Rams trade #2 Pick for Muchos Pickos

[cardsfan04]

2012 1st and 2nd rounder (6th pick of each round)
2013 1st rounder
2014 1st rounder

I'd say we got a pretty damn awesome return. Now the question is, what's next? I think we have 3 options:

1. Most likely option is we happily take our new picks and just sit tight.

2. We could trade that number 6 pick for more. I'd love to get Blackmon or Richardson (he likely goes 4th though) or even Claiborne. But, if Carolina (9th) calls and wants Blackmon 6th, I'm hearing them out. We can still get a damn good player 9th. So, if the price is right, I'd consider moving down again.

3. We could trade up for 2 top 10 picks this year and still have a surplus of picks from the first trade. I don't know what it would take, but how crazy would it be to get both Richardson AND Blackmon. Or, we could get Claiborne who should be a shutdown corner and a damn good returner.

Whatever we do, it's nice to have options again.

[dmiles2186]

I agree. I freaked out when I saw the loot that the Rams got for the pick. It's awesome. I'm hoping Snead will keep his options open and trade down if the right deal comes along (like you mentioned). You don't want to miss out on a top end talent like Blackmon, but the Rams need good players and lots of them. No better way to do that than just draft, draft, draft.

The Patriots have employed that strategy for years.

If the Rams sit tight at 6, they'll still get a great player and have two more picks in the top 40 (33 and 39) as well as 4 first rounders over the 2013 and 2014 drafts.

If they mess this up, then they might as well just pack up and ship the team back to LA.

[cardsfan04]

It always blows my mind that there aren't more teams that employ a similar draft strategy to the Patriots. (Frank) Bill Belichek sideways, but you have to give credit where it's due.

How many times do you see them w/ the 17th overall pick (or whatever) and trade down to the 21st and add another 2nd rounder? Granted, it's easier to do that when you either have a ton of holes like the Rams (so any solid player will help) or no glaring holes (like the Patriots, generally). But, I think teams fall in love with a certain player more often than they should. Because, generally speaking players drafted in close proximity in the draft are going to have similar ceilings and similar probabilities of success. So, it makes so much sense to move slightly down for a comparable talent and add another draft pick.

Obviously, teams can't blindly follow that strategy or they will miss on players they need. But, it seems Belichek does that every year and it works really well for him.

[DaDitka]

Obviously, the Rams made out like bandits.

The only drawback is the they will probably miss out on Blackmon (CLE) and Claiborne (TB)

[cardsfan04]

I think Trent Richardson is a pretty damn good consolation prize at 6. I actually think he goes the Cleveland though.

[dmiles2186]

I think Trent Richardson is a pretty damn good consolation prize at 6. I actually think he goes the Cleveland though.

And that's the great thing about moving down just 4 spots to 6. You figure that Luck, RGIII, and Kalil will go on those first 3-4 spots. Even if Blackmon and Claiborne got at 4-5, you still get Richardson. Or if Claiborne and Richardson go in that group, you still get Blackmon. Even though the Rams need a WR, I'd rather have Claiborne or Richardson over Blackmon. I think Blackmon is good but I'm not sold that he will have an AJ Green impact. There are other WR's available later in the draft that can have an impact.

[cardsfan04]

I think it depends on what the Rams do in FA on whether I want Blackmon or not. I'd love to have him, but if we pick up a solid WR or two in FA, I might prefer filling a different need.

I can't articulate it, but I'm not completely sold on Blackmon yet. I mean, he'd be a good pickup, but I'm not sure he's going to be a superstar WR.

[DaDitka]

Richardson would be a TERRIBLE pick.

This team isn't good enough to use the 6th overall pick on a guy that will be lucky to take 30% of your offensive snaps.

I fully understand we need a #2 back and I fully understand the SJ39 is getting a bit older, but you have too many holes to afford that luxury at this point. Maybe in the second round. As a general rule teams are moving away from drafting running backs in the first round at all....so selecting a second running back with a top ten pick could single handedly be the absolute worst draft pick I've ever seen a team make in my life.

[dmiles2186]

Richardson would be a TERRIBLE pick.

This team isn't good enough to use the 6th overall pick on a guy that will be lucky to take 30% of your offensive snaps.

