Rams alarming rate of trading up on Day 3 of 2025 NFL Draft was right strategy

Were the Rams Day 3 rookies truly worth the cost?

The finesse shown by the Rams' draft choreography is not something to be taken lightly. To manage the draft, the Rams have preestablished what players are worth to them on the roster. Then, the Rams convert that perceived value onto draft day trade packages to ensure landing in the right position to make the selection to land that player.

It was the same successful strategy that allowed the team to understand the true value ot trading up in the 2024 NFL Draft to select Florida State DT Braden Fiske, and pair him with teammate OLB Jared Verse. While NFL draft analysts hem and hawed over the cost of trading up, the Rams front office celebrated in the knowledge that the true value of Fiske on the roster was far more valuable than the cost of acquiring him.

So, let's examine the three Day 3 picks:

(3) - Trading up to get ILB Chris 'Pooh' Paul Jr.

TRADE 4: The Rams traded Round 6 picks (201 and 202) to the Minnesota Vikings for a Round 5 pick (172).

Ole Miss rookie ILB Chris 'Pooh' Paul Jr. was a bargain in Round 5 before the Rams traded up to select him. And the conversion of two Round 6 picks for a Round 5 selection only added to the potential value that the Rams' front office hopes to enjoy with the pick. Per the 2025 NFL Draft value chart, the Rams traded 21 points to get 22.6 points. A slight upgrade, but an upgrade nontheless.

Better still, the Rams got one of the top five inside linebackers on some draft boards, and one of the top ten inside linebackers on all major draft boards. Is that good enough? Only time will tell. But the value of Paul to the Rams' defense is both obvious and significant.

Officially listed as 6-foot-0 and weighing 222 pounds, some fans may be concerned with Paul's durability over a 17-game NFL season. And that's perfectly fine. But what Paul brings to the Rams defense is a pass coverage guy who can fit the coveted role of hybrid LB/S in this defense. Paul surrenders no linebacker ability at defending the run that a safety in the box will experience. But he brings a true level of pass coverage that other linebackers simply cannot do.

To better defend the run, the Rams have to get out of the business of playing so many defensive backs so often. Chris Paul Jr. gives this team the option to do better. And they took it.