Check out my theory of current Ram drafting philosophy...

[Rams43]

And I think it started with our ‘18 draft and might continue into ‘19 draft and beyond.

First, look at these ‘18 draft picks. [www.si.com]

Noteboom
Allen
Franklin-Myers
Kiser
Kelly
Denby
Sebastian-Day-Joseph
Young
Howard
Lawler

Yeah, the jury is still out on several, but what are some of the commonalities we see?

None were immediate starters, but most were at positions that would require new starters the following year.

All seemed to be keepers at the very least. No big busts, IOW.

All could get a year of NFL strength training and development to prepare to hit the deck running the following year.

All were football loving, smart, high character types.

All were inexpensive potential replacements for expensive and aging ‘18 starters.

Hmmmmm...

Anyone else seeing what may be a brilliant strategy unfolding here? If Snead can keep finding such players and McVay and his staff can keep developing such players then we may see a never ending full pipeline of future starters coming to this Ram team each year via the draft alone. Just not starting until their 2nd year?

I get that all teams are trying to do the same, but it does seem that the Rams are doing a bit better at finding/developing players than most teams are.

Will be interesting to see if they continue with this strategy in the ‘19 draft. If they succeed, then the cap management becomes much less daunting as we pay Goff and others their earned big 2nd contracts.

Hot Damn!

 

[Riverumbbq]

Franklin-Myers & John Kelly were from picks we received as a result of the Ogletree trade, be interesting to see how things play out for them as they both may see more field time due to DL losses & whatever is going on with Gurley.

 

[Merlin]

Lot of safe, roster-filling players with some starters. Pretty good given what they had to work with.

What we need in this draft particularly in round 1 is impact types. Plus starters who are young with team control. Adding just one would be fine, but if they can find two even better.

 

[LesBaker]

None were immediate starters, but most were at positions that would require new starters the following year.

I wonder if Snead has a different philosophy now with Goff coming due soon and getting a big payday.

I wonder if he is thinking about the cap alongside Demoff, and I have to believe these two guys are long term architects but are willing to do short term or one year deals and then backfill the spot in the draft the year of those particular signings.

Yeah, the jury is still out on several, but what are some of the commonalities we see?

None were immediate starters, but most were at positions that would require new starters the following year.

All seemed to be keepers at the very least. No big busts, IOW.

All could get a year of NFL strength training and development to prepare to hit the deck running the following year.

All were football loving, smart, high character types.

All were inexpensive potential replacements for expensive and aging ‘18 starters.

Hmmmmm...

Yeah it looks like they are backfilling through the draft doesn't it.

If Snead can hit on two solid to good current/future starters this draft/SFA the Rams could be the class of the NFC for awhile.

He has a knack for the secondary doesn't he.

 

[Rams43]

Opportunities for ‘19 draftees to be starters this year look extremely limited to me.

Maybe DL if a stud somehow falls to our 31st pick?

Or a real stud interior OL falls there?

That looks to be about it, IMO.

 

[Lunchbox]

You forgot Ogbonnia Okoronkwo. This could end up being one hell of a draft class if even half work out for us.

 

[Malibu]

None of 2018 are proven we will see this season for sure.

 

[Zodi]

I want to see Kiser play with the 1's more than any of them.

 

[dang]

Kiser could be the next Littleton but it will take the majority of this year to find out - thus the need for someone like Clay Matthews to ease Kiser into that role.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I don't think there is any mystery to what kind of draft plans a winning team goes with, especially considering their first pick last year was in Round 3.

By round 3 in any draft you are looking at a potential starter. If your roster sucks, he may start immediately. If your roster is good, then hopefully he fills a future need.

Then this year, round 1, or 2 you want an instant contributor, if possible. No drafting with only next year in mind, unless an injured stud falls into their lap, and we know who that may be, if the Rams are incredibly lucky.

If the had a first and second row under then that's two players, expected to contribute immediately.


Snead and McVay both said that they want football players, intelligent, that love the game.

 

[ReekofRams]

unless an injured stud falls into their lap

I appreciate it, but my playing days ended decades ago.

 

[wild ram]

Lot of safe, roster-filling players with some starters. Pretty good given what they had to work with.

What we need in this draft particularly in round 1 is impact types. Plus starters who are young with team control. Adding just one would be fine, but if they can find two even better.

Agree, last season it was a trade for Cooks. Have to add that to the 2018 draft theory.

