Rams Failed in 2026 Draft Approach

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I believe that they'll be better when Garrett and Donald finally see the field and more importantly stronger for potential playoffs run.

And having the draft capital and completing a deal for a top talent are still two different things altogether.

Team needs don't influence player availability.
Buckner just went for a 4th.

Opportunity can't be met if you don't have the means to take advantage.

Lots of dumb bromides to be offered.
 
Not sure if you've noticed but we've gotten pounded by injuries this year too.
What are we even doing here?
Honestly.. can we get back to the actual topic?
Seriously.. this alt-universe.. Stribling is hurt against the Rams.. so it's impossible he gets hurt if the Rams draft him because he won't play them. Is this the discussion we want?

I said I'd draft Boston. Okay? And if we drafted Stribling, it would be impossible for him to get hurt the same way.

So.. can we get back to the big picture instead of rabbit holing everything to the nth degree?
 
Again.. I reject the premise.

Because I don't believe that any team operates in a "always draft the highest rated player on your board" manner.

Teams factor in "need" all the time.

The thing is there's a difference between "reaching" for a need.. and overdrafting someone. "Reaching" would be imagining someone is better in a role that you have for them than they really are.
Overdrafting would be taking someone higher than others would expect.. but it's a player who fills an exact role for you.
I understand that team need plays a role via the NFL draft. I point this out every single year when explaining best player available within reason. And I don't by the media driven reaching and over drafting stuff.

However, I also understand the the draft is just one part of the player acquisition process that is combined in a marriage with veteran and undrafted free agency and possible trades to build a roster.

And I believe that in the crapshoot we call the NFL Draft that it is best to follow the board that teams have spent loads of man hours and monies to build and attempt to fill holes via the other means of talent acquisition. Wny? Because if the people involved are worth their salt it should lessen the risk of failure.
 
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Buckner just went for a 4th.

Opportunity can't be met if you don't have the means to take advantage.

Lots of dumb bromides to be offered.
Would be nice to have. But, I'd rather have Donald and Garrett than Buckner and Verse.

And I doubt his impact would be as great with the Rams than with the 49ers base 4-3 defense.
 
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I understand that team need plays a role via the NFL draft. I point this out every single year when explaining best player available within reason. And I don't by the media driven reaching and over drafting stuff.

However, I also understand the the draft is just one part of the player acquisition process that is combined in a marriage with veteran and undrafted free agency and possible trades to build a roster.

And I believe that in the crapshoot we call the NFL Draft that it is best to follow the board that teams have spent loads of man hours and monies to build and attempt to fill holes via the other means of talent acquisition. Wny? Because if the people involved are worth their salt it lessens the risk of failure.

Yeah.. and even with that.. we've seen obvious head-scratcher picks, right?

So.. are those solely scouting issues? Where does the process break down that you invest a 2nd round pick in Tutu Atwell? A player profile you can easily find in the lower rounds and even in UDFA? And I'm not one of those constantly hand-wringing about Creed Humphreys... but, on what planet, can any real talent board show Atwell higher than Humphries?
 
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Yeah.. and even with that.. we've seen obvious head-scratcher picks, right?

So.. are those solely scouting issues? Where does the process break down that you invest a 2nd round pick in Tutu Atwell? A player profile you can easily find in the lower rounds and even in UDFA? And I'm not one of those constantly hand-wringing about Creed Humphreys... but, on what planet, can any real talent board show Atwell higher than Humphries?
Can't prove it, but I still believe that Atwell occurred because Snead was in his garage with covid and couldn't talk McVay out finding a potential DeSean Jackson type WR.
 
What are we even doing here?
Honestly.. can we get back to the actual topic?
Seriously.. this alt-universe.. Stribling is hurt against the Rams.. so it's impossible he gets hurt if the Rams draft him because he won't play them. Is this the discussion we want?

I said I'd draft Boston. Okay? And if we drafted Stribling, it would be impossible for him to get hurt the same way.

