[ramsww]

I mentioned my disappointment in the Rams not grabbing a top talent in the 2025 Draft by trading down in the first round and thus gaining a solid 2nd round pick the Rams lacked as well as another 2026 1st round pick. Not bad on the surface and many see that being ammo for our QB of the future even though we had to also give ATL a 3rd round pick to seal the deal. I get that. I countered by saying there is no way to defer your draft picks which is essentially what I feel the Rams did. We can discuss the pros and cons but let me posit this.

The league is constantly changing the rules on a myriad of issues and let’s face it, gambling which was the big taboo in my day is now, “hey, get your kids started early” so I can’t see any rule or regulation the NFL won't change if the majority of owners vote for it.

Why can’t Teams who absolutely suck (or not), be allowed to defer their picks to the next year? I’m primarily focused on the 1st round but it doesn’t take anything away from the current draft and any team feeling, “well, we’ll likely suck again this year”, could stockpile a couple picks for a year that may offer that generational player of the future. Any rules can be changed. I mean hell, they play so many games with NFL contracts you can’t tell without the fine print and a Deloitte Touche CPA what the hell it even means. Your thoughts?

[Dare]

Teams that "suck" need to show their fan base that they are trying. If they wave the white flag even for a year it will be the same for a whole lot of their fanbase and they might not ever return. People find other interests and if they completely turn off for a year that is risking they never return. It shows the fans, "if we don't care this year why should you even though we are charging more for tickets than you can afford."

Even the Chargers in SD when they sucked showed that they were trying and even if it's false hope then at least they weren't waving the finger at fans saying we suck who cares? Now sell out the stadium!

One thing we must take away from the Rams, is that it takes an elite FO to build an elite team. Detroit finally understood that and now other teams are raiding Kroenke's treasury to do likewise. Owners simply need to understand that if your team sucks year after year than it's because the FO sucks year after year.

Now look at the Commanders. They hired their GM from the Niners. They turned a downtrodden franchise into a contender their first year. Good football FOs draft well, that is the simple truth. Changing the coaches only gets you so far. He's only as good as the players he has to build a roster with. The key to building a winning franchise starts with a GM who is allowed to bring in his own people.

Look at what Newsome did in Baltimore. When he knew he was going to retire he hired and groomed his successor for a few years (DeCosta). He has used that model and the Ravens are still a top team and Newsome retired in 2018.

When McVay finally does retire, watch how many teams will run to his door offering to make him GM. Why? Because he knows good coaches and he knows Snead's secret to drafting well.

BTW Joe Hortiz GM of the Chargers was hired away from the Ravens. He started under Newsome then DeCosta.

[Elvis]

A first round pick next year is worth less than a first round pick this year. Teams would be hurting themselves. Would be smarter to trade their 1 this year, would get more than a 1 next year in return.

[Zen_Ronin]

Depending on the measureables you're using Ferguson was considered by some as a first round talent. Most draftniks had his blocking as below average sure, but he's got good, possibly great hands, and led all TE's in YAC. He had the best showing at the combine of all TE's as well. They all say that the guy they picked is the guy they wanted, but I actually believe Fegurson was the player McVay has his eye on from the begining.

Regarding the aquired first round pick, as excited as I am about the potential of QB hunting, it is VERY likely that pick never makes it to next years draft in the Rams hands. If we are a top 5 team in the league, that pick could easily be moved for talent NOW, because there is no doubt at all, a Superbowl NOW is better than a first round pick next year.

[AltiTude Ram]

Regarding the aquired first round pick, as excited as I am about the potential of QB hunting, it is VERY likely that pick never makes it to next years draft in the Rams hands. If we are a top 5 team in the league, that pick could easily be moved for talent NOW, because there is no doubt at all, a Superbowl NOW is better than a first round pick next year.

No doubt!

[Dare]

But if those two picks get you a true franchise QB that potentially gets you years of possible SBs not just one. I think it's clear. Kroenke wants a sustainable team not one filled with expensive one or two year hired guns. Trading away that second first round pick before you know what you can get isn't good planning, it's simply bad business and Kroenke is no fool. Remember the man that writes the checks ultimately dictates how the money is spent. You only have to look at the past 3 drafts to see exactly what they are doing. They want a sustainable roster not a bunch of hired expensive guns.

The Rams squandered the last 3 years of having Stafford because they didn't have the roster to support him long term. That is the lesson learned. A franchise QB is only as good as the roster around him. That roster deserves a long term solution at the most important position on the field. What they have done this year is to use it to make one big push to get to a SB and win it. But they are also mindful of what they want and need long term.

You only need look at Philly and the Commanders to see that a young QB with good coaching and talent can do if he has the roster built around him. That is part of what is implied in McVay's comment about Jayden Daniels.

[safer]

The more I closely watched TE Kelce's play, the more aware I became that his most elite traits were finding the soft spots in zone coverages and being in sinc with his All World QB. I know he was a good blocker and could get open in man to man also, but he was the best at saving his QB when plays broke down. With our receiver room taking up sooo much of a D's attention, I can see why Sean wants the best athlete he could find at TE for our O. From what I've read, he did.

[ramsww]

A first round pick next year is worth less than a first round pick this year. Teams would be hurting themselves. Would be smarter to trade their 1 this year, would get more than a 1 next year in return.

So you agree with my assessment the Rams should have used their Round 1 this year as it has less value next year? Half kidding but the logic would seem to say that, and they would have had TWO 3rd round picks this year. It’s all good. I know they have a plan, just please don’t use a #1 on Ramsey to get Miami to eat some contract. Bon Appetite

[Elvis]

So you agree with my assessment the Rams should have used their Round 1 this year as it has less value next year? Half kidding but the logic would seem to say that, and they would have had TWO 3rd round picks this year. It’s all good. I know they have a plan, just please don’t use a #1 on Ramsey to get Miami to eat some contract. Bon Appetite

The Rams got a 2 this year and a 1 next year, so even with the discount on future picks, was still a good trade, value wise, for the Rams.

The Rams claim they were considering taking Ferguson with their first round pick. If that's true, they got the player they wanted and added a 1 for next year. Hard to argue against that.

The trade with Atlanta didn't change how many picks the Rams had in 2025 and added to how many they have for 2026...

[PARAM]

The Rams got a 2 this year and a 1 next year, so even with the discount on future picks, was still a good trade, value wise, for the Rams.

The Rams claim they were considering taking Ferguson with their first round pick. If that's true, they got the player they wanted and added a 1 for next year. Hard to argue against that.

The trade with Atlanta didn't change how many picks the Rams had in 2025 and added to how many they have for 2026...

Speaking strictly from value....ie, "next year's 1 isn't worth this year's 1".....it may not seem like a good trade. But IMO, it was solid. How solid depends entirely on what they do with it.....couple it to move up; select a stud 1st rounder to join another stud 1st rounder; etc. People want to gnaw at that bone can have at it. It was an excellent move in a draft weak at the top end.