Each offseason, the Rams release a video series aptly called “Behind The Grind” that takes fans behind the scenes – whether it’s during offseason workouts, the draft or minicamp. It’s a fascinating peek inside the organization, giving fans access that they can’t find anywhere else.
That’s especially true in Episode 2, which was all about the draft. The episode was released this week and there were several interesting draft nuggets throughout. We learned that the Rams came away with four of their top 50 players, that Brennan Jackson was viewed as the second-best player in the class based on “physical toughness” and that Les Snead talked to Commanders GM Adam Peters about the second pick hours before the draft.
Here are seven interesting takeaways from Episode 2 of “Behind The Grind”.
1
Les Snead talked to Commanders GM Adam Peters to get a feeling for No. 2 pick
On his way to the draft house, Snead got a call from Peters. Snead asked Peters what the Commanders were thinking about doing at No. 2 overall, to which Peters replied that the team planned to stay put and take a quarterback.
Was Snead looking to move up to No. 2 or was this just a routine check-in between GMs? It’s hard to imagine the Rams pulling off a deal to get the second pick.
“What are you thinking?” Snead asked
Peters: “I think we’re going to stay at 2 and pick a quarterback.”
Snead: “Definitely as it gets closer, give us a call.”
After hanging up the phone, Snead said this: “That’s relatively common about this time. Everybody’s trying to get a feel for who’s definitely moving back, who’s not. Right now, everybody’s just flirting. No dancing. No Jayden Daniels for us.”
2
Jared Verse was in a small group of prospects coveted by Rams’ scouts and coaches
Throughout the video, it’s abundantly clear how much the Rams coveted Verse. They were elated to see six quarterbacks go in the first 12 picks, which pushed defensive players down the board. And as their draft slot approached at No. 19, the possibility of landing Verse became even more real.
Director of scouting strategy James Gladstone shared some insight into how much the scouts and coaches loved Verse with this tidbit: “We had three players with 11 selections from our scouting staff and coaching staff combined that received 11 votes. The one remaining is Jared Verse.”
Needless to say, Verse was the top player left on the Rams’ board and they likely had him ranked much higher than 19th.
3
Verse and Fiske was a ‘dream scenario’ for Sean McVay
As soon as the Rams drafted Verse in the first round, their attention turned to Braden Fiske in Round 2. Snead didn’t even hesitate to mention his name as a Day 2 target, and he knew the Rams would have to trade up from No. 52 to get him.
“At this point, I think it’s a good idea to go Fiske and continue loading up the D if tomorrow we can move up to 39,” Snead said.
McVay was fully on board.
“If you told me that we pulled Verse and Fiske off, that would be unbelievable. That would really be a dream scenario,” he said.
The Rams tried to trade up early in Round 2 but were denied by every team they had called. McVay was anxious to move up as the picks were being made.
“Do whatever we can to get in this (expletive) thing, man.” McVay
Eventually, the Rams made a deal with the Panthers for No. 39 and their excitement couldn’t be contained. High-fives all around, with McVay saying “Let’s (expletive) go, baby! Let’s go!”
“That’s so (expletive) big, man,” McVay said.
4
McVay talked to Kyren Williams right after Blake Corum was picked
There wasn’t much question when it came to the selection of Corum at No. 83. McVay asked Snead if he would take Corum if he were available at that spot, to which the Rams GM said, “Oh, man. That is something you gotta do.”
Shortly after the selection of Corum was made, McVay reached talked to Williams, the Rams’ current starting running back. Despite the added competition at his position, Williams was “fired up” about the selection.
“That was cool, I just talked to Kyren. He’s fired up,” McVay said.
5
Rams landed 4 of their top 50 players in the draft
Landing Verse and Fiske in the first 39 picks was exactly what the Rams hoped to do. However, they weren’t done there. After picking Corum with the 83rd overall selection and Kamren Kinchens at No. 99 overall, the Rams must’ve felt like they pulled off a draft heist based on where those players were ranked on their draft board.
Gladstone told Snead and McVay that the Rams came away with four of the top 50 players on their board in the first 99 picks. That’s not easy to do but the Rams made it happen.
“Verse, Kinchens, Fiske and then we got Corum, you’d be walking away with four players in the top 50 of our overall (inaudible),” Gladstone said.
6
Verse and Brennan Jackson were ranked 1st and 2nd by Rams for physical toughness
The Rams don’t just rank players based on their overall ability. We learned in this video that they also categorize them by traits, like physical toughness. And using that, they selected the top two players in terms of physical toughness.
“Brennan Jackson, rankings for physical toughness, guess who he’s behind?” Gladstone asked McVay.
“Verse,” McVay replied.
“Yeah, so you would end up with No. 1 and No. 2 physical toughness.”
Snead liked Jackson’s game a lot and would not have been happy had they missed out on him in Round 5.
“That’s the one to me that if we lose Washington State, I’ll be…”
“Pissed?” McVay said, finishing Snead’s sentence.
7
Rams let area scouts make the draft call to two prospects
Typically, it’s the general manager who calls a prospect to let him know he’s being drafted by the team. The GM then hands the phone to the head coach, who then passes it to a position coach.
However, on Day 3 of the draft, the Rams did something really cool. They let two area scouts, Vito Ganella and Michael Pierce, call Brennan Jackson and Tyler Davis to let them know the exciting news.
Both Ganella and Pierce appreciated the gesture by McVay and Snead to let them make that call, and they each did a great job with it.
