Jacksonville Jaguars latest hire could spell trouble for future Rams drafts

Four days ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to hire former Los Angeles Rams Director of Scouting James Gladstone to become the team's general manager. While the Rams were awarded two compensatory picks in similar circumstances when the team lost then Director of Scouting Brad Holmes to become the Detroit Lions GM, no compensation will occur with this hire. James Gladstone does not qualify as a minority candidate who triggers such compensation.

The thing is that the Jacksonville Jaguars landed a great NFL personnel executive with tremendous upside. And while the Rams' role as coaching incubator for the rest of the NFL has no signs of abating anytime soon, the Rams' front office has been cannibalized with increasing frequency to seed other NFL team front offices as well.

Hopefully, the Rams will have no trouble replenishing the personnel executive ranks. But the poaching of James Gladstone does introduce a factor of dilution if not outright depletion to the Rams front office at a critical time with the 2025 NFL Draft looming large on the horizon. After successful draft classes in both the 2023 and 2024 NFL Drafts, the team cannot any setbacks to their strong positive momentum.

Here is a quick summary of his resume:

Now here are some of my early concerns:

(1) - Rams draft strategy has been exposed to another NFL team

While it's still early in the offseason, the Rams ability to navigate the NFL Draft board with the choreography of ballroom dancers is one of the team's super powers. Well, it was until Brad Holmes began to draft for the Detroit Lions. It has taken almost no time for the Lions roster to become one of the most talented group of NFL players in the league.

Now, the same potential for the Jacksonville Jaguars to become particularly proficient during the NFL Draft is a very real possibility. The problem is that everything in the NFL is competitive. That translates into the success of one NFL team coming at the expense of 31 other teams. NFL Draft strategies will transform over time, as it is impacted by the set of decision makers present in each organization. But the Rams draft strategy has been clipped and grafted into another NFL team.

(2) - Rams algorithm that finds so many late gems cannot be replicated

The LA Rams were able to find and select WRs Puka Nacua, NT Kobie Turner, OLBs Byron Young and Jared Verse, DT Braden Fiske, and even P Ethan Evans and K Joshua Karty. Now, one of the key contributors to the past Rams drafts will be aiding and directing the draft efforts for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Rams kick over every rock in the time leading up to the NFL Draft. The problem inherent in losing James Gladstone is that his boots were very skilled at kicking over those rocks to find hidden gems. Not everyone is motivated or talented at doing so. So losing a proficient personnel executive to another NFL team is never a step forward. The team has to adapt to bringing someone new up to speed until they can fill that void in the talent-assessment process.

(3) - Rams early scouting reports are in Jaguars hands

What I love about the LA Rams scouting department has been the ability to read what lies in a rookie's heart. What motivates a rookie prospect? What is the difference maker between a great performer and great potential? Somehow, the Rams scouts have managed to discern what that difference maker might be. And that has almost certainly been identified in the initial draft profiles that are already in the hands of Rams personnel executives.

Just how successful have the Rams been in Round 1 of past drafts, for example:

The Rams have a Round 1 pick to spend in the 2025 NFL Draft. Will the Rams land another NFL Rookie of the Year again? Stay tuned.

The LA Rams have managed to grow stronger after losing a key contributor in the front office process. I expect that the team will manage to respond just as effectively in the future. But for now, the Rams are left with a pair of huge shoes to fill.

As always, thank you so much for reading.

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