The 2021 NFL Draft is just around the corner, and as has been the case in recent years, the Los Angeles Rams are without a first-round pick.
What the Rams do have though is six total picks, including three in the second and third rounds, where they have had a lot of success finding talent in recent years.
The Rams’ first pick in the second round comes at No. 57, and some potential needs for the team include interior offensive line, linebacker and secondary.
Rams general manager Les Snead recently discussed what the team could be looking for with that pick.
“How do I answer this to try to be interesting too. I think like we have in the past, we try to work and figure out which players at what positions might be in and around, as we’ve said, ‘Swimming in the in that part of the pool,’ is a little bit harder to do, easier said than done sometimes,” Snead said.
“You somewhat got to wait and see how the draft unfolds and as it gets closer to (No.) 57, at that point in time, you can get a feel for what positions, there could be a run on certain positions and you can manage the strategy from there and whether, ‘Hey, do you go grab somebody? Do you wait and catch whoever falls, or do you move back and try to grab another apple?’ But at the end of the day, we’ve tried to prepare for as many scenarios as possible. But really, you’re looking at probably multiple players at multiple positions because there’s 56 at this point in time, 56 teams get to get a say before we do.”
It appears that new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is having a big impact on what’s going on in the Rams’ draft room and has already identified some players he would like the team to draft at 57.
“We got a new term in the building thanks to (Defensive Coordinator) Raheem Morris the magic of Raheem Morris, obviously you all probably interviewed him,” Sned said. “So, very passionate, vibrant, brings energy every day. He definitely termed a new term and probably a new grade that will implement it’s called the ‘Pool party grade,’ so at that point in time, if there’s a few players at a few positions and I know he’s on the defense side of the ball, but I know the offensive staff joined in as well. But there’s a there’s a few players that maybe as Raheem termed it, we’d have a pool party, if they fell and we were able to grab them. But to be determined, to be continued. But we’ll see.”
Considering the Rams only have six picks, one way to add more would be to trade back from 57, and Snead discussed that possibility.
“Right now, the answer is, we GMs start talking this time of year. The answer is a yes on a few. Historically, when you’re picking 57th, a little late in the second round, at the end of the day, there’s a supply and demand factor that comes into it. But historically those picks have been traded often because a team that may be sitting in the third round maybe has more capital, wants to move up just to jump a few teams. So, I do think the exploratory talks will continue between now and then. But again, could happen a lot on Friday, but I think at that pick right there, there will be not to be teams behind us that a player falls to that pick and they want to go get him. That’s kind of how that those economics work.”
Snead and Sean McVay have certainly earned the trust of Rams fans when it comes to the draft, so regardless of who they take at 57, there is a good chance that player will be embraced by the fan base and be able to come in and contribute right away on a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
