How the Rams were built: Looking at all the pedal-to-the-metal deals L.A. has made

Sammy Watkins, of all people, started a revolution.

The first time the Los Angeles Rams got aggressive in a player trade during the Sean McVay/Les Snead era, it was for Watkins in 2017. They sent cornerback E.J. Gaines and a second-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for Watkins and a sixth-rounder.

That trade worked out poorly for the Rams. Watkins had 593 yards in one Rams season.

The team obviously didn't feel dissuaded from making other big moves.

One of the recurring themes leading up to Super Bowl LVI is the Rams' wheeling and dealing nature. Their lack of regard for first-round picks started under the previous regime, when the Rams traded multiple picks to move up to No. 1 overall and draft quarterback Jared Goff. There haven't been any Rams first-round picks made since then. Los Angeles doesn't own any of its first-round picks through the 2023 draft, either.

Here's a look at the major moves the Rams made to build their roster, and how they worked out:

2017: One trade that didn't work and two signings that did

The Rams aren't a major player in free agency usually, but in 2017 they made a handful of signings including offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth and receiver Robert Woods. Both of those moves were still paying off during the 2021 season.

The Watkins trade wasn't great, but they can't all be winners.

How it worked: A plus for the Whitworth and Woods signings, though that didn't influence the Rams to be more active in free agency. They still prefer the trade route.

2018: A flurry of trades precedes a Super Bowl

Things got crazier in the second year under the current Rams regime.

The Rams traded a 2018 fourth-round pick and a 2019 second-round pick to the Chiefs for cornerback Marcus Peters and a sixth-round pick. They traded a first-round pick and a sixth-round pick to the Patriots for receiver Brandin Cooks and a fourth-round pick. They got disgruntled rush end Dante Fowler Jr. from the Jaguars for future third- and fifth-round picks. Cornerback Aqib Talib came over from the Broncos for a fifth-round pick. That's a lot of movement for one offseason.

The Rams also traded away some vets like linebacker Alec Ogletree, receiver Tavon Austin and defensive end Robert Quinn for later picks. And they made multiple trades back to replenish their draft stock.

How it worked: The Rams went to Super Bowl LIII after all those moves. Talk about positive reinforcement. Cooks, Talib, Peters and Fowler all started in that Super Bowl. None of those players were around long, but they had an impact. And in the Rams' "live for today" approach, that's fine.

2019: Jalen Ramsey added

Peters and Talib were shipped off for a fraction of what the Rams paid, but the Rams made a huge deal that is still paying off. They sent two first-round picks and a fourth-rounder to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey was one of the best corners in football before and since the trade. The Jaguars drafted edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson and running back Travis Etienne with the first-round picks, and the fourth-round pick ended up being edge rusher Jordan Smith. Now you can see why the Rams' method works: Would you rather have arguably the NFL's best corner or Chaisson (two sacks in 31 games), Etienne (injured before his rookie season) and Smith (two games, one tackle)? Right.

How it worked: NFL teams overvalue draft picks. They always think the picks will end up being great players. Seriously, look at what the Jaguars got out of that Ramsey trade again.

2020: A quiet offseason

The Rams didn't do much. The big move was trading Cooks and a 2022 fourth-round pick to the Houston Texans for a second-round pick. That second-round pick turned into Van Jefferson Jr., a productive receiver for the Rams with a bright future. The Rams made one under-the-radar move that was a home run, signing Leonard Floyd to a one-year deal. Floyd played well, signed a four-year, $64 million extension and has been a big part of this season's defense too.

How it worked: A couple of nice moves but nothing too aggressive. Maybe they were just resting up.

2021: Matthew Stafford headlines huge additions

It's working out pretty well for the Rams' front office. They made a huge deal to acquire Matthew Stafford from the Lions, sending Jared Goff, a 2021 third-round pick and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023. It will go down as one of the most notable trades in NFL history.

The Rams bucked conventional wisdom to trade a 2022 sixth-round pick and 2023 fourth-round pick to the Patriots for running back Sony Michel. Teams generally don't trade much for veteran running backs, but Michel had a big role late in the season.

Once the season started the Rams kept adding players. They traded a second- and third-round pick next year to the Broncos for Von Miller, a 32-year-old who can become a free agent after the season. Many were shocked at how much the Rams paid, but they value picks differently than every other team. Then the Rams pushed harder than any other team for Odell Beckham Jr. after the Browns cut the receiver, and Beckham has been a huge part of the offense since being acquired.

How it worked: The Rams saw an opening and went for it. Do you think the Packers or Chiefs wished they had pushed harder to sign Beckham? Would a team like the 49ers been in the Super Bowl with Stafford? Could a team that fell short in the playoffs used a pass rusher like Miller? There's only one team operating like the Rams, valuing Super Bowl trips way more than future draft picks and cap space.

It's working out pretty well for them.