Rams Failed in 2026 Draft Approach

[Rmfnlt]

You’re not very smart.

And haven’t read the thread.

I thought personal attacks were frowned upon here... Mods??

 

[Memphis Ram]

The NFL has always been a year to year league. To use both your 1st round pick, and your 2nd round pick, on players that will not even suit up is beyond arrogant. Using 1 of those picks on a QB of the future, sure.

Team needs don't influence player availability on draft day.

Besides, while the NFL might be year to year, selecting players in this crapshoot we call the NFL Draft portion of the player acquisition process can't be due to the learning curve of rookies. That is, not unless said GM already knows he's on the hotseat and has to swing for the fences in an effort to save his job.

 

[OntarioRam]

I am pretty sure Klare will be a bust if he cannot even manage to be active on game days, let alone take snaps, when you consider how many TEs we utilize and that we are suffering mulitple injuries at TE. He's a rookie, so plenty of time to be wong. Hopefully, I am. But it is not encouraging.

The real question is... why is this regime incapable of hitting on a 2nd round pick? Lots of good players, star players even, get selected in round 2. If you simply had a computer auto-draft for the Rams in rd 2, picking whoever the rankings from the "experts" list as the best player available, you'd have better results.

Since McVay and Snead took over, we have drafted the following players in round 2:

• Max Klare
• Terrance Ferguson
• Braden Fiske
• Steve Avila
• Tutu Atwell
• Cam Akers
• Van Jefferson
• Taylor Rapp
• Gerald Everett

That is pretty ugly. Sure, a bunch of okay NFL careers on that list. But the threshold for round 2 cannot be "has an NFL career, with a few productive years". You need better than that. Some picks are going to flop. That's life. But you need some hits that are more than single or a double in round 2. Steve Avila is the only player on that list I would consider more than a JAG (Just Another Guy). Not good. Fiske in particular was at the very top of rd 2, and we sacrificed another 2nd round pick to move up to get him, so that one really hurts. The jury is still out on Klare and Ferguson. The former hasn't even played. The latter has barely played. But if I had to wager on it, I'd bet on 2 more JAGs in the making.

The Rams have not suffered for their round 2 drafting being so underwhelming, because they do well later in the draft, and even just 1 round later in rd 3, have snagged an incredible caliber of player. Blake Corum, Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Ernest Jones, Cooper Kupp. That would be a good list even for 1st round picks! And that's round 3 alone, don't forget later round steals like Puka, Lake, Kyren. I would say the rd 2 drafting is just random / bad luck, and shows how much of a crap shoot the draft is when you look at rd 3 beside it. But that high in the draft when there are lots of good players on the board, a 10 pick sample size is illustrative. Something isn't working with the Rams' approach in rd 2.

 

[Pupped]

I thought personal attacks were frowned upon here... Mods??

Oh jeebus.. we’re going there?
I’ve addressed “hindsight” multiple times on this thread.

 

[Coliseum Ram]

Now lets re-do the WHOLE thread with Myles Garrett healthy and being "Myles Garrett" the whole season. THAT should be fun!!!!!

 

[Rmfnlt]

Oh jeebus.. we’re going there?
I’ve addressed “hindsight” multiple times on this thread.

The rules are the rules and you broke one.

I call on the mods to shut this insane thread down. For all that is good on this earth.

 

[RamFan4Life]

I am pretty sure Klare will be a bust if he cannot even manage to be active on game days, let alone take snaps, when you consider how many TEs we utilize and that we are suffering mulitple injuries at TE. He's a rookie, so plenty of time to be wong. Hopefully, I am. But it is not encouraging.

The real question is... why is this regime incapable of hitting on a 2nd round pick? Lots of good players, star players even, get selected in round 2. If you simply had a computer auto-draft for the Rams in rd 2, picking whoever the rankings from the "experts" list as the best player available, you'd have better results.

