Actual team needs

[FrantikRam]

From what I recall Johnson played mostly at EDGE when he finally got on the field. And Hamilton was awful. Sure he could improve but it's possible that an upgrade could be had.

That goes into the mistake of banking on rookies with the NFL draft in attempting to fill needs. Team needs don't influence player availability and you may fill a position with a body, but if he stinks or isn't ready, the need remains. The Rams should take the best player available within reason and hope for the best during their rookie seasons. Anything a rookie offers should just be considered icing on the cake.

But we already know that the Rams don't subscribe to BPA, which is a myth anyways. Operating that way still gets you plenty of busts. The Rams having an intentional plan for the players they pick tends to go much better.

 

[DzRams]

From what I recall Johnson played mostly at EDGE when he finally got on the field. And Hamilton was awful. Sure he could improve but it's possible that an upgrade could be had.

That goes into the mistake of banking on rookies with the NFL draft in attempting to fill needs. Team needs don't influence player availability and you may fill a position with a body, but if he stinks or isn't ready, the need remains. The Rams should take the best player available within reason and hope for the best during their rookie seasons. Anything a rookie offers should just be considered icing on the cake.

Funny thing is, this is almost exactly what Snead says.

"When you draft for need, you may still have a need after the draft."

 

[Memphis Ram]

But we already know that the Rams don't subscribe to BPA, which is a myth anyways. Operating that way still gets you plenty of busts. The Rams having an intentional plan for the players they pick tends to go much better.

BPA within reason as was stated is not a myth. And the within reason is the key point often ignored when discussing the topic. It's how the team selected and enjoyed Aaron Donald.

And it's probably needs to be considered in the team's attempts to move up for certain players. Notice they didn't immediately draft players playing the same positions when those trade up attempts failed.

Sure it's still possible to get busts, but my guess is the chances of getting a bust isn't nearly as high as taking a lesser rated player on one's draft board in an attempt to fill a need.

 

[FrantikRam]

BPA within reason as was stated is not a myth. And the within reason is the key point often ignored when discussing the topic. It's how the team selected and enjoyed Aaron Donald.

And it's probably needs to be considered in the team's attempts to move up for certain players. Notice they didn't immediately draft players playing the same positions when those trade up attempts failed.

Sure it's still possible to get busts, but my guess is the chances of getting a bust isn't nearly as high as taking a lesser rated player on one's draft board in an attempt to fill a need.

BPA means something different to every team. Every team has a different way of evaluating players - Jordan Rodrigues' piece last year called "Finding Rams" was outstanding and showed just how you can end up with such varied systems to evaluate players. I am sure some teams are now incorporating AI as well.

The closest thing we have to actually assessing BPA is composite rankings that compile multiple media sources - aside from that, a team is ALWAYS going to say a player was atop their board after picking them.

Using those composite rankings, you can "evaluate" how a team did after drafting - and in a lot of cases, the Rams "reach" for players based on those rankings. Sure, those are just media opinions - some being former scouts - but we will never know what a teams draft board actually looked like.

There are going to be positions teams spend less time scouting, personality/interviews that we as fans know next to nothing about, etc.

Its a myth because there is no one true opinion on how good these players are.

And we know that the Rams group players together, but we don't know what all the factors are - it's a good bet that need at the position plays a big part in those groupings.

 

[Memphis Ram]

BPA means something different to every team. Every team has a different way of evaluating players - Jordan Rodrigues' piece last year called "Finding Rams" was outstanding and showed just how you can end up with such varied systems to evaluate players. I am sure some teams are now incorporating AI as well.

The closest thing we have to actually assessing BPA is composite rankings that compile multiple media sources - aside from that, a team is ALWAYS going to say a player was atop their board after picking them.

Using those composite rankings, you can "evaluate" how a team did after drafting - and in a lot of cases, the Rams "reach" for players based on those rankings. Sure, those are just media opinions - some being former scouts - but we will never know what a teams draft board actually looked like.

There are going to be positions teams spend less time scouting, personality/interviews that we as fans know next to nothing about, etc.

Its a myth because there is no one true opinion on how good these players are.

And we know that the Rams group players together, but we don't know what all the factors are - it's a good bet that need at the position plays a big part in those groupings.

Some people see BPA and react as if one believes that there is this one draft board that all teams and fans adhere to which is crazy.

