Which 2025 draftee would you trade up for, if any? Why or why not?

[PhillyRam]

I believe more factors would be considered. Like the amount of team needs, depth of game changing type players, positional need, and preference of the head coach.

Kelce has made a huge difference for the Chiefs, as did Gronk for the Patriots. There have been a few other very impactful tight ends. The Chargers had two, one of which, Joyner, was alongside two good receivers. Then they had Gates. Sharpe was a game changing TE, and so was Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. So, if a team thinks Warren has that sort of ability, then, in a draft low on stars, he’s worth a move up no matter how many 6th round picks Snead has to part with.

I also think that if McVay had that level of weapon, then he and Stafford would figure out how to get him the ball. Big targets that get open and have reliable hands tend to get used.

Do the Rams think Warren or even Loveland are that type of player? Who knows, but if they do, the fact that they tried to trade up for a TE two consecutive years makes it difficult to rule out the possibility, despite TE depth in this draft. They’d be drafting a star, not a position.

The more I have watched of Loveland, he does look like a perfect fit. Like a bigger more physical version of Kupp playing the slot. Not an inline TE, in fact they could draft Loveland and still add a physical blocking TE later in the draft. He may be a guy who would make the biggest impact while also adding insurance if Puka goes down again with an injury.

 

[Memphis Ram]

I believe more factors would be considered. Like the amount of team needs, depth of game changing type players, positional need, and preference of the head coach.

Kelce has made a huge difference for the Chiefs, as did Gronk for the Patriots. There have been a few other very impactful tight ends. The Chargers had two, one of which, Joyner, was alongside two good receivers. Then they had Gates. Sharpe was a game changing TE, and so was Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. So, if a team thinks Warren has that sort of ability, then, in a draft low on stars, he’s worth a move up no matter how many 6th round picks Snead has to part with.

I also think that if McVay had that level of weapon, then he and Stafford would figure out how to get him the ball. Big targets that get open and have reliable hands tend to get used.

Do the Rams think Warren or even Loveland are that type of player? Who knows, but if they do, the fact that they tried to trade up for a TE two consecutive years makes it difficult to rule out the possibility, despite TE depth in this draft. They’d be drafting a star, not a position.

The TEs you listed were very impactful, outstanding players. But most of them didn't have two guys like Adams & Nacua to share targets with either. And despite their impact I still believe that lesser talented but good TEs who also were on the page with their QB (and that's really key) could be very successful, too.

Also, going back to the depth of the draft, Warren and even Loveland are not the only big targets with reliable hands in this draft class. In fact, before Warren's outstanding final season where he enjoyed the circumstances of being featured in an offense, he would have been considered in the depth group as the others. Wouldn't be any lesser of a player. But he wouldn't have all the attention he garners now.

Finally, I no longer buy the two consecutive year attempt to trade up for a TE. I buy the attempted trade up for a weapon in Bowers last year as an eventual replacement for Kupp in the slot. (BTW, the success of last year's draft class after that failed trade up attempt for Bowers should have everyone at Rams Park offering a collective ..... Whew!!)

But the prior year, as previously discussed, that trade up attempt looks like it was for a WR. The were other highly rated TEs selected after Kincaid (Laporta, Musgrave, Mayer). But the highly rated WR well dried up after the Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Quentin Johnston, & Zay Flowers run at the position. The next WR didn't even get selected until after the Rams selection. But again, if the actual target was Kincaid that's another collective....Whew!!

 

[DzRams]

The TEs you listed were very impactful, outstanding players. But most of them didn't have two guys like Adams & Nacua to share targets with either. And despite their impact I still believe that lesser talented but good TEs who also were on the page with their QB (and that's really key) could be very successful, too.

Also, going back to the depth of the draft, Warren and even Loveland are not the only big targets with reliable hands in this draft class. In fact, before Warren's outstanding final season where he enjoyed the circumstances of being featured in an offense, he would have been considered in the depth group as the others. Wouldn't be any lesser of a player. But he wouldn't have all the attention he garners now.

Finally, I no longer buy the two consecutive year attempt to trade up for a TE. I buy the attempted trade up for a weapon in Bowers last year as an eventual replacement for Kupp in the slot. (BTW, the success of last year's draft class after that failed trade up attempt for Bowers should have everyone at Rams Park offering a collective ..... Whew!!)