Since McVay and Snead took over, we have drafted the following players in round 2:

• Max Klare
• Terrance Ferguson
• Braden Fiske
• Steve Avila
• Tutu Atwell
• Cam Akers
• Van Jefferson
• Taylor Rapp
• Gerald Everett

That is pretty ugly. Sure, a bunch of okay NFL careers on that list. But the threshold for round 2 cannot be "has an NFL career, with a few productive years". You need better than that. Some picks are going to flop. That's life. But you need some hits that are more than single or a double in round 2. Steve Avila is the only player on that list I would consider more than a JAG (Just Another Guy). Not good. Fiske in particular was at the very top of rd 2, and we sacrificed another 2nd round pick to move up to get him, so that one really hurts. The jury is still out on Klare and Ferguson. The former hasn't even played. The latter has barely played. But if I had to wager on it, I'd bet on 2 more JAGs in the making.

The Rams have not suffered for their round 2 drafting being so underwhelming, because they do well later in the draft, and even just 1 round later in rd 3, have snagged an incredible caliber of player. Blake Corum, Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Ernest Jones, Cooper Kupp. That would be a good list even for 1st round picks! And that's round 3 alone, don't forget later round steals like Puka, Lake, Kyren. I would say the rd 2 drafting is just random / bad luck, and shows how much of a crap shoot the draft is when you look at rd 3 beside it. But that high in the draft when there are lots of good players on the board, a 10 pick sample size is illustrative. Something isn't working with the Rams' approach in rd 2.

Agree 100%

 

[Memphis Ram]

lol…

My point was that yes, in fact, they make mistakes.

Your inference that I think I know “the right path” is on you.

As I’ve said.. there are many other ways they could’ve utilized the 1st & 2nd, specifically… from trading down.. to trading for a player or players.. to drafting different players.. to a combination of those.

My point is drafting the way they did.. especially at the top, was a failure.

It was a failure at the bottom as well.. not doing more to potentially boost special teams.. something they’ve done very successfully in the past.

Not my fault you lack imagination.

lol. Your point is fruitless.

It's not a lack of imagination at all. I'm just using what I believed was common sense.

Everyone knows that mistakes can be made and that no one is perfect. Even the Rams organization. I have yet to read anyone on this forum say otherwise despite those words continually being placed in their mouths.

But some of us understand that even if they utilized the 1st & 2nd differently or via any combination that you come up with, this team could very well still be in the same boat they are in today or worse because the those moves and the team are not in a vacuum. Whatever combination of moves you suggest could have an effect on other moves that were made that have panned out and may not have otherwise been made. And again, opponents (and refs) have a say in the outcomes of these games.

So to stress that what the team did was a failure or wrong approach only 7 games into a season and as if the player acquisition process ended after the second round of the NFL Draft utterly ridiculous.

 

[Memphis Ram]

I am pretty sure Klare will be a bust if he cannot even manage to be active on game days, let alone take snaps, when you consider how many TEs we utilize and that we are suffering mulitple injuries at TE. He's a rookie, so plenty of time to be wong. Hopefully, I am. But it is not encouraging.

The real question is... why is this regime incapable of hitting on a 2nd round pick? Lots of good players, star players even, get selected in round 2. If you simply had a computer auto-draft for the Rams in rd 2, picking whoever the rankings from the "experts" list as the best player available, you'd have better results.

Since McVay and Snead took over, we have drafted the following players in round 2:

• Max Klare
• Terrance Ferguson
• Braden Fiske
• Steve Avila
• Tutu Atwell
• Cam Akers
• Van Jefferson
• Taylor Rapp
• Gerald Everett

That is pretty ugly. Sure, a bunch of okay NFL careers on that list. But the threshold for round 2 cannot be "has an NFL career, with a few productive years". You need better than that. Some picks are going to flop. That's life. But you need some hits that are more than single or a double in round 2. Steve Avila is the only player on that list I would consider more than a JAG (Just Another Guy). Not good. Fiske in particular was at the very top of rd 2, and we sacrificed another 2nd round pick to move up to get him, so that one really hurts. The jury is still out on Klare and Ferguson. The former hasn't even played. The latter has barely played. But if I had to wager on it, I'd bet on 2 more JAGs in the making.

The Rams have not suffered for their round 2 drafting being so underwhelming, because they do well later in the draft, and even just 1 round later in rd 3, have snagged an incredible caliber of player. Blake Corum, Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Ernest Jones, Cooper Kupp. That would be a good list even for 1st round picks! And that's round 3 alone, don't forget later round steals like Puka, Lake, Kyren. I would say the rd 2 drafting is just random / bad luck, and shows how much of a crap shoot the draft is when you look at rd 3 beside it. But that high in the draft when there are lots of good players on the board, a 10 pick sample size is illustrative. Something isn't working with the Rams' approach in rd 2.

I guess one would have to question your definition of lots of good players get selected in round two because when last I checked only about 33% or so turn out to be solid or better in this crapshoot we call the NFL Draft.

And I'd also guess there is a decent difference in players selected in the top 5-10 of the 2nd round vs. players selected at the bottom 5-10 selections of the 2nd round. While still considered 2nd rounders, that matters quite a bit. Especially in weaker draft classes. When I get a chance I'll try to find that research.

Klare? Who knows. But when a player has 4 solid veterans who know the offense ahead of him it just seems unfair to me to even consider someone selected #61 overall in a weaker draft class a bust. Possible? Sure. But way too early to judge.

And especially given what appeared to be a night and day difference in former rookies in Allen and Ferguson and even former free agent veteran Parkinson in McVay's offense from year one to year two.

 

[DzRams]

Absofuckinglootly, you did. And when you start out on a rant about "approach" but have the information incorrect, how does that help your argument? I'll tell you. It makes it weak from the get go!

Of course you are. Because you believe the WRs on this team are "incompetent" based on their target share, when in fact it's not a matter of their competence but the system the play caller has designed and how he uses that system. It wouldn't change with a first or second round WR instead of Mumpfield, Whittington or Atwell.

Oh sure, I can imagine why you believe there's a problem with that argument. If it were some first rounder or second rounder, he'd be a much better WR than Mumpfield, so he'd have a lot more targets and reception. Except, in McVay's offense, he wouldn't. For a number of reasons. Would he have the offense down pat? Sure, maybe by midseason, maybe not. Would McVay suddenly go to a #3 WR before going to Puka OR Adams, Higbee, Allen, Parkinson, Kyren and Corum? Probably not. So since I can't figure out 'the problem with that argument' maybe you can enlighten me with some solid insight.

Besides, Puka, has McVay played a WR a lot in his rookie season? McVay has had a couple of 2nd round picks, and they didn't make much impact in year 1.

 

[snackdaddy]

You’re not very smart.

And haven’t read the thread.

Smart enough to know calling it a failed draft not even halfway through the season is very short sighted. Is it one of those "They didn't do what I wanted so its a failure"?

 

[Pupped]

lol. Your point is fruitless.

It's not a lack of imagination at all. I'm just using what I believed was common sense.

Everyone knows that mistakes can be made and that no one is perfect. Even the Rams organization. I have yet to read anyone on this forum say otherwise despite those words continually being placed in their mouths.

But some of us understand that even if they utilized the 1st & 2nd differently or via any combination that you come up with, this team could very well still be in the same boat they are in today or worse because the those moves and the team are not in a vacuum. Whatever combination of moves you suggest could have an effect on other moves that were made that have panned out and may not have otherwise been made. And again, opponents (and refs) have a say in the outcomes of these games.

So to stress that what the team did was a failure or wrong approach only 7 games into a season and as if the player acquisition process ended after the second round of the NFL Draft utterly ridiculous.

So.. here’s the thing.. you rail against so much.. yet do the same thing by completely dismissing criticism.

I get it. You don’t see it.

 

[DzRams]

Are you directing this comment at me and this thread?

Damn, calm down killer, its only conversation lol.... I simply said there are different ways to approach the draft and constructing the roster off of that and that gets you? There are areas of depth that were not given enough attention to some of us and that makes no sense? Okie dokie I guess..... I'm assuming you are complaining about ur favorite current poster in Pupped whom we all know you love and adore but if I'm included in there, well thats pretty interesting to say the least.

My little rant probably came across as more intense that I wanted to. I enjoy engaging with both of you.

It wasn't about the thread as a whole. I'm fine with criticism of the Rams front office, their approach to the draft, and whether specific draft picks were wise or not.