Just because we don't know or have access to a team's draft board, that doesn't mean that BPA within reason is a myth internally (the actual teams with all the scouting information).

The lack of external information is probably one of the main reasons that a team can say they took the BPA on their draft board and could actually be telling the truth while outsiders with their limited information don't believe them.

 

[FrantikRam]

Just because we don't know or have access to a team's draft board, that doesn't mean that BPA within reason is a myth internally.

This lack of information is probably one of the main reasons that a team can say they took the BPA on their draft board and could actually be telling the truth while outsiders with their limited information don't believe them.

Right....but by saying "BPA within reason" and then realizing that every team can and will say that, and they may be telling the truth - it becomes a completely pointless saying. Because BPA or BPA within reason can now be defined as "making a draft pick" with the information we don't have.

We can't know how a team is going to evaluate players - but we do have a lot more context on the existing players on the roster. I could be wrong and we could cut Ty Hamilton - but I posted this because it helps me to consider and narrow down what the Rams may do.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Right....but by saying "BPA within reason" and then realizing that every team can and will say that, and they may be telling the truth - it becomes a completely pointless saying. Because BPA or BPA within reason can now be defined as "making a draft pick" with the information we don't have.

We can't know how a team is going to evaluate players - but we do have a lot more context on the existing players on the roster. I could be wrong and we could cut Ty Hamilton - but I posted this because it helps me to consider and narrow down what the Rams may do.

Going by the existing players on the roster could be just as pointless as we are working with limited information there, too.

There could be injury issues, unknown guys on the trade block, unknown upcoming suspensions, and guys that were on the practice squad that they like a lot more than we know. There could be guys they know they want to replace but will keep as an extra body through training camp for practice purposes. There could be free agent veterans that they are waiting to see if their price comes down, contract negotiations with current players that aren't going too well, as well as coming to terms with potential trades, and etc.

 

[OldSchool]

Dropping this here for no reason at all


View: https://x.com/spotrac/status/2033546732852703385?s=20

 

[FrantikRam]

Going by the existing players on the roster could be just as pointless as we are working with limited information there, too.

There could be injury issues, unknown guys on the trade block, unknown upcoming suspensions, and guys that were on the practice squad that they like a lot more than we know. There could be guys they know they want to replace but will keep as an extra body through training camp for practice purposes. There could be free agent veterans that they are waiting to see if their price comes down, contract negotiations with current players that aren't going too well, as well as coming to terms with potential trades, and etc.

Limited information, but still much more than how a team is evaluating college players, which is why I like this exercise. I like seeing how close I can get to being right and, while I ultimately agree that the Rams are going to draft players that they have highly rated, I do think that there are typically going to be enough players rated closely together that what position they play ends up playing a major factor.

 

[So Ram]

Limited information, but still much more than how a team is evaluating college players, which is why I like this exercise. I like seeing how close I can get to being right and, while I ultimately agree that the Rams are going to draft players that they have highly rated, I do think that there are typically going to be enough players rated closely together that what position they play ends up playing a major factor.

This is a VERY UNIQUE DRAFT for The Rams this year.Basically The Draft has started for The Rams.

To eliminate The CB position & secure The safety position was HUGE !!

There is a Wild Card at TE ?

DT is position The Rams desire,plus it seems like KC did well there with a solid DT inside rush ? Kobie Turner is going to be a FA,Puna is on the SMALLER side as well.Ty Hamilton is younger & is still ascending,but not the answer.

OLB/ B. Young comes off the books.What’s his price tag ?

A solid OT might be tough to pass up? There are certain types you NEVER get that chance to DRAFT.
Who becomes FA next season Upfront ? Who becomes that LEADER now that Big Rob is gone ?
(Oldschool says NO?)

Of course WR.We have a couple younger players,but The Rams need a playmaker.Puka is the question? BTW - The WR position sort of changed last season.The Rams had to deal with some Big WR’s.

I could see that Rams putting to Ducks together & elevating The TE/WR position. It could be a GREAT thing & Mcvay has The Coaching Staff to implement it.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

This is a VERY UNIQUE DRAFT for The Rams this year.Basically The Draft has started for The Rams.

To eliminate The CB position & secure The safety position was HUGE !!

There is a Wild Card at TE ?

DT is position The Rams desire,plus it seems like KC did well there with a solid DT inside rush ? Kobie Turner is going to be a FA,Puna is on the SMALLER side as well.Ty Hamilton is younger & is still ascending,but not the answer.

