Long-shot predictions to consider for Rams during 2019 NFL Draft

The Los Angeles Rams will officially be participating in the 2019 NFL Draft beginning Thursday night.

Coming off a Super Bowl berth before falling to the New England Patriots, the Los Angeles Rams don’t have as many needs as other teams, although they certainly could use depth at a few key positions.

Since Les Snead was hired in 2012, the Rams general manager has always been active in the NFL Draft, and it will be interesting to see how things play out now that the team has a first-round pick for the first time since 2016 when they traded up to land Jared Goff at No. 1.

From the highly publicized Robert Griffin III trade in 2012 to moving up in 2013 to land Tavon Austin, Snead has made it clear that nothing should ever be ruled out when it comes to the Rams.

Does this mean Los Angeles could potentially pull off another crazy move or two during this year’s draft?

Long shots or not, let’s take a look at some wild possibilities for the Rams in this year’s draft that could put them in better position for the 2019 season.

Draft a defensive lineman and trade Michael Brockers

There’s no secret that the Rams are short on cap space for the 2019 season.

Per Over The Cap, Michael Brockers takes up $10,750,000 for 2019, and if the Rams were to cut him or trade him, they would save $10 million.

There are going to be many defensive lineman taken in this draft, and the Rams could end up with a player like Montez Sweat or Dexter Lawrence that would come at a cheaper price while paying off in the long run as well.

Trade up for an impact player

The Rams have two third-round picks this year, and have some needs on the defensive line along with the linebacker position.

Los Angeles also has needs on the offensive line and at tight end, showing the team will have plenty to consider once the draft is underway.

If a player like Ed Oliver, Devin White or even Devin Bush drops for some reason, the Rams could help fill some of their needs at some of these positions.

Even if it required the team trading up, this seems like it would be worth it for Los Angeles.

Consider trading Brandin Cooks to draft Marquise “Hollywood” Brown

Before anyone criticizes this possibility, why not think about a potential trade involving Brandin Cooks?

Trading Cooks for some draft capital could improve the team in other ways.

The Rams will need their cap space soon to re-sign players and I myself am not a big fan of Cooks, despite some of his impressive performances from the 2018 season.

Cooks has always been a one-trick pony and is quicker than fast, which seems to limit his ability as a route-runner.

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown has been compared to Tyreek Hill, and I’d much rather have that type of player over Cooks, especially if he would fit in more with other receivers like Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods.