Rams Failed in 2026 Draft Approach

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Figures. This should have been an easy question for you to answer if you feel they're wrong to not have drafted a WR early. I get it though: You're not willing to say that you would have forced a WR pick because of need.

This means that you've completely failed to make a case that something was wrong with their approach

Nope..

Because my point is their approach to being fine getting no contributions out of top picks this year was a mistake.

There are soooo many other decisions they could’ve made.. which is why I’m not going down your particular rabbit hole.

And.. if you don’t think that picks are impacted by McVay & Snead…
 
So...what's your answer to my question?

There are receivers on the board that they don't much like or think fit. They really love Klare, but he's depth. What's your call Mr. Would Be GM?
I've been watching NFL football for 60 years. The smart teams never draft for this year. They draft for the future. The shit teams draft high and for the now, over and over and over again. I remember when Andy Reid drafted two CBs despite having 2 pro bowl corners on the roster. Of course he wasn't a HOF coach back then.

Klare is in line to replace one of our TEs. Trost is in line to replace one of our OGs. We know who Simpson is in line to replace. But that's not a smart enough approach for some guys. All In means in every way possible. FA, the draft, concessions, parking, etc.

The world could end in March so who gives a fuck about next year?

The whole problem and the primary reason for this thread is we're currently 3-4. So there is some bitching that needs to be done, damn the logic. It happened when we started 3-6. It happened when we started 1-4. Same old story.
 
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Nope..

Because my point is their approach to being fine getting no contributions out of top picks this year was a mistake.

There are soooo many other decisions they could’ve made.. which is why I’m not going down your particular rabbit hole.

And.. if you don’t think that picks are impacted by McVay & Snead…
Your premise is flawed. We don't know that they are fine getting no contribution out of that 2nd round pick. You're assuming that. After the draft, they spoke of an emphasis on 13 personnel and how they would need many bodies at TE this year.
 
Over 50 posts (and counting) saying absolutely nothing.

(Thank God for the ignore feature)
 
Your premise is flawed. We don't know that they are fine getting no contribution out of that 2nd round pick. You're assuming that. After the draft, they spoke of an emphasis on 13 personnel and how they would need many bodies at TE this year.
They could’ve had “bodies” at the position later in the draft.
You know.. where you draft developmental depth players.
 
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I've been watching NFL football for 60 years. The smart teams never draft for this year. They draft for the future.
I know! 100% agreed.

The Rams are one of the top 3 most successful teams over the last decade, and they mostly draft for the future. But we've got fans who are so much smarter that think they should change their approach.
 
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I’m high in observing obvious roster issues?

Okay, dude.

And.. of course this is hindsight.. it is literally after the fact. It’s an observation.

You have to identify failures to avoid repeating the mistakes in the future.
Sometimes failures in result isn't the same as failure in process. Again, I didn't like any of the prospects for us.

Also, all of 2025 we said "the rams can get their successor in 2026 with the Falcons pick!" I'm not gonna pretend it's a failure in hindsight. For all we know you could be eating your words if the rams are red hot in 5 weeks. And then again if Simpson is the real deal c
 
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They could’ve had “bodies” at the position later in the draft.
You know.. where you draft developmental depth players.
Way to ignore the point. You don't know that they're fine getting no contribution from Klare. Period.
 
I put this comment in the other thread. I’ll repeat it here.

Draft better in the 2nd rd.


IMG_0532.webp
 
Nope..

Because my point is their approach to being fine getting no contributions out of top picks this year was a mistake.

There are soooo many other decisions they could’ve made.. which is why I’m not going down your particular rabbit hole.

And.. if you don’t think that picks are impacted by McVay & Snead…
Your point seems very close to, if not outright, suggesting that the team should have possibly reached for (your) perceived needs hoping for one of the small percentage of immediate rookie impacts while possibly ignoring their draft board in what many considered a weaker draft class.

Reading through some of the responses there seems to be a total disregard to how stacked the roster is/was and/or how McVay felt about the players already on the team. Meaning there's a good chance that anyone selected would have issues immediately contributing on this veteran clad team anyway. With this, we can't mistake someone contributing elsewhere as to mean that they would have gotten a similiar immediate opportunity/results with the Rams in 2026. Just as both Simpson and Klare may very well have been provided opportunities and be contributing in the league today if selected by other teams.

The key is somehow being able to predict injuries.

Yes. Davante is getting older and had an issue last year. But he isn't alone. The original plan seemed to go hard on the 13 personnel grouping and Tyler Higbee had missed a total of 21 games the prior 2 seasons. And Matthew Stafford, playing the most important position, is 38 and there were concerns whether or not he'd even be able to play last year due to his back.

Oh well. Sure the team could have gambled with the short-sighted approach you suggest for 2026. And maybe there were similarly graded players on their draft board with at the 13th & 61st overall selections at the positions you prefer. But, it's tickles me that this isn't even a conversation if not for a bad call vs. Wallace in Denver and a missed FG vs. the Bills.
 
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Whether the Rams succeeded or failed in the draft will come down to Ty Simpson. If he's a franchise QB, the Rams are winners. If he's not, it's likely to be a bust of a draft. That simple. They drafted a QB of the future so they could trade their future firsts for Myles Garrett. No Simpson, no Garrett.
 