OLB/ B. Young comes off the books.What’s his price tag ?

A solid OT might be tough to pass up? There are certain types you NEVER get that chance to DRAFT.
Who becomes FA next season Upfront ? Who becomes that LEADER now that Big Rob is gone ?
(Oldschool says NO?)

Of course WR.We have a couple younger players,but The Rams need a playmaker.Puka is the question? BTW - The WR position sort of changed last season.The Rams had to deal with some Big WR’s.

I could see that Rams putting to Ducks together & elevating The TE/WR position. It could be a GREAT thing & Mcvay has The Coaching Staff to implement it.

I’d be ecstatic if we grabbed an OT at 13.

 

[Tano]

Desjuan played really well at times last year too. I think Hamilton played decent at times, and given he's likely to make a jump year one to year two, I'd be very comfortable with him as effectively the 6th defensive lineman.

As far as the starters go that will be free agents after this year - we have A LOT to figure out - Puka, Kobie, Byron, four offensive linemen, Adams, Parkinson, Allen, Stafford and only they know who they want to pay and not want to pay - but I'd imagine Turner will be re-signed. We also have an ungodly amount of cap space and probably could re-sign just about everyone if we wanted to.

So just going off of who the FAs will be next year isn't really helpful here - on top of that, next year is likely our best shot at winning a Super Bowl. So we need to cross future needs with 2026 needs, and when you do that, the two that jump out is offensive line (depth for 2026) and WR.

The late round picks will likely be special teams focused. TE and DL would really surprise me, because while (especially at TE) we will need depth for next year, any player drafted is just unlikely to make much of a contribution in 2026. We messed up last year by not attacking CB in the off-season, and while we fixed that mistake this year, it would similarly be a mistake to draft a TE who may or may not see the field. Especially when highly drafted TEs have some of the biggest bust rates of any position. Maybe the plan will be to take Sadiq and use him to stretch the field for us - but I just see him having a similar first year to Ferguson which, while that's fine.....we have a unique chance here to draft a player who we will need to rely on, with a premium pick that also makes sense for future needs.

IMHO, I think Sadiq would be better used as a slot receiver than a tight end.

Maybe he could go out wide sometimes since he is fast.

 

[duanevalle22]

IMHO, I think Sadiq would be better used as a slot receiver than a tight end.

Maybe he could go out wide sometimes since he is fast.

Agreed

I posted the same thing.... I also think the same regarding Boston.

 

[den-the-coach]

Really need a swing Offensive Tackle, there are some that will be available in the 3rd round or if they really like someone in the 2nd round. Jude Bowry from Boston College would be a nice get. Arm Length is 33 3/4 plus has big hands and when I watched him, he was always in the right place at the right time.

Plus when Bowry gets into a game, I want to post that, he took a sad song and made it better.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Plus when (Jude) Bowry gets into a game, I want to post that, he took a sad song and made it better.

 

[VegasRam]

Notice they didn't immediately draft players playing the same positions when those trade up attempts failed.

Huge point.

 

[fanotodd]

Really need a swing Offensive Tackle, there are some that will be available in the 3rd round or if they really like someone in the 2nd round. Jude Bowry from Boston College would be a nice get. Arm Length is 33 3/4 plus has big hands and when I watched him, he was always in the right place at the right time.

Plus when Bowry gets into a game, I want to post that, he took a sad song and made it better.

The Bowry boy from BC would be a good pickup.

 

[DzRams]

I’d be ecstatic if we grabbed an OT at 13.

Which one though? Freeling is shooting up the draft board and may not be available at 13. He's the only one that's projected to stay at OT; the others are projected to move to OG.

 

[PhillyRam]

Which one though? Freeling is shooting up the draft board and may not be available at 13. He's the only one that's projected to stay at OT; the others are projected to move to OG.

OG is a bigger need. Both OGs hit FA next year. Probably cant keep both. Ioane would probably be a homerun pick, just not a immediate need barring injury.

Or could they try the Avilla to center experiment again in 27'?

 

[DzRams]

OG is a bigger need. Both OGs hit FA next year. Probably cant keep both. Ioane would probably be a homerun pick, just not a immediate need barring injury.

Or could they try the Avilla to center experiment again in 27'?

Yep. I think they will come out if this draft with an OT and an OG. I've been saying that it will be primarily focused on 2027 needs, not immediate impact.