The Los Angeles Rams proved last year – and even a bit in 2018 – that being aggressive in pursuit of a championship works. They went against the grain both years, acquiring star players instead of simply using draft picks on rookies and building a young, unproven roster.
Some teams have begun copying that strategy by trading for players such as Russell Wilson, Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill and Khalil Mack, among others, but the Cowboys won’t use that same approach.
Cowboys COO Stephen Jones explained why this week, saying they feel good about building through the draft and using a plan that is “not a flash, sexy way.”
“I know there’s no question when the Rams step up and do what they did and they win a Super Bowl championship, and of course their mantra was, you know, to get some big-name players who did show up for them in the postseason,” he said on 105.3 The Fan, as transcribed by Mark Lane. “Then that becomes, ‘Hey, you know, look at the Rams. Look at what they did. Everybody needs to emulate it.’ I mean it’s a copycat league, and, well, they’re doing it, they won one, let’s do it the way the Rams did it. So, I get that. I understand our fans and what we’re doing here. It’s certainly not a flashy, sexy way we went about it this offseason, but we feel really good that the results are going to be much better.”
Jones isn’t ignoring what the Rams accomplished, but teams would be foolish to look at what Les Snead and Sean McVay have done and brush it aside. It’s not as if the Rams mortgaged their future last season and will now be bottom-feeders in the NFC.
Just the opposite. They’re poised to make another run at a ring in 2022 despite losing Von Miller and Darious Williams. How? Because they still have Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey – and just added Bobby Wagner and Allen Robinson.