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Your point seems very close to, if not outright, suggesting that the team should have possibly reached for (your) perceived needs hoping for one of the small percentage of immediate rookie impacts while possibly ignoring their draft board in what many considered a weaker draft class.

Reading through some of the responses there seems to be a total disregard to how stacked the roster is/was and/or how McVay felt about the players already on the team. Meaning there's a good chance that anyone selected would have issues immediately contributing on this veteran clad team anyway. With this, we can't mistake someone contributing elsewhere as to mean that they would have gotten a similiar immediate opportunity/results with the Rams in 2026. Just as both Simpson and Klare may very well have been provided opportunities and be contributing in the league today if selected by other teams.

The key is somehow being able to predict injuries.

Yes. Davante is getting older and had an issue last year. But he isn't alone. The original plan seemed to go hard on the 13 personnel grouping and Tyler Higbee had missed a total of 21 games the prior 2 seasons. And Matthew Stafford, playing the most important position, is 38 and there were concerns whether or not he'd even be able to play last year due to his back.

Oh well. Sure the team could have gambled with the short-sighted approach you suggest for 2026. And maybe there were similarly graded players on their draft board with at the 13th & 61st overall selections at the positions you prefer. But, it's tickles me that this isn't even a conversation if not for a bad call vs. Wallace in Denver and a missed FG vs. the Bills.
Even without Adams being injured, they desperately needed a 3rd WR.

Predicting injury for a guy who is 33 at an explosive position isn’t hard.. he’s played 14, 14, 11 & 3 games in last 4 full seasons.

And.. the thing is.. those close games.. shouldn’t have been.
 
Whether the Rams succeeded or failed in the draft will come down to Ty Simpson. If he's a franchise QB, the Rams are winners. If he's not, it's likely to be a bust of a draft. That simple. They drafted a QB of the future so they could trade their future firsts for Myles Garrett. No Simpson, no Garrett.
On a side note, it's interesting that the preseason raves about the 2027 QB Class appears to have died down quite bit.
 
Even without Adams being injured, they desperately needed a 3rd WR.

Predicting injury for a guy who is 33 at an explosive position isn’t hard.. he’s played 14, 14, 11 & 3 games in last 4 full seasons.

And.. the thing is.. those close games.. shouldn’t have been.
Do you really believe a rookie WR would have made that much of a difference in those close games?

Anyway. how does a team that relies on so much 13 personnel desperately need a 3rd WR?

And if the need is deemed so desperate then why do you believe the team hasn't made a move for one yet?
The NFL Draft is just one part of the player acquisition process.
 
I agree that the 2026 draft will go down as a missed opportunity to stack the roster for their best possible run. We can already see the effect that Boston and Concepcion have had with Cleveland's offense. Given our need at wideout, it's fair to say Boston would have changed our offense for the better, he would have helped us a great deal.

I don't think Klare was a bad pick where we got him but the fact he as a round 2 pick can't impress well enough to be up for gameday is a bad indicator week 8.

Trost may end up being valuable but he hasn't really shown us shit. Dude played less than a quarter and hurt his hamstring. Indications on him are not good at all.

Daniels received the ol' Rams training camp hype plan, but predictably hasn't shown shit in spite of the fact that our WR depth sucks ballsack. None of them move the bar on teams. Neither does Daniels.

Keenan was a weak fatass that got pushed around like a beach ball in preseason. Not even close to the quality we needed at NT.

Looking at this roster pre-draft the ideal draft haul would have included a big WR and a run stuffing NT at a minimum. Those elements were on the board early. So it's not wrong to criticize their approach, even though it's true we're going to need to wait to know for sure.

But this draft approach really comes down to Simpson. If they hit big on him and he ends up an elite QB then the draft was a success. At least he looked good in preseason, which is more than I can say for the rest of these guys. I think Klare can help us this season if he could get out there as a pass game weapon in the slot but the Rams may have good reason not to elevate him.

So idk. Feels to me like a shitty draft in terms of taking their best shot at making a run. I think that's a true statement. But ten years from now if Simpson is a stud none of that will matter.
 
Do you really believe a rookie WR would have made that much of a difference in those close games?

Anyway. how does a team that relies on so much 13 personnel desperately need a 3rd WR?

And if the need is deemed so desperate then why do you believe the team hasn't made a move for one yet?
The NFL Draft is just one part of the player acquisition process.
I think several rookies could have made a difference.

Shit.. finding a way to maneuver and getting a decent 4th to get Wetgen might have made a difference.

And.. yeah.. they could’ve traded picks for players.

You make it sound like they ONLY run 13 and that having only 2 WRs is fine.

Not to me.
 
Do you really believe a rookie WR would have made that much of a difference in those close games?

Anyway. how does a team that relies on so much 13 personnel desperately need a 3rd WR?

And if the need is deemed so desperate then why do you believe the team hasn't made a move for one yet?
The NFL Draft is just one part of the player acquisition process.
Dude should clearly be a personnel director somewhere.
And the argument continues ......