Trade Up Discussion

[Elmgrovegnome]

I think they would only move up into the bottom half of the first round for a QB. Any other position wouldn't make sense as there would be a quality player available at 36. The obvious trade partners would be, Detroit at 18 and the Patriots at 14. The Pats need players who can be found in the second and third rounds where they have a need for picks. The caveat would be that the Rams would value the player that much and the only position it would be justified in doing so is for the future QB1.

I think that the way Snead operates, he targets players at least a year in advance. The advantage of taking a QB in the first is the 5th year option. That would allow the Rams to give Stafford two years to get another Lombardi, to give the Rams 2 years to fully develop the QB in McVay's offense and for Sean to tweak it to his strengths and still hold his rights for 3 more years.

At 14 there would be likely to be any number of potential QBs available. As good as Tune is I don't think they see a future #1 tier starter in him. So IMO it would have to be someone else. At 36 McKee is likely to drop to them with Tune being less likely but not impossible. If Tune was their targeted player then they would not have attended his workout publicly as it would draw too much notice.

All of the Ram's needs can be filled with the picks they have. A case in point is that the Rams have IMO obviously targeted players for PK and P because they released Gay and did not replace him with a vet. Dixon was a bad choice last year with 2 blocked kicks being predictable even before he was signed. I think they learned their lesson in regard to their punter circus in the last 2 years. That is why I see them not waiting until the 6th or 7th round. Both positions are underrated for a team's success as they can win or lose games.

They can find starters at edge, CB and ILB with those first 3 picks I have no doubt. If not starters then key rotational players. If ever there was a draft for Snead to stand pat it would be this year. I think he will wait to see who drops to them.

Regarding your Tune comment. Snead and McVay visited Atwell at Louisville’s pro day. Then picked him.

 

[Rams43]

I would be very disappointed if Rams traded up into first round in this draft. ESPECIALLY if it cost a future 1st.

Infinitely better value by trading down while staying in the top 50. In that way enjoying 4 picks in top 100 in a draft that’s rich in talent in that band.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I could see a trade up to just a few picks if a player is getting close to their spot, that isn’t a QB. I still think that would be an offensive player though, like TE WR or RB.

I make this assumption because McVay seems to influence the early picks.

 

[Merlin]

I could see a trade up to just a few picks if a player is getting close to their spot, that isn’t a QB. I still think that would be an offensive player though, like TE WR or RB.

I make this assumption because McVay seems to influence the early picks.

Yeah this seems most likely of the trade-up possibilities, which are a longshot no matter how you slice it.

And if it was a WR then maybe they move Jefferson as part of the trade-up package. Or if it is TE they move Higs, etc. Doing the 1 for 1 thing knowing at that point what the roster will look like.

Not sure to what extent our trade chip types would move the needle in a trade so we're probably only talking a few spots at best. Doesn't seem like they'd be willing to use picks to do that.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Yeah this seems most likely of the trade-up possibilities, which are a longshot no matter how you slice it.

And if it was a WR then maybe they move Jefferson as part of the trade-up package. Or if it is TE they move Higs, etc. Doing the 1 for 1 thing knowing at that point what the roster will look like.

Not sure to what extent our trade chip types would move the needle in a trade so we're probably only talking a few spots at best. Doesn't seem like they'd be willing to use picks to do that.

I think it would have to be picks traded. I don’t know how highly rated the WR from MSU is ranked but if the Rams really do love him, as some suggest, then I could see McVay drafting him earlier than necessary, like he did with Atwell, Jefferson and Akers.

 

[oldnotdead]

Trading up for a RB or WR this year would be a loser IMO. Trading the 36th and 69th pick only gets you as far as #22 Balitmore's pick. That cost you two potential starters. IMO that costs 2 starters. Trading for a RB or WR is a losing prop because how are you really improving the team? An example might be the Rams trading their #1 in 2024 and their 36 this year to Detroit for their #18 this year. Holmes might be willing that would give him 3 picks in the second and two first rounders again next year and he still keeps his #6 this year. IMO if the Rams trade up into the first round it will be for a QB.

People here keep underestimating Jefferson. He's proven he's a very good WR. A rookie has proved nothing. People overvalue draft picks assuming those players will validate their draft positions. In reality, the vast majority don't. Name a team that has all of their last 8 first round picks starting for them.

Jefferson can play every WR position. With Jefferson, Atwell, Kupp they have 3 good starters. If you don't like Atwell then a 3rd round even a 5th round WR can potentially fill that need. IMO WR is a 6th or 7th round pick this year. I would put edge, CB, ILB, PK and P ahead of RB3 and WR5. I definitely wouldn't trade for them.

 

[Memphis Ram]

People here keep underestimating Jefferson. He's proven he's a very good WR. A rookie has proved nothing. People overvalue draft picks assuming those players will validate their draft positions. In reality, the vast majority don't. Name a team that has all of their last 8 first round picks starting for them.

