LA Rams Draft: Rams 2023 draft picks and beyond

The LA Rams are not exactly a team that is currently known as an NFL team that has built its roster through the NFL Draft. But if you stop, look, and listen, that is exactly how this team’s roster has been built. Now, I’m not suggesting that the team has built its roster in a normal traditional way. But the Rams organization has deemed that more value exists to exchange the uncertainty of NFL Draft picks to other teams in return for bona fide game-changing veterans.

In the 2022 NFL Draft, seven other NFL teams felt the same way.

So the NFL’s perspective on the value of drafted rookies is on the wane. Does that mean that draft picks are valueless? Not at all. It simply means that NFL teams have historically overvalued draft picks compared to proven performing NFL veterans. Now that relationship is changing rapidly, the eventual relationship could overvalue veterans at some point.

Rams pick on Day 1 in the 2024 NFL Draft (for now)

When that happens, you can expect the LA Rams to lead NFL organizations in exchanging players for picks. But until that happens, the Rams will likely continue to invest their draft picks into specific players.

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Of course, as the 2024 NFL Draft is now less than two years away, and with it, the LA Rams will finally have draft picks on Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3. Will it remain that way?  That’s a hard call, particularly in light of the fact that the team has been more than happy to spend first-round picks on game-changing players.

But at some point, the trades will dry up, salary dollars will be overcommitted, and the powerhouse LA Rams will need to restock the roster via the NFL Draft once more. How soon will that happen? Well, the team has locked up Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp, and Matthew Stafford for the next three years. After that? Who can say? So let’s look at the next three years of LA Rams draft picks.

2023 NFL Draft

The LA Rams’ draft assets have come to depend heavily upon their awarded compensatory picks. In the 2022 NFL draft, the compensatory picks doubled the number of picks overall for the team. That has actually altered the way the front office conducts business, as the team has become quite adept at focusing on players who have been cut rather than standard NFL Free Agents. The reason? The Rams are keen to avoid signing players who may offset their projected awarded compensatory picks. Now that is indeed dedication.

The Rams’ offense is currently led by veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, a player whose contract has been extended through 2025. Thanks to some charitable perspective on Stafford’s part, his contract is very team-friendly in both 2022 and 2023. That willingness on his part to leave some funds on the table has allowed the team to reinforce the roster.

The Rams have done that, but have also stockpiled a lot of young players who will likely be redshirted on the roster or practice squad this year. But even if the team has the ability to fill all roster needs from existing players, the Rams will need to restock their roster via the 2023 NFL Draft. Thankfully, the team projects to have 10 draft picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, and here is how:

UPDATED: June 30, 2022

Round 1 – TRADED. The LA Rams have tentatively traded their 2023 first-round pick to the Detroit Lions for quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Round 2– The Rams hold their second-round pick.

Round 3 – The Rams hold their third-round pick.

Round 4 – TRADED. The Rams have traded away their fourth-round pick as the final compensation for acquiring running back Sony Michel from the New England Patriots.

Round 5 – TRADED- The Rams traded their fifth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for DB Troy Hill.

Round 6 – The Rams hold their sixth-round pick.

Round 6 – ACQUIRED VIA TRADE: The Rams have acquired a 2023 sixth-round pick from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for wide receiver Robert Woods

Round 6 – ACQUIRED VIA TRADE: The Rams have traded for the right to swap their 2023 seventh-round pick for the Green Bay Packers’ sixth-round pick

Round 7 – TRADED. The Rams traded away their seventh-round pick for the Green Bay Packers’ sixth-round pick (see above).

Round 7 – ACQUIRED VIA TRADE: The LA Rams will receive the Detroit Lions 2023 seventh-round draft pick as part of the exchange which sent DL Michael Brockers to the Lions.

UPDATED COMPENSATORY PICKS: Due to player losses in the 2022 NFL Free agency, the LA Rams are projected to be awarded the following compensatory draft pick in 2023 as per ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter's latest update.

The final estimated tally for the 2023 NFL Draft is as follows:

• First round – 0 (none)
• Second round – 1 (one)
• Third round – 1 (one)
• Fourth-round – 0 (none)
• Fifth-round – 3 (three)
• Sixth-round – 3 (three)
• Seventh-round – 2 (two)
• Total 2023 NFL Draft picks– 10 (Ten)

The original projects were for the Rams awarded compensatory picks to fall in Round 4 (1), Round 5 (two) and Round 7 (one). Instead, the LA Rams were award two compensatory draft picks in Round 5, one compensatory draft pick in Round 6, and one compensatory draft pick in Round 7.

OFFSETS: The loss of OLB Von Miller (estimated fifth-round) has been offset by the signing of WR Allen Robinson.

The final tally for the LA Rams 2023 NFL Draft right now stands at ten. That could change as additional projections become available for the Rams awarded compensatory draft picks for the 2023 NFL Draft. The maximum number of compensatory picks for one team is four, and the maximum number of total compensatory picks stands at 32.

2024 and 2025 NFL Draft

From this point beyond the 2023 NFL Draft, the LA Rams allotment of seven NFL Draft picks will only change via trade, transactions, or awarding of compensatory draft picks. That makes 2024 and beyond rather simple to calculate because the team merely possesses their annual allotment of draft picks in each subsequent year in the future.

And lookee there. Do I see a first-round pick? I wonder how long that will remain there.

Round 1 – The Rams hold their first-round pick.

Round 2– The Rams hold their second-round pick.

Round 3 – The Rams hold their third-round pick.

Round 4 – The Rams hold their fourth-round pick

Round 5 – The Rams hold their fifth-round pick.

Round 6 -The Rams hold their sixth-round pick.

Round 6 – The Rams have obtained the Denver Broncos-sixth round pick

Round 7 – The Rams have traded away their seventh-round pick. (see above)

COMPENSATORY PICKS: Unable to determine at this time

The final estimated tally is as follows: first round – 1 (one), second round – 1 (one), third round – 1 (one), fourth-round – 1 (one), fifth-round – 1 (one), sixth-round – 2 (two), seventh-round – 0 (none). Total – 7 (seven)

The final tally for the LA Rams 2024 NFL Draft right now stands at seven. That could increase as projections become available for the Rams awarded compensatory draft picks for the 2024 NFL Draft.

2025 NFL Draft

As stated previously, there are no transactions on record that will impact the LA Rams 2025 NFL Draft. The team currently holds just seven draft picks as originally allotted for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Round 1 – The Rams hold their first-round pick.

Round 2– The Rams hold their second-round pick.

Round 3 – The Rams hold their third-round pick.

Round 4 – The Rams hold their fourth-round pick

Round 5 – The Rams hold their fifth-round pick.

Round 6 -The Rams hold their sixth-round pick.

Round 7 – The Rams hold their seventh-round pick.

COMPENSATORY PICKS: Unable to determine at this time

The LA Rams currently project to have their initial first-round pick under the Sean McVay era in 2024. Project is the operative word, as the Rams have shown no affection for that most valued draft pick in the past. In fact, when the LA Rams were about to enjoy their 2022 first-round draft pick, the team traded both their 2022 and 2023 first-round picks for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.

But the LA Rams may not have reason to deal their picks until the 2024 NFL Draft. Other teams have already begun to rush into the NFL trade market with fistfuls of draft picks in hopes of trading for that one player to put them over the hump. All I can say for certain is that one of the NFL’s most recognizable nicknames is Not For Long. How long will the LA Rams be able to corner the market on landing elite talent with first-round picks? Not for long, I fear.

Anything goes in the NFL.