LA Rams Draft 2021: What if up to 9 teams seek 57th pick?

Another trade with the Detroit Lions?

Of course, don’t think for a minute that the phone won’t be ringing off the hook come draft day, folks. While some will simply be nuisance calls, many will be NFL teams making bonafide trade offers. So who may be on the other end of the line?

The Detroit Lions may only have six picks to spend in the 2021 NFL Draft. So if the team’s draft strategy is trading back for more picks, they’ll do that at either pick 10 or more likely 41. In fact, some mock drafts already project the Lions as a trade-back candidate at number 10. While that particular scenario merely pushed the Lions back from 10 to 16, it does expose the Lions as interested in building future value.

But unlike the Rams, the Lions need players who can play this year. They currently have 65 players under contract, will draft up to six players, and are looking at signing 19 undrafted players after the 2021 NFL Draft. Their strategy right now appears to be targeting 2022 as the year where they go heavy after improving the team. But the Lions will still be very interested in a top WR, TE, or defensive player, and they will be on the board at 57. So if the Lions wish to trade for the Rams 57th pick, they will need to offer up their two third-round picks.

How will that look for the Rams? Well, that will place the Rams choosing four times in round three. The Rams will ultimately pick at 72, 88, 101, 103, 141, 209, and 252. Why would the Lions trade up? If they believe that a starting-caliber player can be selected at 57, the Lions will most certainly give their favorite trade partner a phone call. And the LA Rams will relish the chance to sit on four picks in round three of this very volatile draft.