Rams Could Have More Trouble Trading Down Than Many Think

Nov 30, 2013; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (7) celebrates a tackle for loss against the Clemson Tigers in the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

The most popular move among Rams fans in the 2014 NFL Draft is that the team trade back and receive even more picks from the gift that keeps on giving in the RGIII trade. However, as much as many would like that to happen, there is always the chance that it doesn’t.

Unlike 2012 when the RGIII trade was made with the Redskins, there really aren’t any franchise quarterbacks worthy trading up for in this draft. The stocks of Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles, and Johnny Manziel have all taken a hit since the end of the college football season, and at this point, the Rams would be lucky if a team were to trade up for one of those quarterbacks.

If many mock drafts around the web are correct, and the Houston Texans do in fact take Jadeveon Clowney, who is there really to trade up for? The Lions have voiced interest in trading up for wide receiver Sammy Watkins, but other than that, who is worthy of trading up the board for?

At this point, a team would be crazy to trade up for one of the so-called top quarterbacks. And even if a team does, they aren’t going to give up an arm and a leg to do so like the Redskins did for Griffin III.

The Rams aren’t just going to give away the number two overall pick for nothing. The Rams have a price tag on that pick, and if nobody comes close to that price tag, the Rams will do just fine by taking an elite prospect like Khalil Mack, Sammy Watkins, or Greg Robinson.

The best case scenario for the Rams is that the Houston Texans do the unthinkable and take quarterback Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater, or even Johnny Manziel. That scenario would leave what many have as the best prospect in the draft, Jadeveon Clowney, on the board. If that were to happen, it might be the best chance of trading away that number two pick.

However, even if that does happen, that doesn’t guarantee that the Rams get what they want. With none of the quarterbacks being called “franchise” quarterbacks and Jadeveon Clowney most recently being called “lazy” by NFL executives, the Rams may just in fact get stuck with the number two pick.

If that does happen,it wouldnt be the end of the world, and the Rams would still be in a good position. As mentioned earlier, it would give the Rams the opportunity to add an elite talent to an already good roster, and that wouldnt be such a bad scenario.