But the prior year, as previously discussed, that trade up attempt looks like it was for a WR. The were other highly rated TEs selected after Kincaid (Laporta, Musgrave, Mayer). But the highly rated WR well dried up after the Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Quentin Johnston, & Zay Flowers run at the position. The next WR didn't even get selected until after the Rams selection. But again, if the actual target was Kincaid that's another collective....Whew!!

Kelce and Gronk were going to be my examples too. They are/were impactful, outstanding, generational players who completely change an offense. You talk about that type versus a lesser talented but good TE....someone like Higbee. He's good, but he's not a game-changer.

When you talk about the TE sharing snaps with Adams and Puka you're missing the fact that Adams is here for one year, two at the most. A great GM/HC can't be so short-term-focused. If you think a TE will be special ala a Kelce or Gronk you absolutely move up to have their game-breaking abilities in your offense for the next 10-15 years. One year of Adams is nothing compared to that.

On Warren you're missing that he's more than a "big target with reliable hands." He's a complete TE who will line up everywhere. He helps the run and pass game. Most of the receiving TEs in this class are limited and will only be a good pass option.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Kelce and Gronk were going to be my examples too. They are/were impactful, outstanding, generational players who completely change an offense. You talk about that type versus a lesser talented but good TE....someone like Higbee. He's good, but he's not a game-changer.

When you talk about the TE sharing snaps with Adams and Puka you're missing the fact that Adams is here for one year, two at the most. A great GM/HC can't be so short-term-focused. If you think a TE will be special ala a Kelce or Gronk you absolutely move up to have their game-breaking abilities in your offense for the next 10-15 years. One year of Adams is nothing compared to that.

On Warren you're missing that he's more than a "big target with reliable hands." He's a complete TE who will line up everywhere. He helps the run and pass game. Most of the receiving TEs in this class are limited and will only be a good pass option.

Kelce and Gronk. Great players. Outstanding. Generational talents. Not sure if we are comparing Kelce and Gronk to Warren, but my point remains. As great as any of these guys were or are, a key component to their success is/was their circumstances / opportunity and connection with the QBs. It's just the nature of the position.

Do you believe that the difference in the overall impact on the Chiefs would have been that significant if let's say Zach Ertz went to KC instead and got on the same page with Mahomes? Or maybe if TE Jordan Reed stayed healthy and was there? Or Trey McBride? We might even be considering them as great players. Outstanding. A generational talents. And not Kelce.

IMO, there are other players over the years who if were featured and placed in the right circumstances who could be more highly viewed, too. Years ago, the Cardinals had a TE named Jay Novack who didn't do much of anything. Dallas got a hold of him and he became a perennial All-Pro. Again Warren wouldn't even be considered so highly today minus his opportunity in his final season at Penn State. If another talented TE prospect in this deep TE draft class got that same opportunity, we might be raving about him instead.

Again, this is a deep TE draft class. There are receiving TEs and there are complete TEs who can line up everywhere if given the opportunity.

Finally I believe it's short-term focused if you are trading up for a TE. If a guy falls into your lap and he's clearly the BPA so be it. But long-term, the more shots at this crapshoot we call the NFL Draft the better. My guy, Brock Bowers, was more highly thought of than any TE this draft class, but I'm glad the Rams couldn't swing that trade up as the guy who fell into their laps and played well playing a premium position had a far greater impact for his team (Verse).

 

[brucebruce]

Nobody.

Any trade up would almost certainly require our 2026 first. With Stafford possibly only having a couple of years left, we need that 2026 first-round pick to draft his replacement.

I dont know if Mcvay wants to build up a rookie. They'd have to be a Jayden Danniels prospect for him to change his mind.

 

[Merlin]

"Jackson Dart sweepstakes" annoys the hell out of me. What is his value to Pittsburgh when they need someone who can play as a rookie. Where he fits for the Rams is they redshirt him and have a very good talent on their depth chart finally behind Stafford. But for the teams that need production early it just feels like Shough or McCord should be more valuable as options for them.

Unless Dart has something extra in interviews like a magnetic personality or a knack for grasping offensive concepts in whiteboard sessions. Which we can't know. Irritates me that Dart even as a fucking project is likely going to end up being taken too high for us to get him.