Prominent NFL Insider exposes Rams failed strategy to trade up for Brock Bowers

Another round of LA Rams rumors come and go. And the net effect on fans is to raise their doubts and lower their receptiveness to rapidly developing situations that may happen in the future. But is that truly fair? After all, reports of rumors are those revelations about actual events that had happened that may have future consequences, impacts, or reactions. And so, rumors of the Rams trading up to make a selection among the Top 10 prospects of the NFL Draft may have been correct after all.

But the conditions for both NFL teams, the Rams and a trade partner, may never have been met to trigger the trade. In the end, both statements can be true. Despite the rapidly building anticipation of a blockbuster move, the team failed to land the offensive player that had smitten HC Sean McVay.

Now, on the morning after, NFL Insider Peter Schrager has revealed that the offensive weapon that LA Rams head coach Sean McVay fell in love with was none other than Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, one of the most promising tight ends to be selected in the NFL Draft in some time:

I, for one, am glad.

Did Rams dodge a bullet?

The Rams love to add offensive weapons to the team, and even I admit that tight end, wide receiver, or offensive weapon Brock Bowers offers the right offense a great deal of oomph and potential. Now don't shoot the messenger, but I simply do not see the Rams offense as the right fit.

I cited my reasons why I simply do not view Brock Bowers as a natural fit in this Rams offense in a recently published Catch a Falling Star article. No matter how passionate or emotional you may find yourself on this topic, we are talking about fictional scenarios, so there is no definitive proof on the matter - one way or the other.

If the Rams view Brock Bowers as a tight end, the team has Tyler Higbee (IR/PUP), Hunter Long, Davis Allen, Colby Parkinson, Miller Forristall, and Nikola Kalinic already on the roster, and invested in Colby Parkinson at a level that warrants him holding the inside track as Higbee's successor.

If the Rams view Bowers as a wide receiver, the team has Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell, Ben Skowronek, and Tyler Johnson. I have heard some suggest that Bowers will take over Kupp's role in this offense. Well, then what does the team do with Kupp?

The Rams were excited to add TE/WR Jacob Harris in Round 4 of the 2021 NFL Draft, but could never find the right niche for him to get playing time in this offense. The Rams invested a Round 2 pick in WR Tutu Atwell, and a Round 4 pick in former TE Brycen Hopkins. But the tale of these three offensive weapons has been the same. The Rams use of these players in the offense has not warranted the level of investment in those players.

In each case, the player offers a unique skill set to an NFL offense. But have you noticed that the players who flourish in this offense are similar? AT RB, they are smallish runners who stand 5-foot-9. At WR, they stand 6-foot-1. This team has a pattern of players who do well.

Brock Bowers may have an outstanding career in the NFL. And he may have gotten 400 yards and three TDs in this offense in 2024. But that is simply not enough from a Round 1 prospect, particularly if the team planned to invest multiple picks, including a Round 1 pick, to acquire him.

The Rams failed to trade for Carolina Panthers' RB Christian McCaffrey. Instead, the team developed fifth-round RB Kyren Williams. The team failed to trade for Carolina Panthers' DE/OLB Brian Burns. Instead, the team developed third-round OLB Byron Young.

The Rams failed to trade up for TE Brock Bowers. Does that mean that TE Davis Allen is poised for a breakout season this year?