LA Rams last game carries huge impact on their 2023 NFL Draft

The LA Rams enter the last game of the 2022 NFL season with a record of 5-11. As of today, the Rams (and any team who controls one of seven draft picks allotted to the LA Rams) are projected to select with the sixth pick in each round. For the Rams draft, that means that the Rams will make their selections with the sixth pick in Round 2 (38th overall), Round 3 (70th overall), Round 6 (182nd overall), and Round 7 (225th overall). Why those picks? They are the only originally allotted picks still controlled by the Rams.

The LA Rams traded a seventh-round pick to the Green Bay Packers with punter Corey Bojorquez for the Packers’ sixth-round pick. It just so happens that they will send the Packers the lesser-valued pick of the Detroit Lions, a pick that was gained in the trade that sent DT Michael Brockers to the Lions.

So what can change? Well, the Rams could end the season with six wins. If they do so, they have a chance to fall behind the Carolina Panthers, the Atlanta Falcons, or the Las Vegas Raiders. The Rams have defeated each of these teams, and if any or all of them lose in Week 18, the Rams picks could fall as far as the ninth pick in each round.

Of course, there is also the possibility for the Rams to lose in Week 18. Should that happen the Rams will end the season with 12 losses. Three NFL teams are at or nearly at that 12-loss mark. The Denver Broncos, the Arizona Cardinals, and or the Indianapolis Colts.

Let’s go to the chart

If the Rams lose and the Cardinals and or Colts win, the Rams’ draft position improves to become among the Top-5 in each round. So let’s break it all down for you. The Rams’ pick order in each draft round will be determined by how the team stacks up against other NFL teams. Right now, the Rams’ pick in each round will fall within the range of the fourth pick in each round to the ninth pick in each round. To clarify which scenario impacts the Rams’ pick in each round, we have a quick reference table to help you out :

• Round pick   Scenario4th overall – Rams lose. Both Cardinals and Colts win.5th overall – Rams lose. Either Cardinals or Colts win.6th overall – Rams lose. Both Cardinals and Colts lose.6th overall – Rams win. Panthers, Falcons, and Raiders all win.7th overall – Rams win, Panthers, Falcons or Raiders lose (just one)8th overall – Rams win, Two of Panthers, Falcons, and Raiders lose9th overall – Rams win, Panthers, Falcons, and Raiders all lose.

Of course, this not only impacts the LA Rams. You can bet that Detroit Lions fans (1st round pick), New England Patriots (4th round pick), and Cleveland Browns (6th round pick) will be monitoring the LA Rams final game as well.

In the end, the LA Rams can impact the NFL Playoff picture for a number of teams. But the same LA Rams can impact the draft day profile for many NFL teams as well. Stay tuned.