Rams vs Titans draft

[CGI_Ram]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on...ms-picks-how-titans-fared-in-jared-goff-trade

Before the 2016 NFL Draft kicked off we saw two massive trades happen in order for teams at the top of the draft to acquire quarterbacks.

The Rams traded up to No. 1 and selected Jared Goff, while the Eagles traded up to No. 2 and took Carson Wentz. The most important aspects of these draft-day trades will be the development of the quarterbacks. If they're "franchise quarterback" the deal was great.

For now we're left to compare the haul from the two trades.

We already took a deep dive into the Philadelphia-Cleveland swap that netted the Eagles Carson Wentz. Let's do the same with the Jared Goff trade.

The Rams initially received the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, No. 113 and No. 177 overall in this year's draft. They would trade No. 113 for No. 117 and No. 206, so we're including that in their haul.

RAMS DRAFT HAUL
PLAYER/PICK ROUND OVERALL PICK POSITION COLLEGE
Jared Goff 1 1 QB California
Pharoh Cooper 4 117 WR South Carolina
Temarrick Hemingway 6 177 TE South Carolina State
Mike Thomas 7 206 WR Southern Mississippi

As I've said a bunch, I don't like giving up tons of picks to move up. But if you're going to go all in on 2016, which the Rams clearly are, they did a nice job of acquiring talent to help. Cooper is a steal in the fourth round there. Thomas is a flier late in the draft. The Rams got some offensive talent to help out Goff and will have an interesting offense to watch if the pieces come together and Goff is ready for the pressure of being L.A.'s football face and playing in Year 1.

This can be said like 500 times but it all comes down to Goff. If he's good out of the gates, the Rams make the playoffs and he contends for Offensive Rookie of the Year people will praise this move by Los Angeles. (Except in St. Louis where they will weep in perpetuity.)

Before we get to the Titans side of things, let's look at who the Rams could have taken by staying pat in their original position. Specifically: No. 15 overall, No. 43, No. 45 and No. 76 in this year's draft.

TAKEN WITH RAMS PICKS
PLAYER/PICK ROUND OVERALL PICK POSITION COLLEGE
Corey Coleman 1 15 WR Baylor
Austin Johnson 2 43 DT Penn State
Derrick Henry 2 45 RB Alabama
Shon Coleman 3 76 OT Auburn
2017 NFL Draft Pick 1 TBD TBD TBD
2017 NFL Draft Pick 3 TBD TBD TBD

How hilariously incestuous were the Browns and Titans in all these deals? Two of the picks the Titans acquired from the Rams were used by the Browns, who also traded down. Just odd and clearly a case of two new regimes willing to move around the draft board. (Also two teams with a lot of capital to spend in the draft.)

If you're the Rams, you look at this haul and you feel good about the deal. Corey Coleman would help a lot but wide receivers aren't changing things for Los Angeles without a quarterback (Paxton Lynch was also available there for what it's worth).

Los Angeles needs help on the offensive line, but defensively they're in pretty good shape. Running back is not a need at all. Barring a meltdown that 2017 first-round pick shouldn't be too high.

Let's look at what the Titans got from the trade. Two additional trades apply:

• Traded No. 15 and No. 76 for No. 8 overall and No. 176 overall
• Traded No. 176 overall and a 2017 sixth-round pick for No. 157 overall and No. 253 overall

TITANS DRAFT HAUL FROM RAMS TRADE
PLAYER/PICK ROUND OVERALL PICK POSITION COLLEGE
Jack Conklin 1 8 OL Michigan State
Austin Johnson 3 43 DT Penn State
Derrick Henry 3 45 RB Alabama
LeShaun Sims 5 157 CB Southern Utah
Kalan Reed 7 253 CB Southern Mississippi
2017 NFL Draft Pick 1 TBD TBD TBD
2017 NFL Draft Pick 3 TBD TBD TBD

Just like with Eagles-Browns, when you take a look at what Tennessee actually came away with from the trade to move down from No. 2, well, it's not mind blowing.

These trades take time to marinate: it wasn't immediately obvious the Rams were cleaning up with the picks they got from the RG3 trade.

There's still the matter of the first-round pick in 2017 and there's still the matter of actually being good with Goff under center. Most important: Goff himself has to meet the very vague qualifications of a franchise quarterback to justify the move.

But if you're Los Angeles, you look at what you could have taken with the picks you had and then what Tennessee came away with and you feel much better about the move up to get Goff at No. 1 overall.

 

[CGI_Ram]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer...grades-32-grades-for-32-grades-but-only-one-a

Rams

Best pick: Making the move up to the top spot to land quarterback Jared Goff was a smart move. They had to land a franchise passer, and Goff was the best in this class

Questionable move: Fourth-round tight end Tyler Higbee has some talent, but he had a recent off-field issue that has to cloud this pick some. That situation is still pending. There's risk here.

Third-day gem: Fourth-round receiver Pharoh Cooper was a productive player in a good league. He has a chance to come in and play as the third receiver right away.

Analysis: They finally realized that without a quarterback, it doesn't matter. Moving to Los Angeles this season, they can now start with a franchise passer under center. That's big. It's bold. It's also risky. But it's the move they had to make.

Grade: B+


Titans

Best pick: Third-round safety Kevin Byard is a rangy safety who knows how to track the football. The way the game is played now, you need that style of safety.

Questionable move: Drafting Derrick Henry in the second round is a head-scratcher. Didn't they just trade for DeMarco Murray? What's the point?

Third-day gem: Fifth-round guard Sebastian Tretola from Arkansas is a road grader. In that scheme, you have to be. He's tough and will be good in the run game.

Analysis: Conklin will start, but I thought they had better options. I don't get the Henry pick at all and I don't like Kevin Dodd much in the second round. With a big haul of picks after moving down out of the top spot, I expected more.

Grade: C-

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

As has been pointed out, the Titans draft still includes the Rams first and third next year. So far the Rams have killed it compared to the Titans - getting the impact QB, and then frankly some of the late picks the Rams had look to be as good as earlier picks the Titans did. Two WR steals, Higbee, and two depth players. So the question is, what will the Titans do next year with pick #32 and the comp 3rd they're getting?

Exactly. If the Rams make the playoffs the Titans wont likely be getting GRob and Donald caliber because the pick wont be a top 5.

 

[Boston Ram]

Considering the ammo they had I thought Tennessees draft was ok. Solid but no difference makers IMO.

As for the Rams the only thing that matters is how Goff does. There is no middle ground. We will know by week 8 if we won the trade, because at that point we will know how he is progressing.