Les Snead remains wizard of NFL Draft as he trades out of Round 1

When it comes to the Los Angeles Rams and the fans' experience with Round 1 picks, there is not a lot of history to go by. The Rams did manage to pull rabbits out of hats. It's that lack of Day 1 experience that set the stage for a 'be ready for anything' tone as the 2025 NFL Draft arrived. And no amount of research or preparation could narrow the focus for fans. The team entered Day 1 of this year's draft with all options on the table. And for Rams GM Les Snead, that is exactly how he prefers his stage to be set.

The Rams roster is not fully rounded out, but even NFL experts believe that this team is in great shape in terms of draft needs. The most skeptical assessments of the Rams roster entering the 2025 NFL Draft view the team needing a future quarterback, and help at inside linebacker or cornerback. But the Rams re-signed ILB Troy Reeder and added free agent ILB Nate Landman to ensure the team has adequate numbers at the position for the upcoming season. And the Rams roster is loaded with many returning cornerbacks for the 2025 season, including extending CB Ahkello Witherspoon.

It all adds up to give Les Snead plenty of wiggle room to optimize the value and impact of the Rams Round 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which falls late in the evening at the 26th overall pick.

Rams Draft HQ is fitting tribute to Los Angeles first responders

And the Rams have been set for this moment for most of the day: This year's draft headquarters for the three-day event is the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Air Operations, a site that holds important meaning for the Los Angeles community after fires ravaged hundreds of homes. So this year's draft also carries the secondary meaning of the community healing from recent tragedies.

For the Rams' 2025 NFL Draft, Camryn Irwin, D'Marco Farr, and Maurice Jones-Drew set the stage masterfully. The trio discussed what the Rams could do with today's 26th overall pick, The Rams are coming off great draft hauls in both 2023 and 2024. But now with fewer opportunities for rookies to make an impact, the pressure is on Les Snead to fit the final jigsaw puzzle pieces to the Rams roster, hopeful for the makings of a championship roster.

The draft is on, and the Rams were never able to step up to the podium with a prescribed targeted player at 26, Round 1 was always going to be about choreographing the moves and hurdles laid out by other NFL teams. The Chicago Bears selected Michigan TE Colston Loveland at 10. On many early mock drafts, Loveland was expected to fall in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft. He didn't. At the 14th overall pick, the Indianapolis Colts selected the other elite tight end, Penn State TE Tyler Warren.

With the two elite tight ends off the board, almost all Rams trade up scenarios came off the table.

But trading back was very much in play.

And so, with the 26th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams trade back with the Atlanta Falcons. And with that trade, the Rams roster is set up to await Day 2. Stay tuned for plenty of reactions and analysis. Day 1 of the draft was not nearly as chaotic as expected. But the first day of the draft was every bit as entertaining as expected.

As always, thanks for reading.

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