L.A. Rams GM Les Snead has established a bit of a reputation for trading draft picks, particularly first-round picks.
In the 2024 NFL Draft, will Snead sit pat with the No. 19 selection, or will he make a deal?
The L.A. Rams Are Slotted to Pick at the No. 19 Spot
The Rams have the earliest selection of all teams that made the playoffs last season. Going into the playoffs, the Rams were tentatively slotted to have the No. 22 pick. However, because of wild card victories by Green Bay, Tampa Bay, and Houston, the Rams moved up to slot No. 19.
The Rams Are Free to Trade the No. 19 Pick
NFL rules make clear that an allocated draft pick is an asset that a team is free to trade at any point up until the time comes for the team to make its selection:
Thus, the Rams may keep their No. 19 pick and select a player. Alternatively, they could trade up or trade down.
A sampling of Possible Selections By the Rams in Recent Mock Drafts
Draft Wire forecasts a trade between the Rams and Philadelphia Eagles in which the Eagles send the No. 22 and No. 53 picks to the Rams in return for the No. 19 and No. 83 picks. And, with the No. 22 pick, the Rams select EDGE Laiatu Latu from UCLA.
This could be an ideal scenario for the Rams. Latu is regarded as one of the top, if not the top, pass rushers in the draft. If the Rams could get him and move up 30 spots — from No. 83 to No. 53 — they would be in a good position.
And an NFL.com mock draft conducted on April 22, 2024, also has the Rams selecting Latu, but staying at position No. 19 to do so.
In other mock drafts, the Rams keep their No. 19 pick and select Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean or Alabama DT Dallas Turner, both of whom are highly-touted defensive stalwarts.
Stay tuned for further coverage of the Rams and the 2024 NFL Draft.
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