Jefferson can play every WR position. With Jefferson, Atwell, Kupp they have 3 good starters. If you don't like Atwell then a 3rd round even a 5th round WR can potentially fill that need. IMO WR is a 6th or 7th round pick this year. I would put edge, CB, ILB, PK and P ahead of RB3 and WR5. I definitely wouldn't trade for them.

Jefferson is a good WR who offers next to nothing after the catch and doesn't have enough dawg in him as he isn't aggressive enough at the catch point. Maybe, the Rams will get great contract year performance out of him.

 

[dieterbrock]

Cant see him slipping, but if Michael Mayer could be had in the 20's

 

[Corbin]

I don’t think I’d advocate trading up for any player that’s realistically going to be available at that point of the end of the 1st round.

But I’ll play, if there is one prospect I would it would be Michael Mayer TE ND,
He’d be an instant upgrade to our 12 package which McVay used to love, however the difference he’s like a 6th lineman and can catch like Kelcey or the dumb ass in San Fran.

That would instantly make our run game more dangerous if we get a fresh RB and shore up our OL.

That is playing towards the strength of our play caller and we all know he can be dangerous with his calls when our running game is going.

 

[Corbin]

Cant see him slipping, but if Michael Mayer could be had in the 20's

Stop copying me lol

 

[fanotodd]

What type of player would Snead and McVay trade up for?

If Gibbs or Robinson were there, I think they would. If they loved one of the QBs, I think they would.

I don’t think they would for other positions unless they felt one guy was special and they absolutely felt like they couldn’t pass up the chance to get.

I don’t think they trade up unless it’s a QB or RB.

I sure hope that doesn’t happen because we already have starters at QB and RB, but I hear what you’re saying. I wouldn’t be as surprised as I would be disappointed and frustrated if they did that.

As for moving up in general, I wouldn’t touch the first 3 picks to do it. It would be more like bundling up some lower picks and/or maybe a player to get back into the 4th.

 

[oldnotdead]

Jefferson is a good WR who offers next to nothing after the catch and doesn't have enough dawg in him as he isn't aggressive enough at the catch point. Maybe, the Rams will get great contract year performance out of him.

In 2021 Jefferson was #3WR with 50 receptions, 802 yds, 16yd average, with a long of 79 yds and 6 TDs. Not enough "dawg" did you mean YAC? I beg to differ his average yards prove otherwise as does his long of 79 yds. That was as a WR3. Last year he was hurt and only played 3 or 4 games with Stafford, the rest with backup QBs and had 24 receptions, 369 yds, 15.4 yd aver, a long of 39 yds with 3 TDs and this was his first year playing a lot of XWR a new position for him. I don't know what more he could have done, but to talk him down is just not correct.

Cooper Kupp's average per reception is 12.5 yds over his career with a career long of 75 yds. I guess Kupp doesn't have enough dawg either.

Dude this is a cooperative effort, i.e. everyone has a role to play. Sometimes Jefferson's role is to take the top off to open it up for Kupp underneath. Let's face it, Kupp is the primary WR threat, but that only works when the others are doing their jobs and splitting the secondary's attention. In that regard Jefferson is a very good compliment to Stafford and Kupp.

Re-watch that winning TD against the Raiders. Jefferson read it the same way as Mayfield. Jefferson had a two way break at the snap and because the safety moved inside, he knew his break was outside and to take the route down the line to the endzone. That was the proper read. That what makes him a good WR in this offense. In the SB he read the secondary right and was wide open in the endzone for the winning TD but Stafford missed him badly. So frankly I'm not sure what you are talking about. Sometimes his role is the decoy, to assume things without knowing what the play call is could lead you to the wrong observation. The bottom line is that the secondary must account for Jefferson which splits the attention and helps Kupp to get open.

Jefferson has a role to play and he does it well with no complaining about his targets. That's why OBJ isn't here, because he knows he's not the top dawg, Kupp is.

 

[Neil039]

Trading up for a RB or WR this year would be a loser IMO. Trading the 36th and 69th pick only gets you as far as #22 Balitmore's pick. That cost you two potential starters. IMO that costs 2 starters. Trading for a RB or WR is a losing prop because how are you really improving the team? An example might be the Rams trading their #1 in 2024 and their 36 this year to Detroit for their #18 this year. Holmes might be willing that would give him 3 picks in the second and two first rounders again next year and he still keeps his #6 this year. IMO if the Rams trade up into the first round it will be for a QB.

People here keep underestimating Jefferson. He's proven he's a very good WR. A rookie has proved nothing. People overvalue draft picks assuming those players will validate their draft positions. In reality, the vast majority don't. Name a team that has all of their last 8 first round picks starting for them.