So.. can we get back to the big picture instead of rabbit holing everything to the nth degree?
He could get hurt in the same game on the same field against the 49ers. This is the actual topic. You're advocating for the Rams to have drafted a WR instead of Simpson. The WR they would have drafted based on Adam Schefter's reporting has barely played so far due to injury.

And if you would have drafted Boston, feel free to direct me to the posts you made before the Draft advocating for drafting Boston in the first round. Because otherwise, you're sitting here nearly halfway through the season with the benefit of hindsight, something the Rams didn't have 6 months ago.

I'm not sure how you can complain about us going down the rabbit hole when we're talking about the Rams draft strategy. It requires actually exploring the opportunity costs of their decisions, particularly when the rookie they built their draft around is a QB who was drafted to be Stafford's successor.
 
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He could get hurt in the same game on the same field against the 49ers. This is the actual topic. You're advocating for the Rams to have drafted a WR instead of Simpson. The WR they would have drafted based on Adam Schefter's reporting has barely played so far due to injury.

And if you would have drafted Boston, feel free to direct me to the posts you made before the Draft advocating for drafting Boston in the first round. Because otherwise, you're sitting here nearly halfway through the season with the benefit of hindsight, something the Rams didn't have 6 months ago.

I'm not sure how you can complain about us going down the rabbit hole when we're talking about the Rams draft strategy. It requires actually exploring the opportunity costs of their decisions, particularly when the rookie they built their draft around is a QB who was drafted to be Stafford's successor.
I’m beyond exasperated.

I’ve said.. multiple times on this thread.. that.. OF COURSE IT'S HINDSIGHT.. IT'S LITERALLY AFTER THE FACT...

And I didn't say to draft Boston.. I didn't have a ton of strong draft opinions.. I just didn't think Makai was worth 13.

You don't like the premise of my conversation? Don't engage!! Because I'm not going to engage with you any longer.

I'm OBSERVING that the strategy was the wrong one for THIS SEASON.

I've acknowledged the QB issue and addressed how I perceive it.

Other points about investing for the future.. etc.. are valid.. but are not what I'm talking about. And, yes.. there's a difference between a futre draft and a present draft.. we all know it.
 
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While we're on the subject of hindsight, both Nico Collins and Amon-Ra St. Brown were drafted after Tutu. Ouch.
Man I really liked Nico Collins. But with Wood, Kupp, and Jefferson I figured he wouldn't be considered.:confused:
 
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There were only 5 picks this year. Two of them 6th & 7th rounders.

6th & 7th round picks ain't going to make a difference for "this season".

That left the Rams with 3 picks, not one in the top ten of the first round.

So, three little draft picks, which are always hit and miss, would not add much of anything to "this season".

If we got one rookie starter, that would be just one player out of 22 positions. Or let's call it 21 positions leaving out Stafford and the QB position. How much better would the rookie be than the current starter being replaced? Just how much of an improvement you gonna get replacing one decent player with a hopefully better rookie?

If we got two starters out of the 3 picks, again, just how much would that improve the team "this season".

So, yeah. I get your point @Pupped. The Rams DID NOT draft for this season. What I believe you're missing out is "who cares?" Wouldn't have hardly made a difference anyway. Therefore, picking a QB for the future was the right decision for the "RAMS", just not this season in particular; but again, who cares?

Here's the whopping 5 picks the Rams had for the draft:

13/1
Ty Simpson, QB

61/2
Max Klare, TE

93/3
Keagen Trost, OT

197/6
C.J. Daniels, WR

232/7
Tim Keenan III, DT
 
I’m beyond exasperated.

I’ve said.. multiple times on this thread.. that.. OF COURSE IT'S HINDSIGHT.. IT'S LITERALLY AFTER THE FACT...

And I didn't say to draft Boston.. I didn't have a ton of strong draft opinions.. I just didn't think Makai was worth 13.

You don't like the premise of my conversation? Don't engage!! Because I'm not going to engage with you any longer.

I'm OBSERVING that the strategy was the wrong one for THIS SEASON.

