7 trade scenarios for Rams on Day 2 of the 2021 NFL draft
Only one team in the NFL has traded its original draft picks more than the Los Angeles Rams since 2016: the Patriots. That’s evidence of just how often Les Snead likes to trade the Rams’ picks, whether it’s to go up and get a player they covet or to move back when the board doesn’t fall their way.
Heading into Day 2 of the draft, there are several options for the Rams when it comes to trading both up and down the board. Might they jump 10-15 spots for a player they viewed as a first-round prospect? Or could they trade back from No. 57 to the third round in an attempt to add picks?
Here are seven possible scenarios using the Rich Hill trade value chart to gauge the point total of each pick.
Trade up to No. 45
Rams trade: Nos. 57 and 103 (133 points) Jaguars trade: No. 45 (131 points) If a player such as Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Teven Jenkins, Azeez Ojulari or even Asante Samuel Jr. were to fall past the first 10 picks of the second round, the Rams should consider moving up. Owusu-Koramoah would be an especially great pick for Los Angeles, giving Raheem Morris a versatile, rangy defender to deploy either at inside linebacker, safety, blitzing off the edge or matching up with tight ends. Giving up a third-rounder might be tough for the Rams to do, but the payoff would be huge if they could land Owusu-Koramoah, a talented tackle like Jenkins or one of the top pass rushers in Ojulari.
Trade up to No. 51
Rams trade: Nos. 57 and 141 (112 points) Washington trades: No. 51 (112 points) It’s unlikely the aforementioned players would be available at this point, but it still makes for a good trade-up spot. Washington would like to add mid-round picks and for the Rams, they could go up for a player such as Dillon Radunz, Creed Humphrey, Samuel Cosmi or Joseph Ossai. It may not be worth it for Los Angeles to give up its fourth-rounder, widening the gap from its third-rounder (103) to its sixth (209), but it should still be in consideration if the right player is there.
Trade down to No. 64
Rams trade: Nos. 57 (96 points) Buccaneers trade: Nos. 64 and 137 (97 points) Trading down is a much more likely scenario for the Rams, who only have six picks to work with. The Buccaneers don’t have any pressing needs and could be in a position to trade up for a player they covet at the end of the second round. The Rams pick up another fourth-rounder, giving them an extra top-150 pick to use on a linebacker, receiver or defensive lineman later on in the draft.
Trade down to No. 75
Rams trade: No. 57 (96 points) Cowboys trade: Nos. 75 and 99 (100 points) This would be a steeper move back, sliding 18 spots. But in doing so, the Rams would net an additional top-100 pick at No. 99. They would then have picks at 75, 88, 99 and 103. With those selections, the Rams could do some serious damage on the second night of the draft. The Cowboys traded down in Round 1 and picked up No. 84 in the process, so they could be looking to trade back up for a player in the second round.
Trade down to No. 85
Rams trade: No. 57 (96 points) Titans trade: Nos. 85, 100 and 166 (95 points) A 28-pick trade back? Fans would probably be disappointed, putting the Rams’ first pick at No. 85, but it would also give them even more ammo in the third through fifth rounds. Los Angeles doesn’t currently have a fifth-round pick, so there’s a gap from No. 141 to 209. The 166th pick could bridge that gap and help the Rams draft a player they like in the middle of Day 3.
Trade down from No. 88 to 106
Rams trade: No. 88 (47 points) Jaguars trade: Nos. 106 and 145 (48 points) What if the Rams keep No. 57 and instead trade back from pick 88? Les Snead said the team expects to get calls about its third-rounders, so here’s one scenario to fit that idea. The Jaguars would be moving up 18 spots to secure a player in Round 3 before the end of Day 2, rather than having to wait until the first pick on Saturday.
Trade down from No. 103 to 118
Rams trade: No. 103 (37 points) Chargers trade: Nos. 118 and 159 (36 points) Trading down from No. 103 is also a possibility if a team wants to make one of the final picks on Friday night. The Chargers have a strong roster already and might see a player they really want slip to the end of the third round. This is another scenario where the Rams could add a fifth-round pick that they currently lack without moving back too far from Round 3 to 4.
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