Revisiting Rams’ 2025 Draft Day Trade

The Rams lost a crucial matchup to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16, which dropped them from atop the conference all the way down to the fifth seed. This was their most important game of the season, and they allowed Sam Darnold and company to ruin their chances of obtaining a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Their comeback win was a combination of a lot of things, but primarily, it was made possible by the Rams' secondary being unable to guard Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Rashid Shaheed when it mattered the most.

The Rams' decision to trade out of the first round cost them an opportunity to address their secondary, as both Malaki Starks and Maxwell Hairston were still on the board when they traded their pick away. They could've even traded up for Jahdae Barron. Any one of these three rookie defensive backs would've changed the landscape of the Rams' secondary, and potentially, changed the outcome of their game against the Seahawks.

It's impossible to know whether or not any of those players would've made a difference, but what I do know is that this season has been special for the Rams. They have a leading MVP candidate as their quarterback, on top of already having a Super Bowl-winning head coach and a defensive line that actualized all the potential they showed last year.

The Rams may draft two really good players next year, and it pays off the trade immediately, but where the Rams are now, it's fair to ask whether they made the right decision or not. There's no guarantee their team remains this successful and healthy next season, and if they miss out on a chance to compete for a Super Bowl because of a draft day trade, I don't think it's worth it.