Rams fleece Falcons in genius trade-back in first round of NFL Draft

The Atlanta Falcons do some quizzical things in NFL drafts. For instance, in 2024, after the team signed free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins, Atlanta then selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first round. Thankfully, the Los Angeles Rams don't do silly things like that.

The Rams know a bad draft when they see one. Instead of standing pat and taking a player they find underwhelming, Los Angeles general manager Les Snead (usually the most intelligent guy in any room) took a trade offer from the Falcons and ran with it. Instead of a first-round choice this year, LA added another to their haul in the more promising 2026 draft.

To be fair to Atlanta, they did choose a potentially good edge rusher in the person of James Pearce, Jr., but few edge rushers in this year's class are expected to have elite production. Atlanta could have gotten a player similar to Pearce if they stayed at pick 46.

Rams prove to be much smarter than the Falcons in bold trade during 2025 NFL draft

Now, Los Angeles adds a second-round choice it did not have before the draft, and will have two first-round selections in 2026. One of those will depend on how the Falcons do, but Atlanta will probably not be much better, if at all, than they were in 2024.

The Falcons' first choice in 2025 was number 15. Assuming the Rams are good again this coming season (and why wouldn't they be?), then Los Angeles should have a mid-first-round choice next year as well as one in the later 20s. Snead could package these together, move up in the draft, and possibly take a quarterback who could eventually replace Matthew Stafford.

Next year's quarterback class is expected to be much better than this year's. So, not only did Les Snead outsmart the Falcons, he probably did the same to the rest of the league with his sneaky great move with Atlanta.

Rams fans should watch college quarterbacks closely this season. One of the better ones is likely to end up in Los Angeles in the 2026 draft. This means the Rams should remain good for the next decade.

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