Shortly before the start of the 2024 NFL Draft, reports began to surface that the Los Angeles Rams were looking to trade up from pick 19.
The Rams had not drafted a player in the first round since 2016 so Les Snead and Sean McVay were obviously eager to end that streak. Reports later came out that the player they were looking to trade up for was Brock Bowers, who ended up being taken 13th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders.
L.A. was unsuccessful in their trade up attempts, however, eventually staying at 19 and addressing the defensive side of the ball by picking Jared Verse out of Florida State. Defense was a huge focus for the Rams early in the draft as they then traded up in the second round to take Verse’s teammate Braden Fiske and closed out the third round with Miami safety Kamren Kinchens.
Some video from draft night was recently released by the league though and it shows just how badly the Rams were looking to trade up for Bowers, offering multiple packages to the New York Jets to get to 10 or 11, via NFL reporter Ari Meirov:
The #Rams offered the #Jets No. 19 and No. 52 to move up to No. 10 during the NFL draft.
There were rumblings before the draft that LA was targeting Brock Bowers.
(via @NFL)
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 14, 2024
More to this: After the #Jets traded down one spot with the #Vikings, the #Rams got back on the phone with the Jets and offered their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round picks to move up to No. 11, along with a 6th rounder.
The Jets still wouldn't budge.
The Rams' target was, in fact,… https://t.co/tp4dH9eorg pic.twitter.com/E3fZ333nmx
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 14, 2024
The Rams have shown over the years that the trade value of draft picks around the league typically means nothing to them if they are super high on a prospect.
It appears that was the case with Bowers as they offered the Jets three of their top four picks to move up just eight spots in the first round.
Even though they were turned down though, the Rams have to be happy with the haul they came away with in Verse, Fiske and Kinchens. Tight end wasn’t exactly a huge need for L.A. while the defensive side of the ball was, so it seems that things worked out for the best.
Jared Verse plans to continue being vocal for Rams
Even though he is just a rookie, Rams first round pick Jared Verse is one of the most outgoing and vocal players on the team. He plans to continue that moving forward, not wanting to change who he is despite being the new kid of the block.
