Looking ahead at what 2019 NFL Draft looks like for Los Angeles Rams

With the Los Angeles Rams trading more picks away this week, what does their slate of picks look like for the 2019 NFL Draft?

The Los Angeles Rams made headlines at the trade deadline this week, bringing in former third overall pick Dante Fowler to help generate pass rush.

Some have the Rams winning the trade deadline after winning the offseason.

As fans remember, Los Angeles made quite the splash on numerous occasions, whether it was trading Alec Ogletree to the New York Giants or acquiring Brandin Cooks from the New England Patriots.

Just like the Cooks trade, the Rams gave up picks to get Fowler, as they have with other acquisitions.

So where does that leave the Rams in regards to the 2019 NFL Draft? Well, let’s take a look at an updated chart below.

2019 Draft, April 25-27, Nashville Tennessee

• 1st round
• 2nd round (Traded to KC for CB Marcus Peters)
• 3rd round
• *Potential 3rd round Compensatory Pick (Traded to Jacksonville for DE Dante Fowler)
• *Potential 3rd or 4th round Compensatory Pick
• 4th round
• 5th round
• 6th round
• 7th round (Traded to NYG in the Alec Ogletree Trade)

So while you may expect the Rams are thin on picks, a couple things to notice.  First, they still have their first-round pick, the first in Sean McVay‘s time with the team.

Remember, McVay’s fist draft they were without the pick due to the trade up to draft Jared Goff the year prior, and last year they traded their first for Cooks.

Also, let’s consider the likely possibility that Les Snead and company move down to acquire more picks, that is if it is not moved before the draft for another Pro Bowler.

Second, and perhaps more important, are the supplemental picks coming the Rams way, which I estimated in the chart above.  The Rams lost Trumaine Johnson and Sammy Watkins in free agency due to expiring contracts.

This puts the Rams in line to receive compensation for them. Also, keep in mind that the vast majority of the players the Rams added this offseason were not free agents from expiring contracts.

Aqib Talib, Peters, and Cooks were acquired through trades. Ndomukong Suh was released by the Miami Dolphins, so he does not figure into the supplemental equation (only expiring contracts do).

The best case scenario would be that the Rams receive two third-round supplemental picks, one each for Johnson and Watkins. Rams reporter Rich Hammond is reporting that the third rounder Los Angeles is sending to Jacksonville for Fowler will be a supplemental pick, in the likely event that they get one.  This would put the Rams back in the third round at least once.

At this point, the Rams are only down the fifth rounder they sent Jacksonville in the 2020 draft, but Snead has plenty of time to change that.

For draft junkies like me, it is never too early to start thinking about the draft, even when you’re 8-0, and sitting on top of the NFL standings as the only undefeated team remaining like the Rams.