Rams Failed in 2026 Draft Approach

[Pupped]

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.

Because I want my team to fully exploit a potential SB window?

What’s more entitled.. believing that you have to go all-in when you have the chance… or thinking you’re team is so good.. it doesn’t even need to consider addressing obvious roster issues with its first two picks?

 

[Memphis Ram]

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.

The current big picture of the NFL hasn't changed.

No one has said a team won't be able to find a QB.
What has been pointed out was the difficultly of finding a good one.
(And one that McVay wants given that he even gave up on Goff for Stafford).

That player is primarily the main key to an NFL organization's success and/or failure in this game. And to ignore NFL history and organizations STILL trying to replace their last good QB with another good to better QB years, sometimes decades later, and gamble on a good one dropping into your lap to build a team around is foolish. These guys are rare. This is why they get paid so much and are typically drafted higher than what they may be graded vs players overall. Many average QBs are even overpaid due to the scarcity at the position.

And it's the mindset of the organization and internal messaging behind their choices which you seem to have completely overlooked. ie. the TE focus vs. the WRs. Again, the player acquisition process didn't end after the 2nd round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

And yes, it's fair to observe the current rosters failures. But it's not unfair to push back or let's say disqualify observations with facts, data, or logic that appears to be discounted no matter how pedantic one might believe.

 

[jacktheripper85]

I think 2 people on this thread are actually married to each other.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

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.

I've never once said they weren't aggressive, just wish they'd actually draft an athletic WR higher that they can work with. We have zero guys with "juice" on this offense. Also please don't bring up Tutu because apparently he's never used so his speed isn't really used like some would like to see. Poor guy getting ignored worst than an ugly side chick hahaha

 

[DzRams]

Because I want my team to fully exploit a potential SB window?

What’s more entitled.. believing that you have to go all-in when you have the chance… or thinking you’re team is so good.. it doesn’t even need to consider addressing obvious roster issues with its first two picks?

The first is definitely more entitled. The second may be arrogance but it's not entitlement.

Also, you have a false premise when you assume that they didn't feel the need to consider addressing obvious roster issues with that second pick.

First, they may have thought Klare would contribute this year. Secondly, only they know to what degree they intended to emphasize 13 personnel. If TEs are emphasized and WRs are de-emphasized, they weren't failing to address what you may consider an obvious roster issue. As Param has said, the issue you're railing against is a system issue.

What's funny to me is, you refuse to be more specific on alternatives, saying only Snead/McVay know their priorities and draft board but somehow, you have insight into Snead/McVay's positional emphasis. You've been very inconsistent throughout this thread.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Man fuck this, you're all wrong. Trusting McVay, your gut, or past history. Damn fools, the lot of you.... there's only one way to know what to do and know it's right ...

 

[Memphis Ram]

I've never once said they weren't aggressive, just wish they'd actually draft an athletic WR higher that they can work with. We have zero guys with "juice" on this offense. Also please don't bring up Tutu because apparently he's never used so his speed isn't really used like some would like to see. Poor guy getting ignored worst than an ugly side chick hahaha

And to be used in 2026 on this team that player probably has to offer something on special teams, be able to block, read coverages better than what's already on the roster, and probably effectively learn all the WR spots to get a shot. And even then he has to earn Stafford's trust.

 

[DzRams]

I've never once said they weren't aggressive, just wish they'd actually draft an athletic WR higher that they can work with. We have zero guys with "juice" on this offense. Also please don't bring up Tutu because apparently he's never used so his speed isn't really used like some would like to see. Poor guy getting ignored worst than an ugly side chick hahaha

Have they successfully drafted a WR with juice in the McSnead era?

 

[El Chapo Jr]

And to be used in 2026 on this team that player probably has to offer something on special teams, be able to block, read coverages better than what's already on the roster, and probably effectively learn all the WR spots to get a shot. And even then he has to earn Stafford's trust.

No way to tell if that would work out since its never been tried. But at least we are drafting slow blocking WRs with great attitudes lol

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Have they successfully drafted a WR with juice in the McSnead era?

Does it mean they never can if they failed before?

 

[Pupped]

The current big picture of the NFL hasn't changed.

No one has said a team won't be able to find a QB.
What has been pointed out was the difficultly of finding a good one.

That player is primarily the main key to an NFL organizations success and/or failure in this game. And to ignore NFL history and organizations STILL trying to replace their last good QB with another good to better QB years, sometimes decades later, and gamble on a good one dropping into your lap to build a team around is foolish. These guys are rare. This is why they get paid so much and are typically drafted higher than what they may be graded vs players overall. Many average QBs are even overpaid due to the scarcity at the position.

And it's the mindset of the organization and internal messaging behind their choices which you seem to have completely overlooked. ie. the TE focus vs. the WRs.

And yes, it's fair to observe the current rosters failures. But it's not unfair to push back or let's say disqualify observations with facts, data, or logic that appears to be discounted no matter how pedantic one might believe.

But there is empirical data.. what is the success rate of QBs drafted there?

That’s just one.

And I’m saying the data behind drafting those 2 positions, specifically, and historically, shows less impact as rookies.

And neither, because of the depth chart can help on special teams.

So.. no.. I don’t discount actual data.

Including that it’s difficult to find a QB.. but it’s also difficult to draft them successfully and they won’t contribute as a rookie on a potentially SB roster.

 

[Memphis Ram]

No way to tell if that would work out since its never been tried. But at least we are drafting slow blocking WRs with great attitudes lol

Even if they believed the need existed, team needs don't influence player availability at their selections.

Have there really been that many options that fit the offense that they have passed on. And if they did, were character concerns an issue.

