2017 NFL Draft: 5 Players Rams Missed Out On at No. 5 From Trade With Titans

Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers wide receiver Mike Williams (7) catches a touchdown against Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Marlon Humphrey (26) during the fourth quarter in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Rams surrendered the No. 5 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft to the Tennessee Titans as part of last year’s deal to land Jared Goff.

Despite the 2017 NFL Draft officially being underway, the Los Angeles Rams will have to wait until Friday before making their first selection at No. 37 thanks to the deal made before last year’s draft with the Tennessee Titans. In order to land Jared Goff with the top overall pick, the Rams agreed to give the Titans their first-round pick in this year’s draft, and while it seemed like an easy decision at the time, nobody could have expected that pick to turn out to be the fifth overall.

If anything, Tennessee most likely assumed the pick would fall somewhere in the middle of the first round since Los Angeles was coming off a 2015 season in which they finished with a 7-9 record. Instead, the Rams ended up being one of the biggest disappointments from the 2016 season after only winning four games, which is sad to think about when considering they won three of their first four games to start off the year.

With that being said, the decision to give up their first-round pick in this year’s draft to the Titans will hopefully turn out to be an investment that pays off big time for the Rams when looking at all of the potential surrounding Goff being a franchise quarterback. The former California star may still be searching for that first career win as a starter, but Los Angeles hopes to see a whole new version of Goff in his sophomore season now that Sean McVay is on board as head coach.

Of course, it’s difficult not to wonder what could have been for the Rams at No. 5 if the deal was never made with the Titans last year to land Goff, especially when seeing how talented this year’s draft class is. In good hypothetical fun, here’s a look at five players Los Angeles could have landed with the fifth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft if it wasn’t for the trade with Tennessee.

The Los Angeles Rams surrendered the No. 5 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft to the Tennessee Titans as part of last year’s deal to land Jared Goff.

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