NFL teams are obsessed with building slowly for long-term success. But in Los Angeles, they’d much rather win now
The Los Angeles Rams’ commitment to bucking orthodoxy is admirable. Rather than following the regular old blueprint of slowly and methodically building through the draft, the Rams are instead looking to microwave success year in, year out. They do not care for the recent fetishization of draft picks. They want good players, not high-value picks. And they want them all right now.
On Monday, the Rams shipped out a second- and third-round pick to acquire former All-Pro pass-rusher Von Miller from the Broncos. For any other franchise, it would represent a seismic move: a pair of valuable draft picks in return for what is effectively a 10-game (they hope) rental. For the Rams, the Oprah of draft equity, it was a humdrum Monday. You get a draft pick! And you get a draft pick!
Round 1: Traded to the Lions
Round 2: Traded to the Broncos
Round 3: Traded to the Broncos; own a compensatory pick via Brad Holmes hire
Round 4: Traded to the Texans
Round 5: Own
Round 6: Traded to the Patriots
Round 7: Own plus the Dolphins’ pick