Who knows?

 

[DzRams]

Does it mean they never can if they failed before?

No, it doesn't mean that. It means that we should temper expectations and pronouncements of what we would currently be getting if they had drafted a WR.

 

[Pupped]

The first is definitely more entitled. The second may be arrogance but it's not entitlement.

Also, you have a false premise when you assume that they didn't feel the need to consider addressing obvious roster issues with that second pick.

First, they may have thought Klare would contribute this year. Secondly, only they know to what degree they intended to emphasize 13 personnel. If TEs are emphasized and WRs are de-emphasized, they weren't failing to address what you may consider an obvious roster issue. As Param has said, the issue you're railing against is a system issue.

What's funny to me is, you refuse to be more specific on alternatives, saying only Snead/McVay know their priorities and draft board but somehow, you have insight into Snead/McVay's positional emphasis. You've been very inconsistent throughout this thread.

The complete failure point in your argument is that you think it is an opinion that they needed to address the WR position.

Sorry.. it’s just a real thing… and is why there’s a thread on here about which WR they should trade for.

 

[DzRams]

The complete failure point in your argument is that you think it is an opinion that they needed to address the WR position.

Sorry.. it’s just a real thing… and is why there’s a thread on here about which WR they should trade for.

That's literally the definition of opinion. Sorry...

It's laughable that you presume you know what priority they set for the WR position.

 

[Memphis Ram]

But there is empirical data.. what is the success rate of QBs drafted there?

That’s just one.

And I’m saying the data behind drafting those 2 positions, specifically, and historically, shows less impact as rookies.

And neither, because of the depth chart can help on special teams.

So.. no.. I don’t discount actual data.

Including that it’s difficult to find a QB.. but it’s also difficult to draft them successfully and they won’t contribute as a rookie on a potentially SB roster.

Off the top of my head I can't recall any QBs selected lucky 13th overall but Simpson. Either way, I'm not sure how much that matters given that every draft class has different strengths and weaknesses and good teams don't typically pick that high. Usually QBs selected in that range are immediately thrust into the starting lineup on a bad team before they may be ready to play. Mahomes or Watson maybe? I haven't looked it up.

The Super Bowl (so-called dream team) roster is a key point. Is a QB or TE less likely to have an impact as rookies on a loaded roster. Yes. But, the rookie impact at just about any other position isn't that much better on a loaded roster. Especially, in what was considered by many to be a weaker draft class.

 

[Fire Ants]

It's not a theory, it's an observation. Everyone knew that WR was a potential failure point. Not addressing that until the 6th was absolutely an error.
You keep missing the point.. saying you're "all in" and not going "all in" is mixed messaging. If it was *only* Simpson? The unique nature of the QB position would give this argument some merit, but the fact they drafted Klare shows me they were not paying enough attention to this year's roster.

Again... my whole point is *for this year*. It's always important to remember that nothing in the future is guaranteed. The Rams best draft in the last decade, value-wise, came when they had no first rounders. So.. I'm more confident in them as an organization in solving those problems down the road.

I disagree. That's the point.. it's "almost" all-in.. and the decision to make future picks exposed them to serious positional failure at WR.

I'm hoping!! They MUST add a WR.. the Raiders are not good.. and the offense could get by without a true explosive threat.. or true second threat at WR. That's not sustainable.

I love McVay and Snead.. they're two of the very best in the league.. but they are not infallible.

Nope - we're fine at WR

 

[Pupped]

The first is definitely more entitled. The second may be arrogance but it's not entitlement.

Also, you have a false premise when you assume that they didn't feel the need to consider addressing obvious roster issues with that second pick.

First, they may have thought Klare would contribute this year. Secondly, only they know to what degree they intended to emphasize 13 personnel. If TEs are emphasized and WRs are de-emphasized, they weren't failing to address what you may consider an obvious roster issue. As Param has said, the issue you're railing against is a system issue.

What's funny to me is, you refuse to be more specific on alternatives, saying only Snead/McVay know their priorities and draft board but somehow, you have insight into Snead/McVay's positional emphasis. You've been very inconsistent throughout this thread.

One of the reasons I don’t offer specific players is because of how easy it would be to be intellectually dishonest and only present a best-case scenario with the benefit of hindsight.

That is why I chose my words… they had the wrong *approach*… that’s my critique.

There is no guarantee another approach would be successful! But I just believe strongly that the one they chose ignored roster realities.

 

[Pupped]

Off the top of my head I can't recall any QBs selected lucky 13th overall but Simpson. Either way, I'm not sure how much that matters given that every draft class has different strengths and weaknesses and good teams don't typically pick that high. Usually QBs selected in that range are immediately thrust into the starting lineup on a bad team before they may be ready to play. Mahomes or Watson maybe? I haven't looked it up.

The Super Bowl (so-called dream team) roster is a key point. Is a QB or TE less likely to have an impact as rookies on a loaded roster. Yes. But, the rookie impact at just about any other position isn't that much better on a loaded roster. Especially, in what was considered by many to be a weaker draft class.

Again., they obviously had no 3rd WR option. We have 3 guys who are pointless on the WR depth chart.

That’s the biggest and most obvious issue.. along with OT and special teams.

 

[Memphis Ram]

One of the reasons I don’t offer specific players is because of how easy it would be to be intellectually dishonest and only present a best-case scenario with the benefit of hindsight.

That is why I chose my words… they had the wrong *approach*… that’s my critique.

There is no guarantee another approach would be successful! But I just believe strongly that the one they chose ignored roster realities.

And when you bring up someone like WR Kaden Wetjen without noticing his struggles elsewhere the vultures are ready to pounce.