Building a Champion

 

The Rams returned to LA in 2016, and after going 54-25 over the last 5 seasons, got to their 2^nd Supe since their LA homecoming… And this time they won it in a new stadium in front of their fans, at home.  Can the Eagles and the rest of the NFL learn anything from the template the Rams used to get to TWO Super Bowls since the Eagles made their appearance?  The Rams actually were a team built through the draft, acquiring talent that can be locked “inexpensively” for several seasons.  But this was done non-traditionally by trading most of their 1^st round picks in recent years.  Rams GM Les Snead obtained the Lombardi trophy by doing the “right thing” (build thru the draft) with 1 major exception… He acquired his “finishing pieces,” crafty veterans and pricey free agents, at the cost of recent premium draft picks, but still wisely selected and used his “less valuable” remaining draft selections to choose mid-late round crown jewels. 

In 2018 a returning 11-6 playoff roster upgraded to 13-3, featuring QB Jared Goff, LT Andrew Whitworth, RB Todd Gurley, WR Brandin Cooks, DT’s Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh & Michael Brockers and CB’s Aqib Talib & Marcus Peters.   In preparing that roster, the Rams had a young QB in Goff on his (relatively cheap) rookie deal and a recently acquired aging (but still performing) FA left tackle in Whitworth.  They had then made moves to fortify their D-line (signing FA Suh to add to Brockers and Donald), recast their cornerbacks (adding Peters and Talib), while also trading for Cooks, another weapon for Goff (they already had a young Cooper Kupp to pair with young vet Robert Woods). To accomplish this, Snead was aggressive using picks and money- The cost was

·        1^st, 2^nd, 4^th and 5^th round picks,

·        Loss of cap space to pay the vets for slots the otherwise cheaper rookies would have occupied,

·        Loss of those youthful picks “football years” in exchange for “ready now” veteran capability.  

Not quite achieving their goal, the 2018 Rams did do well, eventually losing Super Bowl 53 to the Pats.

In 2019, rather than revert back to a pure draft approach, Snead doubled down, using the window of Goff’s inexpensive rookie deal to help manage his roster & cap.  He didn’t retain Suh after his 1 year deal at DT,  relying on Donald & Brockers.  He traded CB Peters to the Ravens (for LB Kenny Young & a 5^th round pick) and CB Talib & a 5^th rounder to the Dolphins to clear cap space to acquire All Pro lock down corner Jalen Ramsey for two 1^st rounders (’20 & ’21) and a 2021 4^th rounder.  For pass rush off the edge, he traded (3^rd & 5^th rounders) for 3^rd pick in the 2015 draft Dante Fowler and signed him & former Packer leader Clay Mathews to short term “prove it” deals.  When all decade (2010’s) safety Eric Weddle was cut by the Ravens, Snead scooped him up.  Yet, the Rams followed their Super Bowl losing season with a regression (as most Supe losers do), finishing short of the playoff hunt at 9-7. 

Only ten of the 22 2018 starters remained to start the 2020 season after Weddle retired, and Snead cut ties with ailing rb Todd Gurley, edge rushers Fowler & Mathews and LB’s Bryce Hager and Cory Littlejon.  He made headlines shipping wideout Brandon Cooks and a 4^th rounder to Texas for a 2^nd rounder.  The Rams then used remaining draft picks, including two 2^nd rounders and two 3^rd rounders (they had traded their first rounder for Jalen Ramsey) to help reload.  They improved by 1 game to 10-6 but were eliminated in the Divisional round of the playoffs. 

In 2021, Snead solidified his aggressive reputation (he had not made a 1^st round pick since 2016 when he had traded up to get QB Jared Goff).  As the draft debt pain for Goff & Ramsey was nearing completion, he still swapped two 1^st rounders and a 3^rd rounder and Goff to upgrade at QB with Mathew Stafford.  It was clear Snead would NOT take the conservative approach, continuing to use premium draft capital to swing for the fences.  Said Snead, “This model (works), allowing us to consistently win games… contend.  We’ll try to use our draft picks in an innovative, creative way…”  Snead wasn’t done.  He signed Odell Beckham once available, 10 days after sending his ’22 2^nd and 3^rd round picks for edge rusher Von Miller. 

As for the draft, the Rams are not as bereft as one might think… While Snead traded picks 1-4 and 6 in the upcoming 2022 draft, the Rams will receive FIVE compensatory picks in 2022 (the only team to get that many… a 3^rd, a 4^th and three 6^th’s).  So the Rams will have a 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, three 6^th’s and a 7^th in ‘22! The Rams have traded their 1^st, 4^th & 7^th rounders in 2023, although trades netted them their 7^th rounder back AND two 6^th rounders.  And with 7 projected 2022 free agents, significant compensatory draft capital could again be headed to LA in 2023!  The Rams hold most of their draft capital in 2024 and moving forward, sleighed currently to make their next 1^st round selection in 2024. 

Due to injuries & departures, only FOUR of LA’s Super Bowl 53 starters (Donald, Kupp, Whitworth and Rob Havenstein) played in Super Bowl 56.  

Eagles Lessons: Snead aggressively built a new starting line up using:

• Non 1^st rounders {14 players: 2015- Havenstein, 2016- Higby, 2017- Kupp, Joseph-Day, 2018- Allen, Noteboom, 2019- Rapp, Henderson, Long, Gaines, Edwards), 2020 (Akers, Fuller), 2021 (E Jones)}.  The Rams hit on enough of their non-first rounders to rank 6^th in the NFL in home grown talent!  Snead drafted wisely with his “non-premium” picks, having them contribute early and often until they become more expensive fifth year options (when many were cut loose).  This helped him manage the cap…
• Draft compensatory picks (a record FIVE in 2022 alone!).  By letting selective rookies walk in year 5 as their contracts ended, Snead let “non-essentials” go while consistently supplementing his draft collateral.   
• Multiple FA Moves (6: OBJ (2021), Whitworth (2017), Woods (2017), Floyd (2020), Weddle (2019… Retired then resigned in 2021), Robinson).  The Rams GM was able to make key free agent acquisitions). 
• Key trades (3 players: Stafford, Ramsey, Miller) done after most core elements were in place.  Once a Super Bowl contender, Snead used his premium picks to acquire sure-fire NFL talent, confident the picks he gave up would be late in the 1^st round (& therefore less valuable than potentially projected).
• Talent added mid-season (OBJ, Ramsey, Miller, Weddle…), a critical component of Sneads approach. 
• Snead also used an “extended bench” by scooping up retiree Weddle to re-contribute in the playoffs.