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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...e-up-a-lot-less-than-they-got-four-years-ago/
Rams gave up a lot less than they got four years ago
Posted by Mike Florio on April 14, 2016
AP
It would be fitting for Titans G.M. Jon Robinson to now scrawl on a whiteboard, “Build to dominate using Ram picks!” After all, that’s what Rams G.M. Les Snead did after fleecing Washington out of the No. 6 pick, two first-round picks, and a second-round selection in exchange for the deal that allowed Washington to draft its supposed franchise quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick.
But the Rams had not moved much farther — from No. 15 to No. 1 — to grab the team’s supposed franchise quarterback. And, relatively speaking, they gave up a lot less.
In addition to the 15th pick, the Rams gave up two second-round picks, a 2017 first-round pick, and a 2017 third-round pick. They also are receiving a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick from the Titans this year.
So the Rams got two first-rounders and a second-round pick to drop down four spots for Griffin, and they’re giving up a first-rounder, two second-rounders, a third-rounder — and getting back a four and a six — to move up from No. 15 to No. 1.
That’s a jump of 15 spots, from the middle of round one to the very top. For a package of picks that isn’t nearly as potent as what the Rams got for giving up the No. 2 pick in 2012, especially since the 2012 first-rounder they was nine spots higher than the pick the Titans will get.
The move underscores the importance of having a franchise quarterback, and the difficulty of finding one. The best way to even have a chance at getting one comes from picking at the top of the draft, and the Rams now have that power — courtesy of the franchise that Rams coach Jeff Fisher led for a generation.
Still, if quarterback Carson Wentz fails to pan out for Fisher, chances are he’ll be coaching the Rams for a lot less than a generation. If Wentz flat-out busts, Fisher may not be coaching the Rams by the time the last of the picks sent to Tennessee are even used.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/04/14/rams-could-sign-top-pick-right-now/
Rams could sign top pick right now
Posted by Mike Florio on April 14, 2016
AP
The new labor deal makes it much easier to negotiate rookie contracts. And the first pick in the draft can still be signed to a contract before the draft.
So the Rams, who now have the first overall pick in the draft and reportedly want quarterback Carson Wentz, can eliminate any and all confusion and uncertainty by signing Wentz to a contract right now.
The NFL probably would not be thrilled by the move, even though the league office has confirmed that the rule remains in place. It would remove any and all uncertainty from the process, and it would undermine the ultimate reality show’s ultimate offseason reality show.
Maybe the Rams will decide not to sign Wentz for that reason alone. Maybe the decision will be made as part of a wink-nod deal with the league to secure some other benefit for the Rams. While the official position is that no deal like that happened two years ago when the Rams drafted Michael Sam and avoided Hard Knocks, the Rams could surely extract something from the league for keeping its plans close to the vest on Wentz.
And, frankly, if I were calling the shots in L.A. (Rams fans everywhere should thank the angels that I’m not), that’s exactly what I would do.
But if the Rams decide to sign Wentz, the baton would then pass to the Browns, who could likewise select and sign someone with the second overall pick before the draft even begins. And so on, in theory, until the entire first round has been selected, signed, sealed, and delivered.
Which would never happen, but which would be hilarious if it did.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/04/14/rams-appeared-to-be-poised-to-do-the-nfl-a-solid/
Rams appeared to be poised to do the NFL a solid
Posted by Mike Florio on April 14, 2016, 10:47 AM EDT
AP
The NFL allowed Rams owner Stan Kroenke to take the team back to L.A. And Rams owner Stan Kroenke now seems to be willing to do the NFL a favor in return, by not screwing up the ultimate reality show’s ultimate offseason reality show.
Amid a report from Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times that the Rams traded up from No. 15 to No. 1 to get quarterback Carson Wentz, Peter King of the MMQB.com reports that the Rams “have not decided with certainty” who they will select.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how an NFL team holding the first pick in the draft refrains from undermining the drama of the draft. Given that the NFL has squeezed its broadcast partners to not tip the picks after the picks have been communicated to the league but before the Commissioner has announced them, it’s fair to conclude that the NFL also has squeezed teams not to make their intentions known prematurely, either.
So unofficially it’s Wentz. Officially, the Rams have leaked to King that they don’t know “with certainty” who they’ll pick. And they’ll apparently adhere to that approach until they are on the clock two weeks from tonight, in order to ensure that the top of the draft will preserve some amount of intrigue.
Indeed, it’s likely that the entire trade would have remained under wraps until then, but for the apparently desire of Tennessee to use the L.A. picks for even more trades.
Meanwhile, there is at least a little potential value in waiting. If Carson Wentz were to suffer a fluke injury or worse in the next two weeks, the Rams would surely change their minds about drafting him.
The greater value flows to the NFL, which wants to ensure that the draft will draw maximum interest and ratings and revenue. Which is precisely why the Rams have leaked to King the notion that it’s not a done deal that they’ll take Wentz.
Even though the application of any amount of common sense suggests that they didn’t move to the top of the draft simply for the privilege of having the dibs on the field.
