The Los Angeles Rams are one day away from making their No. 19 overall selection at Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday. If the Rams do select at No. 19, it would be general manager Les Snead’s first first-round pick since Jared Goff at No. 1 all the way back in 2016 and head coach Sean McVay’s first since joining the organization.
By all indications, it appears the Rams are going to make a selection in the first round, but Snead won’t say for sure either way.
The Rams have been involved in all types of rumors when it comes to the draft. There are stories that the Rams could move up to take a wide receiver like Washington’s Rome Odunze, possibilities about trading back and continuing to add future draft capital or a veteran player or even staying at No. 19.
Snead won’t discount any of those options, and using a long-winded metaphor, he spoke about how all three choices have their merits and downfalls.
“It’s probably a good metaphor for life,” Snead said. “There’s this element, you have this piece of real estate at 19 and there’s a few pieces of real estate that may be a little less than 19 or earlier and you’re like, ooh, kind of envious of those or that.
“Then there’s that element of, wow, if this could happen at 19, this would be a good net positive for the Rams. And then there’s always the let’s move back. Maybe at that point in time, if I’m going to continue the real estate metaphor per se, maybe you get a chance to buy more pieces of real estate versus just one and that would be one of the reasons why you would move back. A strategic advantage you’re thinking you can get someone that you like a little later and also add another pick.
“I think that’s really the reality of 19. (Reporter) Gary, you’ve had your hand raised forever and you’ve been the one to ask consistently, are we moving up or staying back? And you really don’t know. But I can honestly say that all three of those options are probably as real as it can get in a reality for sure. And we’re going to explore all three. Staying pat is one that you control, but you definitely do not control who falls. If you’re going to move up, that’s a proactive attempt to strike from a distance per se, maybe get an explosive play in the football world, and we’ll see what happens and see if we move back or stay pat..”
McVay was asked to respond to rumors that the Rams were favoring an offensive player in the first round over a defensive player. However, McVay said he personally would be excited about either joining the mix in L.A.
“Why the hell did (Fox Sports and NFL Network Analyst) Peter Schrager put that out there? (laughs). Here’s what I would say, that is not an accurate assumption. Now are you saying that I get excited about an offensive player? Yeah, but I get damn sure excited about a defensive player too (laughs).”
Snead added onto this by saying that the Rams are only going to make decisions that they feel are a net positive for the franchise, regardless of what side of the ball they play on or where the Rams end up making their first choice.
“You know what? Going back to (Scouting Consultant) JW Jordan, he would definitely say, ‘Nothing to add,’ but there’s times he would add that people who score touchdowns are important in this league so just keep that in mind.
“And I think I’ve even said is as we’ve gone through this together that Thursday night, whether you pick an offensive player or a defensive player, the vision is to be a net positive for the Rams, not necessarily looking at it from one side of the ball, right? Both sides complement each other and work together. The Rams either win or lose on Sundays. It’s never a the offense tied, the defense won, and special teams lost per se. It all compounds to one victory or a loss.”
What the Rams do on Thursday night is a huge point of intrigue, as it’s the first time they have been in a position to make this kind of choice in many years. They have the ability to add a real difference maker, and fans are watching closely to see who that is.
Cooper Kupp believes he can get back to 2021 Rams form
The Rams may not be in need of a wide receiver if they have two All-Pro caliber guys in their locker room already. That’s what they could have if Cooper Kupp returns to his 2021 form alongside Puka Nacua, coming off of one of the all-time great rookie seasons in history.
