Does winning or losing final games help LA Rams more for 2023?

From the moment the LA Rams were eliminated from the NFL Playoffs, there has been a deflation of goals among the fans who have stuck it out through thick and thin. Winning is everything in the NFL, and it has an uncanny way of making everything seem better. But that opens the discussion for this one. Which is better?

The LA Rams have only won four games. At that mark, there is plenty of room for improvement.  The Rams have known woe this season like nobody’s business, and that has been a tough pattern to break this year. From the vicious cycle of injuries leading to poor performances on the football field, the LA Rams have been beaten by durability, by the elements, by miscues, and by miscommunications. That pattern has been a tough cycle to stomach.

So the Rams need to prove to themselves before the season ends that they are snapping out of it.

To win or not to lose? That is the question

But there is a bit of strategy at play too. The LA Rams win breaks a three-team tie at 4-10, improving the team to 5-10 but dropping the Rams’ spot in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft from the fourth overall in each round to the seventh overall pick in each round. Is that worth the pain of losing?

In the case of NFL teams who are staring into the abyss of coaching changes and rebuilding the roster, the chasm between a Top Five overall pick can be huge. If you are seeking a franchise quarterback or a blindside left tackle, or even a top edge rusher or shutdown cornerback, you can likely find one among the top five picks. But, depending on the positional need, there may or may not be the top choice of the team after the first five go.

Of course, where the LA Rams are concerned, the Rams will not be making any selections until Day 2. In the 2023 NFL Draft, the Rams’ first-round pick belongs to the Detroit Lions. So does winning hurt the LA Rams?