Rams gave up a lot less than they got four years ago
Posted by Mike Florio on April 14, 2016
It would be fitting for Titans G.M. Jon Robinson to now scrawl on a whiteboard, “Build to dominate using Ram picks!” After all, that’s what Rams G.M. Les Snead did after fleecing Washington out of the No. 6 pick, two first-round picks, and a second-round selection in exchange for the deal that allowed Washington to draft its supposed franchise quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick.
But the Rams had not moved much farther — from No. 15 to No. 1 — to grab the team’s supposed franchise quarterback. And, relatively speaking, they gave up a lot less.
In addition to the 15th pick, the Rams gave up two second-round picks, a 2017 first-round pick, and a 2017 third-round pick. They also are receiving a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick from the Titans this year.
So the Rams got two first-rounders and a second-round pick to drop down four spots for Griffin, and they’re giving up a first-rounder, two second-rounders, a third-rounder — and getting back a four and a six — to move up from No. 15 to No. 1.
That’s a jump of 15 spots, from the middle of round one to the very top. For a package of picks that isn’t nearly as potent as what the Rams got for giving up the No. 2 pick in 2012, especially since the 2012 first-rounder they was nine spots higher than the pick the Titans will get.
The move underscores the importance of having a franchise quarterback, and the difficulty of finding one. The best way to even have a chance at getting one comes from picking at the top of the draft, and the Rams now have that power — courtesy of the franchise that Rams coach Jeff Fisher led for a generation.
Still, if quarterback Carson Wentz fails to pan out for Fisher, chances are he’ll be coaching the Rams for a lot less than a generation. If Wentz flat-out busts, Fisher may not be coaching the Rams by the time the last of the picks sent to Tennessee are even used.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/04/14/rams-could-sign-top-pick-right-now/
Rams could sign top pick right now
Posted by Mike Florio on April 14, 2016
The new labor deal makes it much easier to negotiate rookie contracts. And the first pick in the draft can still be signed to a contract before the draft.
So the Rams, who now have the first overall pick in the draft and reportedly want quarterback Carson Wentz, can eliminate any and all confusion and uncertainty by signing Wentz to a contract right now.
The NFL probably would not be thrilled by the move, even though the league office has confirmed that the rule remains in place. It would remove any and all uncertainty from the process, and it would undermine the ultimate reality show’s ultimate offseason reality show.
Maybe the Rams will decide not to sign Wentz for that reason alone. Maybe the decision will be made as part of a wink-nod deal with the league to secure some other benefit for the Rams. While the official position is that no deal like that happened two years ago when the Rams drafted Michael Sam and avoided Hard Knocks, the Rams could surely extract something from the league for keeping its plans close to the vest on Wentz.
And, frankly, if I were calling the shots in L.A. (Rams fans everywhere should thank the angels that I’m not), that’s exactly what I would do.
But if the Rams decide to sign Wentz, the baton would then pass to the Browns, who could likewise select and sign someone with the second overall pick before the draft even begins. And so on, in theory, until the entire first round has been selected, signed, sealed, and delivered.
Which would never happen, but which would be hilarious if it did.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/04/14/rams-appeared-to-be-poised-to-do-the-nfl-a-solid/
Rams appeared to be poised to do the NFL a solid
Posted by Mike Florio on April 14, 2016, 10:47 AM EDT
The NFL allowed Rams owner Stan Kroenke to take the team back to L.A. And Rams owner Stan Kroenke now seems to be willing to do the NFL a favor in return, by not screwing up the ultimate reality show’s ultimate offseason reality show.
Amid a report from Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times that the Rams traded up from No. 15 to No. 1 to get quarterback Carson Wentz, Peter King of the MMQB.com reports that the Rams “have not decided with certainty” who they will select.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how an NFL team holding the first pick in the draft refrains from undermining the drama of the draft. Given that the NFL has squeezed its broadcast partners to not tip the picks after the picks have been communicated to the league but before the Commissioner has announced them, it’s fair to conclude that the NFL also has squeezed teams not to make their intentions known prematurely, either.
So unofficially it’s Wentz. Officially, the Rams have leaked to King that they don’t know “with certainty” who they’ll pick. And they’ll apparently adhere to that approach until they are on the clock two weeks from tonight, in order to ensure that the top of the draft will preserve some amount of intrigue.
Indeed, it’s likely that the entire trade would have remained under wraps until then, but for the apparently desire of Tennessee to use the L.A. picks for even more trades.
Meanwhile, there is at least a little potential value in waiting. If Carson Wentz were to suffer a fluke injury or worse in the next two weeks, the Rams would surely change their minds about drafting him.
The greater value flows to the NFL, which wants to ensure that the draft will draw maximum interest and ratings and revenue. Which is precisely why the Rams have leaked to King the notion that it’s not a done deal that they’ll take Wentz.
Even though the application of any amount of common sense suggests that they didn’t move to the top of the draft simply for the privilege of having the dibs on the field.
