With the NFL Combine kicking off this week, the 2019 NFL Draft is right around the corner. The Los Angeles Rams hold the 31st pick, the next to last selection in the first round of the draft.
Many have come up with mock drafts for the Rams where they stay put and use the 31st pick. Should the Rams trade the pick and move back into the second round, though?
Unless the Rams end up with a steal at the 31st pick, trading back into the second round seems like a smart choice.
The Rams do not possess a second-round pick this year. Therefore, trading for one would allow them to draft in the second round and accumulate more picks. It's a win-win situation.
The Rams should take a page out of the New England Patriots' book when it comes to the NFL Draft. The Patriots and a late first-round pick have become acclimated over the years.
If the Patriots see a guy they like at the 32nd pick they may select him, but they also might inquire with teams near the pick to jump back a few spots to still get the guy they wanted.
What is the advantage of doing something like that? The rookie wage is vastly different if a player is selected in the first round rather than the second round.
For example, Lamar Jackson was selected with the 32nd pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2018. The Cleveland Browns then selected Austin Corbett with the 33rd pick.
Rookie contracts look a little different depending on what round players are drafted. Jackson signed a four-year, $9.47 million contract that came with $8.05 million in guarantees.
On the other side, Corbett received a contract worth $7.51 million over four years while getting $5.68 million in guarantees.
The Ravens have a fifth-year option on Jackson's contract due to the fact that he was selected in the first round. That is one benefit to drafting someone in the first round rather the second round.
Another difference in where players are selected relates to their impending free agency after the player's rookie contract is up. The players immediately become unrestricted free agents if selected in the second round.
On the other hand, first-round picks only become an unrestricted free agent if the team declines their fifth-year option.
The rookie wages are a little complicated, but the Rams can take advantage of them by trading back, which in the end saves them money.
The other key point to realize here is that much as the Patriots and Bill Belichick have a knack for developing talent and finding ways to use players in many different ways, the Rams need to be confident in their ability to cultivate talent at a similar level. McVay has done an outstanding job in his head coaching career, but the Super Bowl showed he still has a lot of room to learn and grow, as one should expect for a coach in his early 30s. Trusting that he can evolve in how he uses players gives the Rams more flexibility in trading back for more picks in lower places on the draft board.
If the Rams are able to trade back a few spots and still land their guy, why not trade back? A team could take the guy they wanted all along, which is a risk teams take when trading back.
Nevertheless, the Rams can accumulate more draft picks by trading back from the 31st pick. It would be nice to add to the seven picks the Rams currently possess.
Given that the Rams have plenty of needs—especially on defense—having more picks can be very beneficial. The Rams would be able to draft multiple edge rushers, safeties, inside linebackers, and more.
It also wouldn't hurt to draft offensive line depth as well. The Rams should view trading back as one of the best options in this draft.
It wouldn't come as a surprise if Les Snead—the Rams' general manager—was plotting a trade to move back as we speak. He hasn't shown any signs of being shy when it comes to making trades, circa 2018.
This is the first draft in the Sean McVay era in which the Rams own a first-round selection. This draft becomes very important for the Rams, especially with all of the impending free agents they have.
Ndamukong Suh, Dante Fowler, Rodger Saffold, and Lamarcus Joyner headline the free agent class for the Rams. As of now, it seems the Rams will allow all of these guys to test the market.
All of these guys could command high price tags, causing the Rams to quickly find their replacements. The NFL Draft is a reliable way to find said replacements.
With the NFL Draft rapidly approaching, the Rams will need to come up with multiple plans. One plan should absolutely include trading back from the 31st overall pick.
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