ESPN's ear to the wall is hearing a much different tale about the Rams draft

When it comes to the Los Angeles Rams, I'm convinced that NFL draft analysts, experts, and insiders alike are kept in the dark as to what the team plans to do deliberately. And that has led to Rams fans' expectations of what the team may do in the annual event far different going in than the experience that all Rams fans share coming out. The team has tried for two consecutive seasons to land a top-tier tight end. The team replaced three defensive linemen with one free agent defensive lineman and extended a fourth defensive lineman. And the team has lost three wide receivers, but only added one in free agency, and extended a fourth wide receiver.

But the latest NFL rumors, buzz, and questions of all 32 NFL teams article from ESPN does not mention any of those positions in citing the Rams draft needs. It doesn't even talk about them. Nor does it believe that the Rams are investigating adding a rookie quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. The article cites a belief that Matthew Stafford may have up to three more seasons in him. Oh, really? If that were the case, the team would not have downshifted to inking contracts on a one-year, year-by-year basis.

The Rams have met with three quarterbacks so far. That is a significant investment of effort if the team plans on pooh-poohing addressing the successor to starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. And it simply makes no sense.

The Rams are savvy enough to realize their best gambit over a rookie quarterback is to add one while Stafford is still at his best. The Rams view Stafford on a year-by-year basis. So why would the team not get a rookie to learn from him now?

I understand that the team's three picks in the first three rounds will have more immediate impacts to focus on non-quarterback rookies. But the team invested the 83rd overall pick in rookie running back Blake Corum in Round 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he contributed just 58 carries and 207 rushing yards. That's not worth writing home over. Per ESPN's Matt Miller, the Rams are shopping for offensive tackle, cornerback and linebacker in this draft.

Perhaps cornerback will be addressed in the first three rounds. Based on the Rams recent draft history, I doubt that the team will do so for the linebacker position. And the team may select an offensive tackle, but he will set on the bench for a year as well.

I see the Rams quest for a talented tight end as unrequited still, and that the abundance of tight ends in the 2025 NFL Draft will simply be too much to resist. The team lost TE Hunter Long in the offseason. I expect a rookie tight end will join the team no later than Day 2.

With so many tight ends, defensive linemen, and running backs available in the 2025 NFL Draft, you have to guess that all three positions could make the team's shopping list, simply from the chance to upgrade the overall team's talent lever for the next four years.

ESPN's perspective about the Rams draft strategy sprang from talking with a rival team's scout. That leads Miller to pose the opposing views that the team 'needs young players,' while citing the need to add 'instant impact players.' Those two strategies are seldom used to describe the same draft, and are never used to rationalize the Rams standing pat on their original eight draft picks.

Rams GM Les Snead is always willing to wheel and deal throughout the draft. ESPN's article certainly adds a new and unique perspective over the Rams draft strategy. But don't be floored if the team fails to adhere to that plan.

As always, thanks for reading.

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