Decade of Drafting: 10-Year Look at Rams NFL Draft Value
The 2022 NFL Draft starts Thursday, but the Los Angeles Rams won't have their first pick until the end of day two at No. 104, the second-to-last pick of the third round.
Cooper Kupp
Aaron Donald
Les Snead
All of LA's draft stock was essentially traded by general manager Les Snead for a Super Bowl ring. It's safe to say no one's complaining.
Prior to Sean McVay's arrival during the Rams' second year in Los Angeles in 2017, the franchise hadn't made the playoffs in 12 seasons. Missing out on the postseason usually results in quality draft stock, making it interesting to recap how the Rams' selections have panned out.
Here's how ESPN evaluated the Rams:
(Best draft class?) 2017. The Rams' ongoing streak of consecutive drafts without a first-rounder began in 2017, but they did quite well that year nonetheless. The gem of the class was Cooper Kupp, the best receiver in the NFL last season and the MVP of Super Bowl LVI. Of the Rams' eight picks, the first five were hits: tight end Gerald Everett (Round 2), Kupp (3), safety John Johnson III (3), receiver Josh Reynolds (4) and linebacker Samson Ebukam (4). There's a strong case for the 2014 draft class since it produced Aaron Donald, but whiffing big on left tackle Greg Robinson at No. 2 overall is a demerit. The quantity of 2017 trumps the quality of 2014.
And LA's winner for best day three draft steal?
DT Sebastian Joseph-Day, sixth round, 2018. Joseph-Day started 38 games for the Rams and played well for the franchise. A key piece along the defensive line, he was rewarded this offseason as he signed a three-year, $24 million deal with the Chargers.
Unless Snead wants to trade up (which is unlikely to happen), the Rams will need some day two and day three steals in this year's draft in order to come away with value, depth, or maybe even a diamond in the rough.
If projections are met, LA will likely target depth for the offensive line or secondary with their first pick at No. 104. But no one really knows what Snead and McVay have planned.
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