LA Rams 2021 NFL Draft: 5 post-draft surprises

I – Rams stuck at 57

There was never a question about the LA Rams trading back for more picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. It was always just a matter of when the team would do so. By all accounts, the best draft selection to trade back from is the most valuable pick from that draft.  For the LA Rams, that was their pick at 57.

In the grand scheme of the NFL draft picks currency, the 57th pick of the NFL draft is the equivalent of a $50 bill.  Later picks that the Rams had in their possession were the equivalent of $20s, $10s, and $5s. So it falls to reason that if the Rams wanted more dollar bills to fatten the wallet, they would do better by cashing in the top denomination. But that is not what happened.

Los Angeles Rams

Of course, the Rams did emerge with nine rookies selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. And for the most part, it seemed as though the deeper the Rams went into the draft, the more adept the front office became with adding true talent.  So why did the Rams feel compelled to draft a player at 57?

It only makes sense if the Rams have an immediate need for that type of player. Does that mean that the Rams will abandon the rookie redshirting that was their default approach in 2020? It certainly would prove to be disappointing if the Rams showed their hand in the NFL trade market as a team willing to gamble high stakes to win now, only to defer contributors from the NFL draft until 2022.

Of course, charting the Rams strategy can be very difficult at times. The Rams used their pick at 57. Now, who did they believe was their top priority?