 

[wild ram]

I wonder if Snead has a different philosophy now with Goff coming due soon and getting a big payday.

I wonder if he is thinking about the cap alongside Demoff, and I have to believe these two guys are long term architects but are willing to do short term or one year deals and then backfill the spot in the draft the year of those particular signings.



Yeah it looks like they are backfilling through the draft doesn't it.

If Snead can hit on two solid to good current/future starters this draft/SFA the Rams could be the class of the NFC for awhile.

He has a knack for the secondary doesn't he.

McVay is a big part of the change in draft selections.

 

[Merlin]

Opportunities for ‘19 draftees to be starters this year look extremely limited to me.

Maybe DL if a stud somehow falls to our 31st pick?

Or a real stud interior OL falls there?

That looks to be about it, IMO.

NT is wide open. They might be able to find a good one well after round 1 as well.

ILB is wide open. Not only can you find ILBs outside of the early picks, but Wade has a tendency to do just that. Not to mention there is a chance Bush is there at 31, slim but still.

OG is wide open. If they find an impact iOL you now have a situation where Boom can slide right into a competition for LT instead of messin around with him on the interior.

If they take BPA they're probably going to get a guy who can start this season. And with some positions there are starters to be found potentially in round 3. What I want to see is two starters from this draft in year one, with one of them being a high end impact type. To me that would be a very successful draft and it's not hard to imagine. Could be something like Bradbury in round 1 and Saunders in round 3. Or flip it and they get Lawrence in round 1 etc.

 

[Rams43]

NT is wide open. They might be able to find a good one well after round 1 as well.

ILB is wide open. Not only can you find ILBs outside of the early picks, but Wade has a tendency to do just that. Not to mention there is a chance Bush is there at 31, slim but still.

OG is wide open. If they find an impact iOL you now have a situation where Boom can slide right into a competition for LT instead of messin around with him on the interior.

If they take BPA they're probably going to get a guy who can start this season. And with some positions there are starters to be found potentially in round 3. What I want to see is two starters from this draft in year one, with one of them being a high end impact type. To me that would be a very successful draft and it's not hard to imagine. Could be something like Bradbury in round 1 and Saunders in round 3. Or flip it and they get Lawrence in round 1 etc.

Sounds like we are largely in agreement, Merlin.

Best bets for rookie starters are at interior OL and DL, depending on who falls. Maybe even both if the draft falls just right. Maybe.

But ILB? After the Matthews signing? And as highly as they’ve spoken about Kiser? I doubt that any late 3rd rounder is gonna start ahead of both of them, frankly.

What I do foresee is a ton of new depth/development talent added. Some of which will be eventual future starting material.

 

[Merlin]

But ILB? After the Matthews signing? And as highly as they’ve spoken about Kiser? I doubt that any late 3rd rounder is gonna start ahead of both of them, frankly.

I'm sure they like Kiser 43. But don't start thinking a guy like Bush wouldn't come right in and start opposite Littleton. In fact if you go back and watch the cutups of Kiser he's never been good in coverage which is undoubtedly why we didn't hear much from him his first season. How much has he improved? I have no idea.

It is very possible they can find an ILB who will at least compete with Kiser, or maybe beat him out, in mid-rounds. And if they get a guy higher, he'll undoubtedly be a guy they expect to win that job.

 

[Memento]

And I think it started with our ‘18 draft and might continue into ‘19 draft and beyond.

First, look at these ‘18 draft picks. [www.si.com]

Noteboom
Allen
Franklin-Myers
Kiser
Kelly
Denby
Sebastian-Day-Joseph
Young
Howard
Lawler

SI forgot Okoronkwo. I think he'll be solid in his second year.

 

[LesBaker]

McVay is a big part of the change in draft selections.

I'm sure he's asking for position players along with WP but they aren't watching nearly as much film as Snead. It's just too much to do. Those two are working hard coaching.

I'm not saying they're not involved but Snead is by far the lead here.

 

[wild ram]

r: 471"]I'm sure he's asking for position players along with WP but they aren't watching nearly as much film as Snead. It's just too much to do. Those two are working hard coaching.

I'm not saying they're not involved but Snead is by far the lead here
???
Drafting John Johnson ?? I’d say Wade had a lot to do with that pick.
Trading back for Everett Snead.
Drafting Everett McVay

Noteboom ?? Kromer as well as Allen[/QUOTE]