first-round pick as a result of trades made, and they won’t have won in 2020 or 2021, either.
This year, in particular, it’ll be difficult to make a significant move up the board. With their first pick coming at No. 52 overall, and not another until 84, the Rams don’t have much capital if they want to go up and get someone.
According to Tankathon, which uses Jimmy Johnson’s trade value chart, the Rams’ collection of picks is the third-least valuable in the NFL with a point total of 667. Only the Steelers (550.2) and Texans (512) have lower totals, holding one fewer pick than the Rams’ six.
Using Drafttek’s trade value chart, you can see just how difficult it’ll be for the Rams to move up. Here are a few potential scenarios for them going up from No. 52 overall.
- Nos. 52 + 84 (550 points) for Lions’ 35th overall pick (550)
- Nos. 52 + 123 + 234 (430) for Falcons’ 47th overall pick (430)
- Nos. 52 + 137 + 234 (418.5) for Jets’ 48th overall pick (420)
Trading fourth-round picks to move up four or five spots in the second round wouldn’t be worthwhile for the Rams, unless there’s a player they absolutely must have and can’t risk being selected before them.
The Rams don’t have the flexibility of trading next year’s first-round pick, either, since that also went to the Jaguars in the deal for Jalen Ramsey. What they should have, though, is an extra fourth-round compensatory pick, which would come at the end of Round 4. The point value of that selection will be around 32-33 points.