Jefferson can play every WR position. With Jefferson, Atwell, Kupp they have 3 good starters. If you don't like Atwell then a 3rd round even a 5th round WR can potentially fill that need. IMO WR is a 6th or 7th round pick this year. I would put edge, CB, ILB, PK and P ahead of RB3 and WR5. I definitely wouldn't trade for them.

I want a RB but not at the expense of trading up or future picks. They can nail this draft with the first three picks. The debate for most of us is who these three picks should be. If they trade up for a WR I think half of the fans on will have a coronary.

 

[Merlin]

I think LaPorta is similar to Mayer in a lot of ways (him being able to impact this offense). I'd take Mayer over him due to his blocking of course but I think the media is sleeping on LaPorta. This guy is Dallas Clark in a bigger body.

 

[Neil039]

I think LaPorta is similar to Mayer in a lot of ways (him being able to impact this offense). I'd take Mayer over him due to his blocking of course but I think the media is sleeping on LaPorta. This guy is Dallas Clark in a bigger body.

If either are there with the 69th pick they would have to take one of them IMO, but I really doubt it. What about Kraft from S. Dakota State?

 

[Merlin]

I love Kraft. He's not in LaPorta's class in terms of his polish in the pattern. But long term he may end up being one of the best TEs from this class. He is physical, real throwback type TE. He just played at a lower level of competition so yeah he's also being slept on I believe.

Kraft at 69 would be fantastic.

 

[rdlkgliders]

I want year 1 contributors with the day 2 picks, a small move I can see but don't think it will be a dramatic move for a player to sit behind a player in a position we have covered at present.

 

[Memphis Ram]

In 2021 Jefferson was #3WR with 50 receptions, 802 yds, 16yd average, with a long of 79 yds and 6 TDs. Not enough "dawg" did you mean YAC? I beg to differ his average yards prove otherwise as does his long of 79 yds. That was as a WR3. Last year he was hurt and only played 3 or 4 games with Stafford, the rest with backup QBs and had 24 receptions, 369 yds, 15.4 yd aver, a long of 39 yds with 3 TDs and this was his first year playing a lot of XWR a new position for him. I don't know what more he could have done, but to talk him down is just not correct.

Cooper Kupp's average per reception is 12.5 yds over his career with a career long of 75 yds. I guess Kupp doesn't have enough dawg either.

Dude this is a cooperative effort, i.e. everyone has a role to play. Sometimes Jefferson's role is to take the top off to open it up for Kupp underneath. Let's face it, Kupp is the primary WR threat, but that only works when the others are doing their jobs and splitting the secondary's attention. In that regard Jefferson is a very good compliment to Stafford and Kupp.

Re-watch that winning TD against the Raiders. Jefferson read it the same way as Mayfield. Jefferson had a two way break at the snap and because the safety moved inside, he knew his break was outside and to take the route down the line to the endzone. That was the proper read. That what makes him a good WR in this offense. In the SB he read the secondary right and was wide open in the endzone for the winning TD but Stafford missed him badly. So frankly I'm not sure what you are talking about. Sometimes his role is the decoy, to assume things without knowing what the play call is could lead you to the wrong observation. The bottom line is that the secondary must account for Jefferson which splits the attention and helps Kupp to get open.

Jefferson has a role to play and he does it well with no complaining about his targets. That's why OBJ isn't here, because he knows he's not the top dawg, Kupp is.

I pointed out two different things that you seem to have blended into one.

With yards after catch, I was referring to being able to make much out of little or something out of nothing on a shorter route through defenders (Kupp). Not just making yards after the catch behind defenders. Atwell can do that.

As for the "dawg" aspect, I'm talking about one who is physical at the catch point where the QB can be confident that if he's not coming down with the ball, it will be incomplete.

Jefferson is a good WR. But, if he had those qualities, there would have been no need at all to go after Beckham OR Robinson. And the only reason OBJ is not with the team is because of $$$$$$.

 

[Memphis Ram]

I love Kraft. He's not in LaPorta's class in terms of his polish in the pattern. But long term he may end up being one of the best TEs from this class. He is physical, real throwback type TE. He just played at a lower level of competition so yeah he's also being slept on I believe.

Kraft at 69 would be fantastic.

I'm torn between the two of them. But, if I had to choose, I'd go with the better blocker in Kraft.

BTW, I like Penn State's Brenton Strange, too. Love his physicality. If McVay won't finally give in on bringing in a FB, he'd be an outstanding TE / H-Back. It would be nice to bring more physicality to the offense.

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

I think there is almost no chance they trade up unless they are absolutely drooling over someone. I think they definitely want more picks and not less.

This is where I'm at. Just don't see McVay/Snead wasting draft capital for a move up and take the chance to lose out on quality AND quantity in the rest of the draft.
We've just got too many holes to move up for just one guy.
My .02

~ArkyRamsFan~