The part of your respective posts that were irritating to me pertained to downplaying their aggression in making moves to go for it this year or suggesting that there weren't salary cap sacrifices. They traded multiple 1sts and spent $252 mil. to compete for a SB.

You're essentially complaining that the Rams didn't do more to go "all in" but fail to acknowledge that with their trades and salary cap expenditures, they've moved more chips to the center of the table than any team in recent memory. You'd have to go back to around 2013 to find a comparable offseason where a team expended more resources.

 

[Pupped]

Smart enough to know calling it a failed draft not even halfway through the season is very short sighted. Is it one of those "They didn't do what I wanted so its a failure"?

Which is incorrect.

Wasn’t pounding the table for anyone and think Simpson looks like a good prospect.

It’s about the overall draft approach this year.

 

[Memphis Ram]

So.. here’s the thing.. you rail against so much.. yet do the same thing by completely dismissing criticism.

I get it. You don’t see it.

No I don't dismiss criticism at all. I question the timing of said criticism and try to counter points that seem to miss the big picture and/or simply don't make sense to me.

 

[Pupped]

My little rant probably came across as more intense that I wanted to. I enjoy engaging with both of you.

It wasn't about the thread as a whole. I'm fine with criticism of the Rams front office, their approach to the draft, and whether specific draft picks were wise or not.

The part of your respective posts that were irritating to me pertained to downplaying their aggression in making moves to go for it this year or suggesting that there weren't salary cap sacrifices. They traded multiple 1sts and spent $252 mil. to compete for a SB.

You're essentially complaining that the Rams didn't do more to go "all in" but fail to acknowledge that with their trades and salary cap expenditures, they've moved more chips to the center of the table than any team in recent memory. You'd have to go back to around 2013 to find a comparable offseason where a team expended more resources.

Let me be clear…

I’M NOT DOWNPLAYING THOSE MOVES… I’M SAYING THE DRAFT WAS INCONGRUOUS WITH THOSE MOVES.

Thank you.

 

[Pupped]

No I don't dismiss criticism at all. I question the timing of said criticism and try to counter points that seem to miss the big picture and/or simply don't make sense to me.

And I think the “big picture” fall back… misinterprets the big picture.

The built-in assumption that you won’t be able to find a QB… ignores the current big picture in the NFL.

The big picture includes the mindset of your organization… and the internal messaging behind those choices.

And it’s fair to observe the current roster failures… and fair for you to criticize those observations.. but the efforts to disqualify my observations with truly pedantic tropes seeem small-minded and silly to me.

 

[snackdaddy]

Which is incorrect.

Wasn’t pounding the table for anyone and think Simpson looks like a good prospect.

It’s about the overall draft approach this year.

I have no idea how its gonna turn out. I'm pretty sure you don't either. For the record, I was disappointed when they drafted Simpson. I also wanted a guy like Lemon. But after seeing the whole thought process that went into it I can understand why. I did agree with trading for McDuffie and Garrett. And that is another situation where we won't know how well it turns out for the next few years.

 

[DzRams]

Let me be clear…

I’M NOT DOWNPLAYING THOSE MOVES… I’M SAYING THE DRAFT WAS INCONGRUOUS WITH THOSE MOVES.

Thank you.

I get it.

They moved more chips to the center of the table than any team in recent memory, but your complaint is that they didn't move ALL chips.

IMO, that complaint comes across as an entitled, spoiled brat but fair enough.

 

[Pupped]

I have no idea how its gonna turn out. I'm pretty sure you don't either. For the record, I was disappointed when they drafted Simpson. I also wanted a guy like Lemon. But after seeing the whole thought process that went into it I can understand why. I did agree with trading for McDuffie and Garrett. And that is another situation where we won't know how well it turns out for the next few years.

I feel like the SB is very unlikely now.
Homefield meant everything last year.. and no reason to believe this year will be different.
I was surprised by Simpson.. and understand the logic… but that logic needed to be backed up with a real understanding of current roster weaknesses and failure points. That’s the core of my issue.
I’m a Trojan and did not believe Makai was worth the 13th, fwiw.