Know thy enemy: 5 questions, Arizona Cardinals vs LA Rams
Raising Zona: Where would the L.A. Rams be if they had at least one first round draft pick the last few years?
Ramblin’ Fan:
I’m a draft guy – in fact, I’m the Senior Draft Analyst on the Brawl Network – so this is a great question and I really like you bringing this up.
Having first round picks can help teams, yes – but it’s the depth of the draft that really can help you. You have to remember that it’s usually right around 50% of first round picks that make it onto their second contract with the team that drafted them. A first round pick helps – but it’s not a sure fire way to build back your team.
The Rams have done a phenomenal job of putting picks together despite the lack of early round picks. The trades that they get allow them to take several shots in the later rounds. That’s how they landed players like Brian Allen, Micah Kiser, and Travis Howard.
Honesty, I think that if the Rams have first round picks the last few years, they don’t try as hard to collect the depth that they have, and it might have hurt them more. Instead, it’s forced the front office to build the team the way that they are supposed to.