The Los Angeles Rams have a perfect trade partner in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft
The Los Angeles Rams are in a weird spot heading into the 2024 NFL Draft because they have a first-round pick for the first time since 2016, when the team drafted Jared Goff with the first overall pick.Les Snead and Sean McVay actually have four picks in the first 98 selections, including two third-rounders. In […]
The Los Angeles Rams are in a weird spot heading into the 2024 NFL Draft because they have a first-round pick for the first time since 2016, when the team drafted Jared Goff with the first overall pick.
Les Snead and Sean McVay actually have four picks in the first 98 selections, including two third-rounders. In all, the team has 11 picks, which almost puts them on track to match last year's 14-man draft class.
It'll be interesting to see what the team does in this "new territory" and don't be surprised if it decides to trade up. Especially since there is a perfect partner awaiting in the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos have been bereft of draft capital over the last few years, thanks to the Russell Wilson and Sean Payton trades. The latter of which left Denver without a second-rounder in this year's draft and then last year's trade-up for Riley Moss eliminated the extra third-rounder it would've had, this year. The Broncos have eight total picks and six of those come on Day 3.
2025's salary cap situation currently isn't the greatest, either, Sure, the Broncos have over $88 million in cap space, but they only have 28 rostered players. That money is going to dry up pretty quick.
In other words: Cheap rookie contracts via draft picks, and lots of them, is the best route for the Broncos in 2024.
The Rams need help on the defensive front, especially after Aaron Donald retired. They also need a true starter opposite Byron Murphy Jr. Michael Hoecht, who just signed his RFA tender, returns for another run after a solid season, but he's definitely more of a rotational guy who is best suited for special pass rush situations. His 13.5% pressure rate against true pass sets and 6.9% pressure rate against typical sets, per Pro Football Focus, says just that.
Trading up to 12 would give the Rams a great shot at landing either the top EDGE rusher in let's say a Dallas Turner, or the top defensive linemen/3T in let's say, Byron Murphy II. There's an excellent chance both players are there at No. 12, as it's highly likely the first 11 teams go offense with their picks. Atlanta and Chicago are really the only true threats to go defense and Atlanta doesn't need Murphy (they have Grady Jarrett) and Chicago's EDGE players play with their hands in the dirt. The Bears are also stocked at 3T, so they don't need Murphy.
It wouldn't cost the Rams too much to move up, either. Per Rich Hill's draft trade value chart, it's a 69-point difference from 19 to 12, which is about the equivalent of the 70th overall a pick, a third-rounder. Granted, it won't take just a third-rounder to move up seven spots in the first round of the draft, but there are some similar comps that give us a good idea of what it would cost:
- New Orleans-Washington 2022 trade: The Saints trade the 16th overall pick, along with picks Nos. 98 and 120 (third- and fourth-rounder) for the Commanders' 11th overall pick. NOLA took Chris Olave.
- Chicago-New York Giants 2021 trade: The Giants certainly made the Bears pay up, as the latter sent the 20th overall pick and the 164th overall pick (fifth-rounder) in the 2021 draft and first- and fourth-rounders in the 2022 draft. The Bears took Justin Fields.
- Pittsburgh-Denver 2019 trade: The Steelers traded the 20th overall pick and the 52nd overall pick (second-rounder), along with a 2020 third-rounder in exchange for the Broncos' 10th overall pick. Pittsburgh drafted Devin Bush.
Based off history (outside the Giants robbing the Bears), the Rams have the ammo to jump from 19 to 12, if they want. A near-repeat of the Steelers-Broncos trade makes most sense – the Rams can trade Nos. 19, 52, and a future third, or, Nos. 19, 83, and a future second. The first scenario would be more likely, however, since the Broncos are currently without a second-rounder, as mentioned earlier.
It won't be a surprise if the Rams make some noise in the first round, especially if the Broncos end up as their dancing partner.
