we are not getting the #1 pick in 24. "don't tank cause we don't stank". McVay would rather die than lose 16 games. go rams!
No way they move that pick now because if they don't kill it in the draft and with some bargain bin FAs it could be very high. I think this is their plan:
First try to fill what holes they can with bargain FAs in the late part of the window. This makes it a little bit tougher for teams to forecast what players they want for draft positioning.
Second absolutely kill this draft. Lot of talk about the lack of quality in round 1 but when I load up the PFF draft simulator there are still players I like well into it so depth-wise a lot of picks will offer us good options. They need to hit on at least 4 or so of them and when I say hit that means starters to help us this season. The role player types who fall off after a couple years are not gonna cut it.
Third flood certain positions with UDFAs. I expect the Rams will be very aggressive with them, offering their agents legit starting position competition which a lot of other teams cannot do.
If they fix the OL this means Stafford should show well, and maybe they'll get good seasons from Akers and Robinson. All of these are potentially season trade deadline types depending on how the team is doing in the standings.
Defense will be much younger and play hard but the offense will need to carry the team. If that doesn't happen, as in if the losses start to pile up, the Rams will be midseason deadline sellers.
If on the other hand they hit on enough picks and get some big rebounds from their vets and other roster guys stepping up and find themselves competing for a wildcard (we all agree that SB contention is off the table) then I think the team makes all their final clearance moves of the previous vets during the offseason.
Good chance next year we have a different QB running this offense, different backfield, the whole nine. Our first round pick should then be either a LT (if none of our options distinguish themselves) or an Edge (get it while you're in round 1). Of course McVay probably hijacks it for a wideout.
So I don't think they're planning for a poor season, rather planning for both contingencies and the poor season is more likely due to how difficult it is to draft that well.