I've acknowledged the QB issue and addressed how I perceive it.

Other points about investing for the future.. etc.. are valid.. but are not what I'm talking about. And, yes.. there's a difference between a futre draft and a present draft.. we all know it.
You can shout about how it's hindsight, but there is a massive difference between "I think the Rams had the wrong strategy in hindsight" and "the Rams had the wrong strategy in hindsight because they should have picked these specific players who went later in the Draft who are playing well as rookies." The former point is debatable. I think you're wrong because drafting Simpson made them feel confident enough to trade future draft compensation for Myles Garrett. If Simpson turns out to be a bust, well, we'll pay for it. If he pans out, we'll be in a good spot.

But the latter point is incoherent. If your draft strategy is "pick the best players based on knowledge you'll have midway through their rookie season," your strategy isn't viable.

So this conversation can absolutely be about the opportunity costs of drafting Simpson and Klare and whether that was the right call. But we have to be honest about those opportunity costs, not create a fantasy land where the Rams would have drafted the guys who are making immediate impacts as rookies. It would be one thing if you were pounding the table before the Draft for these guys. You could say that you've been vindicated. But you weren't.

Finally, if my memory is correct, your solution to the QB of the future problem was that some veteran QB would shake loose and McVay and Snead would figure it out. But McVay and Snead clearly were not comfortable with that solution, so I'm a bit baffled as to how you can say, "We can trust McVay and Snead to figure it out," as you're championing a solution they rejected. Have a nice night.
 
Think about the chasing the dude for a long time part.

When Stafford was younger and the potential QB need didn't seem as serious.

And prior to the 2025 season when they didn't even know if he'd be able to play due to his back.
You really didn't get it did ya.....by chasing the dude that dude is Myles Garrett. Snead was trying to get him for YEARS. This whole idea that the Rams only went after Garrett because they drafted Simpson is media and fan driven by far. If you're chasing an elite talent like that, you're giving up the picks with Stafford as your QB. Would people really be pissed if we got Garrett and didn't draft Simpson first? I highly doubt most would. By the way, I understand the Rams are more comfortable making the trade because they drafted a QB they liked, but I can't see Snead turning away from it after "humping" the Browns leg for years about Garrett lol
 
Dude, common sense doesn't fly well in this thread!!!! :biggrin: This is about a 7-0 record that turned into 3-4. So something had to go wrong right? Let's start with THE PLAN and narrow it even more by adding FOR THIS ALL IN SEASON. You know.....like in other years we're not trying to win the Super Bowl. :eyeroll:And despite not winning itno desire to read this whole thing. the last 4 years leading to 2026, THE PLAN was better.......FOR THOSE YEARS. :laugh4:
Threads like these amount to just something for guys to flap their jaws about. None of it matters. We have the team we have.
I have no desire to read this whole thread.
We have a game tomorrow. It kinda matters.
The Rams are a couple plays away from having a real shot at being the current 2 time defending Champs.
This year, 3 plays from being 6-1.
If we get hot, all the guys back, we also have a real shot this year.
Need to take care of business.
 
We should consider this thread a Festivus celebration with an early airing of grievances.
 
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I haven't posted in this thread due to this being so subjective.

If you are applying the draft to our present SB window, the only thing that really matters. It is fair to say the 26 draft has done very little to help facilitate that goal.
Oh, so Trent McDuffie (2026 1st Round "Draft Pick" # 29) doesn't count?
 
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I'm not analyzing the overall quality of the draft. I'm not.

I'm saying that it was the wrong draft approach to take advantage of the current Super Bowl window. I see no evidence anywhere on this thread that that is an incorrect statement.

If you believe you can build for the future AND max out your present, that's fine. I don't think you can. And when I say build for the future, I mean drafting players in Klare and Simpson that are *only* about the future.
And again, if Simpson becomes a true Franchise Quarterback that solves the position for 5-8 years and leads us to multiple Playoffs then he was indeed the CORRECT pick. No one else at 13 puts us "over the top" to win us this year’s Super Bowl.