LA Rams shockingly take a Savage approach to address the 2026 NFL Draft

Have you ever paused and pondered how Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead remains clued into the new wave of rookie prospects declaring for the NFL draft each year? It's not that Snead is a recluse. It's simply the fact that his staff is constantly being poached. With those defections go plenty of intel and strategy.

So, how does he replace it?

One way is to hire new talent. That's right, just as he replenishes the Rams roster each year, Snead also treats himself to some of the best and brightest minds in the NFL. The latest hire is former Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage.

Savage has over 30 years of experience in addressing NFL personnel matters, and he arrives just in time to help Los Angeles with a challenging but promising draft.

Savage was not a name that just screams NFL competency, so the gaps in his backstory were filled in by Inside the Iggles expert Anthony Miller.

"Phil Savage spent a couple of years with the Eagles, helping with scouting from 2010 through 2012. We got edge rusher Brandon Graham, center Jason Kelce, defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, and quarterback Nick Foles in those three years, so he has a pretty good eye for talent.

Obviously, that was a long time, so a lot could have changed in the last 16 years. I also know him from his time in the Alliance of American Football as the GM of the Arizona Hotshots. They went 5-3 in 2019 before the league folded and got (former Rams quarterback) John Wolford in the NFL. "

That's a pretty good track record for three seasons. And he arrives just in time to guide LA to and through one of the most important drafts of Les Snead's career.

Phil Savage has a proven track record for picking elite talent

When Phil Savage was not working in the NFL as a personnel executive, he once served as the Director of the Senior Bowl. He even visited the Rams training camp in 2014. All in all, wherever football is found, Savage is nearby.

He may have struggled with the day-to-day discipline of managing the myriad personnel issues that come with an NFL team, but he has a keen eye for talent. As long as that remains his focus, fans can expect marvelous results.

His social media profile tells the story. He loves the Rams, and now he has a role in determining their success. But can he make much of a difference this close to the draft event?

You bet he can. Having gathered as much intel as possible, Savage arrives just in time to ask the right questions, to point to the right factors, and to map out the right priority in the draft. His forte is working with rookie prospects, so you can be sure that he arrives with a full book of business on who may be the best fits for the perceived roles.

Too early to celebrate a great draft? Absolutely. But it's not too early to raise expectations. Phil Savage is joining the LA Rams, and the results could be much better than expected.

As always, thanks for reading.