The Rams are slated to pick near the first round, holding the 36th overall pick in Round 2. There’s no guarantee they’ll actually make a pick at that spot, though. Knowing Les Snead, the Rams will trade down in an attempt to add more picks, potentially one or two more in the top 150 of what’s considered a deep draft class.
Surprisingly, the Rams have actually stood pat and used their top selection without trading down in the last three drafts, so maybe Snead will actually make a pick at No. 36. But if he’s looking to move back, there are a number of viable options.
Here are six potential trade-down scenarios for the Rams in the second round, including a trade out of Round 2 altogether. The points were calculated using Rich Hill’s trade value chart.
1
Trade down to No. 44
Rams trade: No. 36 (166 points)
Falcons trade: Nos. 44 + 110 (165 points)
The Falcons have a lot of holes on their roster, just like the Rams, so they may not be in a position to trade up, especially with just seven total selections. However, if the Rams have 10 or so players they like at No. 36, they might look to trade down about eight spots to ensure they still get one of those guys. It would even net them another top-150 pick, picking up an extra fourth-rounder to fill the gap between Nos. 77 and 167.
2
Trade down to No. 46
Rams trade: No. 36 (166 points)
Patriots trade: Nos. 46 + 107 + 184 (166 points)
The Patriots are stocked with 11 picks so they could look to package a few of them to move up 10 spots in land a player they covet in Round 2. In this scenario, the Rams move down two fewer spots than their deal with the Falcons, but they add an extra sixth-rounder, which would give them four total. After this trade, the Rams would have 13 total picks.
3
Trade down to No. 47
Rams trade: No. 36 (166 points)
Commanders trade: Nos. 47 + 97 + 233 (165 points)
This is similar to the deal with the Patriots but Washington’s 97th pick is in Round 3 instead of 4, and the 233rd selection is near the end of the draft in Round 7. After this deal, the Rams would pick 47th, 69th, 77th, and 97th, giving them four selections in the top 100 – more than most teams can say.
4
Trade down to No. 50
Rams trade: Nos. 36 + 223 (168 points)
Buccaneers trade: Nos. 50 + 82 (169 points)
In this scenario, the Rams would likely be completely wiped out of all their primary targets at No. 36 and bail 14 spots down. Doing so would net them an additional third-rounder to go with Picks 69 and 77, but they’d also give up a seventh-round pick to make it happen. The Bucs have nine picks so they can easily afford to move up if they want to, and this wouldn’t be a net loss for them.
5
Trade down to No. 61
Rams trade: No. 36 (166 points)
Bears trade: Nos. 61 + 64 (166 points)
Further and further down the board we go, but here’s where things get really interesting. By moving down 25 spots to the end of the second round, the Rams pick up another pick in the top 65. This way, they’d be picking 61st, 64th, 69th and 77th. They could easily turn that into three or four rookie starters, a good way to build out a depleted roster.
6
Trade down to No. 65
Rams trade: No. 36 + 167 (174 points)
Texans trade: Nos. 65 + 73 + 104 (176 points)
Peter King said he believes the Rams would like to turn their three top-150 picks into six, and this would get them closer to doing that. They would move down 29 spots and out of the second round altogether but they would add two extra top-150 picks. The good thing about the 104th pick is it would prevent the Rams from going 90 picks between their third-rounder and fifth-rounder. The net total would be one additional pick, but essentially moving up from Pick 167 to 104 is worth it.