I fully understand we need a #2 back and I fully understand the SJ39 is getting a bit older, but you have too many holes to afford that luxury at this point. Maybe in the second round. As a general rule teams are moving away from drafting running backs in the first round at all....so selecting a second running back with a top ten pick could single handedly be the absolute worst draft pick I've ever seen a team make in my life.

I think that Claiborne would be the best pick for the Rams. Their secondary was AWFUL last year. Justin King was the worst CB in the league. But I'm not sure he'll be there at 6. Stranger things have happened though.

I'm with cardsfan, I don't think Blackmon will be a superstart WR, that's a good way to put it.

I don't think Richardson would be an awful pick. Sure, he may take only so many snaps this year, but eventually the Rams have to have a contingency plan. SJ39 missed some time last year...and our secondary option was...Cadillac Williams. Not a terrible backup plan, but not really an asset either.

I think Richardson has the makeup to be a good back, but really, the Rams just need to get the best player they can get in that spot. Too many times the Rams have drafted for need and not picked the best player.

I have to study up on more of the people that are projected to go in the top 10, but those are the three I'm most familiar with aside from the two QB's and Kalil.

[DaDitka]

Richardson would be a TERRIBLE pick.

This team isn't good enough to use the 6th overall pick on a guy that will be lucky to take 30% of your offensive snaps.

I fully understand we need a #2 back and I fully understand the SJ39 is getting a bit older, but you have too many holes to afford that luxury at this point. Maybe in the second round. As a general rule teams are moving away from drafting running backs in the first round at all....so selecting a second running back with a top ten pick could single handedly be the absolute worst draft pick I've ever seen a team make in my life.

I think that Claiborne would be the best pick for the Rams. Their secondary was AWFUL last year. Justin King was the worst CB in the league. But I'm not sure he'll be there at 6. Stranger things have happened though.

I'm with cardsfan, I don't think Blackmon will be a superstart WR, that's a good way to put it.

I don't think Richardson would be an awful pick. Sure, he may take only so many snaps this year, but eventually the Rams have to have a contingency plan. SJ39 missed some time last year...and our secondary option was...Cadillac Williams. Not a terrible backup plan, but not really an asset either.

I think Richardson has the makeup to be a good back, but really, the Rams just need to get the best player they can get in that spot. Too many times the Rams have drafted for need and not picked the best player.

I have to study up on more of the people that are projected to go in the top 10, but those are the three I'm most familiar with aside from the two QB's and Kalil.

Claiborne would not only be the best pick, It appears he's the top guy on their board. What I fear is that TB may take him one spot in front of us. At that point it would clearly be the best decision to select an OT or DE....but can they sell that to the fan base? I don't know.

Most logical thing to do there is to trade back again and hope to select Floyd around 10th - 12th. You're getting a guy that was project top 4 before teh season, it fills your biggest need, you acquire another (probably) 3rd round pick, and you get a skill position name to appease the fan base.

[DaDitka]

I don't think Richardson would be an awful pick. Sure, he may take only so many snaps this year, but eventually the Rams have to have a contingency plan. SJ39 missed some time last year...and our secondary option was...Cadillac Williams. Not a terrible backup plan, but not really an asset either.

I think Richardson has the makeup to be a good back, but really, the Rams just need to get the best player they can get in that spot. Too many times the Rams have drafted for need and not picked the best player.

First, let me quality that I am of the belief that RB is now the most disposable position in the NFL and soon you will no longer see any backs selected in the first round at all.

That said, Richardson is a very good prospect and there are many teams that could make a fair case for selecting him in the top ten. The problem is that the Rams have was too many holes. You just traded out of the #2 overall pick to select a guy that doesn't really make your team better. You have dire needs at WR, CB, Safety, DT, OT.....and you have one of the top 5 - 7 backs in the league right now (I say top 5 easy).....it just doesn't make any since whatsoever.

[cardsfan04]

I'm torn on taking Richardson for the same reasons. But, I need to become more familiar with who is projected in the top 10 though. I too, think that RB's going high is going to continue much longer either with the emergence of pass-first offenses (although, everything is cyclical). And, it's not an immediate need, so trading down if Blackmon/Claiborne are gone makes a ton of sense, especially if we have our eye on someone. But, I won't be upset if we take him. My roommate is a huge Auburn fan, so I keep up on the SEC a bit, and he's going to be sick. I've heard him compared to AP in terms of talent out of the draft.

