7 worst case nightmares that could befall Rams in 2024 NFL Draft

II: Overpay if trading up with Seahawks or Cardinals

The LA Rams hold the 19th overall pick. The Seattle Seahawks hold the 18th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Arizona Cardinals hold the 4th overall pick in the draft. And that is merely the early part of Round 1. While unlikely, one of the worst nightmare scenarios that could take place in the 2024 NFL Draft is one where the Rams trade up with an NFC West Division rival, and in the process of executing that trade, overpays to trade up.

To move from the 19th to the 18th overall pick, the Rams should only need to invest an additional pick from Round 5 to do so. To move from the 19th overall pick to the 4th overall pick, the team would need to package this year's Round 1 pick with a future draft Round 1 pick. But the Rams are unlikely to view either scenario as necessary in this year's draft.

Still, I would not rule out anything.

The Rams' track record of past trades indicates that they do not adhere to the Draft Value Chart indices when negotiating trades that exclusively involve picks for picks swaps.

I: Trade back with 49ers and allow prime prospect to be selected by rivals

Of course, the grandaddy of all nightmare scenarios has to be the one where the LA Rams agree to trade back in the 2024 NFL Draft, and in doing do allow their hated NFC West Division Rival the San Francisco 49ers to swoop in and grab one of their top targets remaining on the draft board. Of course, and trade back option gives other NFL teams the opportunity to do so, but if the front office does opt to descend the draft in hopes of adding more picks, the thrill of doing so will be immediately obliterated if the 49ers leverage that to their advantage.

Of course, the remedy to that situation is not to give the 49ers a chance to poach a player.

But if the team has equivalent tier grades on multiple prospects, there is something to be said about trading back for picks, insomuch as the next landing spot remains close enough to ensure at least one or two of those prospects are still on the draft board.

Draft data and intel on rookie prospects is far too abundant and available nowadays to believe that one team can have 'the scoop,' on a player to allow them to sneak back and still have a vital fit remain on the board. Ultimately, front offices have to believe that their intel is in the hands of other teams as well.

Losing any coveted player in the draft would be disappointing enough. But losing a prime prospect to the 49ers? That would be too tough to recover from quickly.