NFL Insider puts Rams on watch to take up this all too familiar draft strategy

The Los Angeles Rams may not be as much of an enigma in terms of their draft strategy as they were initially thought to be. After weeks of mock drafts and NFL rumors hinting at the Rams targeting a rookie quarterback, an offensive tackle, a wide receiver, or even an inside linebacker, perhaps the Rams' draft history is the best compass point to navigate what the team may choose to do this year.

And if you examine the primary action by the team in each of the past two NFL Drafts, you find the team trying to trade up in the draft to claim the top tight end in the draft. And if you need more reason to suspect the Rams' strategy may make a similar effort to trade up in the 2025 NFL Draft, the draft profiles of TEs Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland are both at an elite level of NFL projection.

In the 2023 NFL Draft, tight ends Luke Musgrave (draft profile grade 6.49) and Dalton Kincaid (draft profile grade 6.48) were the top-ranked tight ends. The Rams attempted, unsuccessfully, to trade up to select Dalton Kincaid. Why Kincaid? He was the hands-down best pass-catching tight end in that draft class. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 25th overall pick in Round 1.

In the 2024 NFL Draft, tight end Brock Bowers (draft profile grade 6.71) was the clear best rookie prospect up for grabs. Once again, he was touted as a superb pass-catching tight end. The Rams were unable to trade up to select him. But the Las Vegas Raiders managed to add him with the 13th overall pick in Round 1 of the draft.

Two strikes.

But the 2025 NFL Draft holds two rookie tight end prospects who are generating a great deal of buzz. Penn State tight end Tyler Warren (draft profile grade 6.77) and Michigan tight end Colston Loveland (draft profile grade 6.70) are both elite rookie prospects who are attracting plenty of pre-draft attention. For chuckles and grins, let's point out that the Rams have met with five rookie tight ends ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. The team is investing plenty of energy vetting tight end candidates. They are:

• Penn State TE Tyler Warren - Projected Round 1
• Michigan TE Colston Loveland - Projected Round 1
• LSU TE Mason Taylor - Projected Round 2-3
• Texas TE Gunner Helm - Projected Round 2-4
• Nebraska TE Thomas Fidone - Projected Round 5-UDFA

Both Warren and Loveland are noted as elite pass catchers, and that could give a hint as to when the Rams try to make their move.

Per NFL Insider Dianna Russini's latest summary of NFL rumors leading up to the draft, she touches base on what she is hearing about the Rams' draft strategy. She shares:

"Expect the Rams to once again show interest in a tight end in the first round. Last year, Los Angeles tried — and failed — to move up to select Brock Bowers. I’m told Sean McVay and Les Snead could once again try to move up to get their guy."

Dianna Russini

What can Rams fans make of that? If the Rams view a win as either Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland, you can expect the phones to glow red hot as soon as one rookie tight end comes off the board. Will the Rams trade whatever it takes to move up to grab the second tight end in this draft? Perhaps not, but I do expect the team to make a compelling and lucrative offer to do so.

We explored what the Rams may need to offer to trade up to select Penn State tight end Tyler Warren with the Las Vegas Raiders at the sixth overall pick. That offer would likely include two Round 1 picks. Is it worth it? Per the overwhelming negative feedback from that proposed trade, fans are strongly opposed.

Per the draft 'hit' rates, Rams fans are onto something. A tight end selected in Round 1 has a 67 percent chance of being successful. But the same position selected in Round 2 holds a 50 percent success rate. If a tight end is selected on Day 3, those rookies still boast a 33 percent success rate.

So why share a trade-up narrative after sharing NFL Insider Peter Schrager's projection for the Rams to trade back? Simply because both can be true at the same time. The Rams may try to trade up for a tight end. But in the past two drafts, those efforts failed. The same outcome can occur in this year's draft.

But don't fret. The Rams landed IOL Steve Avila, OLB Byron Young, and NT Kobie Turner in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Rams landed OLB Jared Verse, DT Braden Fisked, and RB Blake Corum in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Rams landed on their feet after failing to successfully trade for a tight end.

The same outcome is likely if the Rams fail to trade up for a tight end in this draft. The Rams are ready to add impact players to the roster. But I have to admit, I am very intrigued by the thought of the team trading up for a tight end. As long as that rookie tight end gets plenty of work in 2025, that is.

As always, thanks so much for reading. The 2025 NFL Draft is right around the corner.

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