One thing to keep in mind though, is that high rated players out of Alabama don't tend to improve a ton in the NFL because Saban coaches them up so effectively, far better than most.

[dmiles2186]

Claiborne would not only be the best pick, It appears he's the top guy on their board. What I fear is that TB may take him one spot in front of us. At that point it would clearly be the best decision to select an OT or DE....but can they sell that to the fan base? I don't know.

Most logical thing to do there is to trade back again and hope to select Floyd around 10th - 12th. You're getting a guy that was project top 4 before teh season, it fills your biggest need, you acquire another (probably) 3rd round pick, and you get a skill position name to appease the fan base.



First, let me quality that I am of the belief that RB is now the most disposable position in the NFL and soon you will no longer see any backs selected in the first round at all.

That said, Richardson is a very good prospect and there are many teams that could make a fair case for selecting him in the top ten. The problem is that the Rams have was too many holes. You just traded out of the #2 overall pick to select a guy that doesn't really make your team better. You have dire needs at WR, CB, Safety, DT, OT.....and you have one of the top 5 - 7 backs in the league right now (I say top 5 easy).....it just doesn't make any since whatsoever.

I like the thought of trading back to grab Floyd. I'm not opposed to that at all. He had some behavior problems but seems to have cleaned them up this year. I'm always up for trading down, it means more picks, more players, more holes filled.

I also agree that RB's probably are the most disposable position in the NFL and that the Rams have many holes to fill. But I don't want the Rams to reach to draft for need if there is an elite prospect on the board. If you are looking at having a good to potentially great RB at the 6 spot, but have a mid first round talent at CB sitting there (say Claiborne is off the board) who doesn't have the ceiling of the RB, I'd rather they take the RB. Talent is what wins. If the Rams were to hit a home run with Richardson, then you have the option to trade SJ39 for picks or players.

I know that's a lot of if's but it's a scenario that could come.

[DaDitka]

Claiborne would not only be the best pick, It appears he's the top guy on their board. What I fear is that TB may take him one spot in front of us. At that point it would clearly be the best decision to select an OT or DE....but can they sell that to the fan base? I don't know.

Most logical thing to do there is to trade back again and hope to select Floyd around 10th - 12th. You're getting a guy that was project top 4 before teh season, it fills your biggest need, you acquire another (probably) 3rd round pick, and you get a skill position name to appease the fan base.



First, let me quality that I am of the belief that RB is now the most disposable position in the NFL and soon you will no longer see any backs selected in the first round at all.

That said, Richardson is a very good prospect and there are many teams that could make a fair case for selecting him in the top ten. The problem is that the Rams have was too many holes. You just traded out of the #2 overall pick to select a guy that doesn't really make your team better. You have dire needs at WR, CB, Safety, DT, OT.....and you have one of the top 5 - 7 backs in the league right now (I say top 5 easy).....it just doesn't make any since whatsoever.

I like the thought of trading back to grab Floyd. I'm not opposed to that at all. He had some behavior problems but seems to have cleaned them up this year. I'm always up for trading down, it means more picks, more players, more holes filled.

I also agree that RB's probably are the most disposable position in the NFL and that the Rams have many holes to fill. But I don't want the Rams to reach to draft for need if there is an elite prospect on the board. If you are looking at having a good to potentially great RB at the 6 spot, but have a mid first round talent at CB sitting there (say Claiborne is off the board) who doesn't have the ceiling of the RB, I'd rather they take the RB. Talent is what wins. If the Rams were to hit a home run with Richardson, then you have the option to trade SJ39 for picks or players.

I know that's a lot of if's but it's a scenario that could come.

I just think Reiff and a DT are both probably higher on the Rams' draft board (teams say they don;t consider need when stacking their boards, but they all do it). The problem is whether they can sell either of those picks to the fan base.

[WaukeeBlues]

DAMN.

I gotta me honest, I missed this in teh ESPENZ news.

You guys (I'm a Bears fan, sry) just anal raped the Skins, wow. And for Washington's part they just mortgaged the farm for one player.

No pressure RGIII, no pressure...