The Los Angeles Rams have enjoyed some great years in their franchise's history. However, they've also endured some truly terrible ones.
Just look at their recent history. The Rams were one of the better teams in the late 90s/early 2000s. However, they then went through an extremely long period where they were one of the worst teams in the entire NFL.
In the last few years, they have rebounded though and were even one of the best teams in 2018, making it to the Super Bowl.
A lot of their success (and their failures) can be attributed to the NFL Draft. And with the 2020 NFL Draft so close, it makes sense that we look back at the past of Los Angeles. By that, I'm talking the ever-popular category of steals and busts.
Today, we're looking at the five biggest draft busts in Rams franchise history.
5. Jesse James
Offensive lineman play a pretty large role in this article. So there's your fair warning on that.
And it's Jesse James that leads the list off. James was drafted 62nd overall by the Rams back in 1995. He appeared in one game his rookie season and one game in his second season. Neither were starts.
That's the entirety of the career of James. Los Angeles spent a second round pick on him. That would make you believe they had serious plans for the offensive lineman that people thought could play anywhere on the line coming out of College (Mississippi State).
Instead, he probably isn't remembered at all by most fans, as he never really even got a chance to play.
4. Tye Hill
Tye Hill was a big miss. I actually remember the build-up to the 2006 draft. The Rams had a few options they could have gone here with the 15 pick. That includes quarterback Jay Cutler (who went a few picks ahead at 11).
Cutler ended up having a very up-and-down career. He was never great and honestly had some really bad years. However, he would've been a much more productive pick for the Rams than Hill was.
The cornerback showed a decent amount of promise in his rookie year. In 16 games (10 starts), Hill racked up 56 tackles (two for loss), three interceptions, six pass deflections and one fumble recovery.
That was easily the best year of his career though.
Hill played two more seasons with the Rams. In 12 combined games (11 starts) he had just one interception (although he did have 10 pass deflections) and 55 tackles.
Hill then spent one year with the Atlanta Falcons and one year with the Detroit Lions. 2010 was the last year he spent in the NFL. Hill ended with five career interceptions.
3. Greg Robinson
Alright, we've now gone a whole one spot without an offensive lineman. That's entirely too long.
So let's get back to the offensive line with the most recent pick on this list, Greg Robinson.
Robinson was the second overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. This was still a time when the Rams needed help in a lot of different places. Offensive line was certainly one of them though, so I won't take points away for that.
However, the fact that this was a need might make it worse.
If you want to pile on though, that second overall pick was part of the Robert Griffin III trade with the Washington Redskins. The Rams really squandered a gift pick.
Robinson three years with the Rams as a guard/tackle. In that time he appeared in 46 games (42 starts). That right there should tell you how bad he was. He actually played a decent amount and still is near the top of the list.
Robinson was a revolving door. He tended to get pushed back and defenders seemed to blow right past him often.
After Los Angeles, Robinson went to play with the Detroit Lions for a year and the Cleveland Browns for two. This offseason, he got into a load of trouble having to do with drugs. And he might not be back in the NFL ever again.
Robinson doesn't get mention in the bust conversation enough. Likely because this was the same draft the Rams also took superstar Aaron Donald, who tends to dominate the conversation.
2. Jason Smith
Let's keep that offensive line bashing going.
Jason Smith was Greg Robinson before Greg Robinson. Getting drafted second overall (like Robinson) in the 2009 NFL Draft, he was well out of the league before the man that was number three on this list was even drafted.
Smith spent three seasons with the Rams, appearing in 29 games (starting 26 of them). He was such a disappointment.
Smith had size and an athletic build. But none of it seemed to translate to the NFL.
After three seasons with the Rams, Smith went to play for the New York Jets in 2012. That was his last season in the NFL. Very very few highlights came from those four seasons.
1. Lawrence Phillips
Lawrence Phillips tops the list for a few reasons. Drafted sixth overall in 1996, he clearly had some lofty expectations.
Not only was the draft position high, but the running back was expected to take over for Jerome Bettis.
This wasn't an aging Bettis either. This was a Bettis who in 1996 would be 24. He was just entering his prime. With two great years already under his belt, the Rams went in a different direction. And Bettis went on to be a true superstar with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Phillips, on the other hand, was not.
He didn't even play two full seasons with the Rams. In two years, he played 25 games with the team (20 starts). He ran for 1,265 yards on 376 carries (3.4 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns.
By the end of his second season, he was with the Miami Dolphins.
Phillips then played a third season with the San Francisco 49ers in 1999. That would prove to be his last in the NFL.
The running back also had a lot of legal issues that followed him up until the day that he sadly passed away in 2016. That included spending time in jail while with the Rams.
So two underwhelming years with the team that included jail time and three underwhelming years total in the NFL. It's no surprise that Phillips tops the list of biggest busts in Rams' franchise history.
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