When you listen to these guys and you hear the staffs that were on those Tampa and Washington teams you realize a simple truth. That the key to building a team starts with the GM. It doesn't matter who is on the coaching staff if there is a lack of championship talent on the roster for the coaches to build around.
Snead is perhaps the most underrated part of the Ram organization. It all starts with him. He hired McVay who built the rest of the staff. Les then made sure he drafted well not only to bring in the talent but to ensure that this flow is sustainable, i.e. with proper cap management. Hard roster cuts are an NFL reality, and Snead understands that.
Les Snead is a master at talent scouting and player evaluation. Just in the last few years, we have watched the evolution of this team from competitive, to be a legit Super Bowl contender. Even now, people downgrade this year's draft and at first glance, they aren't household names. But if one is to take the effort to deep dive into them you can see the talent and exactly where they fit in the long term. Snead is always drafting 1 or 2 years ahead.
Case in point, Robinson is a legit starting NT. But Snead is mindful of the Ram's ability to keep him financially. So enter Bobby Brown who has the talent if realized to eventually replace him. Ernest Jones is another at ILB. He doesn't need to be a starter this year as they have options with guys already on the roster. The examples go on and on rippling yearly through the roster, as Snead is always looking for that player upgrade. Rochell is another example. This kid has the potential to be another Ramsey and he's their insurance that they might not be able to hang on to Darious Williams.
Snead has had his missteps, all GMs do. But the progress has continued despite those missteps. Most of the time those missteps were made when attempting to make the team a contender while key young talent is developed. Snead can't address all the team holes in a single draft. But by the use of bridge players such as Suh and Talib he gave McVay the talent to get to a Super Bowl.
Perhaps the thing I really love about Snead is he is unafraid to make the mega-trade. His trade for Ramsey changed this defense completely. Now the blockbuster trade for Stafford has the potential to do the same for the offense. Snead has shown that talent can be found in all rounds of the draft if you are good at talent evaluation.
Yup Snead isn't afraid to trade away his first-round picks, because after teams use their 1st round picks and develop the player, he can always grab those guys later like he has with Stafford and Ramsey. Besides, the Rams will be drafting at the bottom of the first round for the foreseeable future.