Los Angeles Rams GM Les Snead’s Draft Trading History
Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead loves to trade draft picks. It became such a frequent move that the saying “F*** them picks” started almost a year ago due to his history of trading draft picks. While trading draft capital for proven players has become Snead and the Rams’ most rewarding method of roster building, he has a proven track record of trading within the draft itself. Here’s a look at Les Snead’s draft trading history.
Rams GM Les Snead rocked a shirt that said: “F*** them (draft) picks.”
LeBron responded to the photo of the tee: “LEGEND! My type of guy.”
👀
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 17, 2022
The Rams didn’t make a pick in the 2022 NFL draft until the third round at position #103. Snead traded their first-round pick away for the 6th year in a row in order to get Matthew Stafford back in 2021. They also swapped their 2nd round pick for Von Miller last year, although he did end up going to the Buffalo Bills. The last the time the Rams didn’t draft in the top 100 picks was back in 1984. Here’s the full list of picks the Rams had:
- Round 3, Pick #104
- Round 4, Pick #142
- Round 5, Pick #164
- Round 6, Pick #211
- Round 6, Pick #212
- Round 6, Pick #235
- Round 7, Pick #253
- Round 7, Pick #261
Snead has traded picks during the draft in nine of his 10 years as Rams GM, and he has made seven trades before or during the draft involving first-round picks, most notably the pre-draft trade up to get quarterback Jared Goff at No. 1 overall in 2016. This draft, Snead actually most of the picks he originally had. However, there are a few ways Snead could’ve gone about trading picks.
One way is trading lower round picks for fewer high-round picks. With 68 players currently rostered and only 90 players allowed to attend training camp come July, L.A. could be looking at a scenario of trading up with some of its later round picks and filling out the remainder of its roster with undrafted free agents. For example, some 6th and 7th round picks could be packaged for 5th or even 4th round picks. However, Snead has never moved up into the first round by trading draft picks alone and seems unlikely to be able to do that this time if he wanted to. There’s no obvious hole to fill in the current roster using the draft, making less sense to trade up. Snead himself said,
“I doubt we’ve got the ammo to get into that first round. But you know what, Sean is persistent. I’m sure he can talk us into being creative.”
What a draft pick by Les Snead. I thought it was a bit early to select Ernest when we did but I couldn’t be more wrong. Ernest was all over the field during the Super Bowl and I can’t wait to watch his progression in the years to come https://t.co/Ww7k2xEdWK
— HoldenCantor (@HoldenCantor) February 15, 2022
Much more likely, the Rams could’ve traded down, giving up one or two picks in exchange for two or three picks lower down. A year ago, they pulled off such trades with the 49ers, Jaguars and Texans during the draft, acquiring the picks that brought them, among others, defensive back Robert Rochell and wide receiver Ben Skowronek. The team in general was able to bring in Super Bowl capable players using lower draft picks, and so it’s more likely that’s the strategy that could’ve been used going into the 2022 draft.
Trading down and giving themselves “more shots at the basket,” as Snead puts it, has been one key to the Rams’ success at finding useful players with late-round picks. Now, whether or not these players Snead selected will be good is something we’ll have to figure out in the coming seasons. All the picks can be seen here.
Les Snead taught the entire sports world how this now works. Proven pros > draft picks and prospects.
— LI Sports Fan (@LIsportsfans) July 28, 2022
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