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This simple explanation reveals the secret to Rams success in the NFL draft

It can't be that easy. Or, can it?
ByBret Stuter|
Jul 29, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, general manager Les Snead, and chief of staff Carter Crutchfield talk on the field during training camp at Loyola Marymount University. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Jul 29, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, general manager Les Snead, and chief of staff Carter Crutchfield talk on the field during training camp at Loyola Marymount University. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

When it comes to the Los Angeles Rams' draft success of late, we cannot simply award that success to superior skill. Yes, there is some element of preparation, discernment, appraisal, and fit that always translates into how well an NFL team does in the annual draft. But there is that element of luck and random chance that impacts the team's prosperity as well.

We can applaud the Rams' draft success in both the 2023 and 2024 NFL Drafts, and hope for similar success in the 2025 NFL Draft as well. But in all three drafts, the Rams entered either shut out of Round 1, or selecting late in Round 1, and tried to trade up. The cost of those trade-up scenarios was steep in all three cases. So steep that the team opted not to pull the trigger on trading up. But was it skill, chance, or something else in play that defeated those trade-up plans?

While it's all history, there are important lessons to learn about the approach that every team can take towards the annual NFL Draft. If you accept that the draft is a game of professional football BINGO, then the solution is simple. Play more cards.

That is the summary from Baltimore Ravens GM Eric DeCosta's words of NFL Draft wisdom. You can hear him share his insight on the interview below:

He talks about The Loser's Curse. a premise that nobody has any better chance at beating the NFL draft than any other team. So, how can you beat the odds in that evenly balanced scenario? He shares that the best strategy is to end up with more picks than any other team. More chances equal a greater chance of success.

Perhaps that is the secret to the Rams' draft success after all? In 2023, the Rams made 14 selections. In 2024, the Rams made 10 selections. Some panned out. Some did not. But the measure of success for any rookie class is the number of contributors from that draft. In that regard, the Rams' high number of picks directly contributed to the success of the past two draft classes.

In stark contrast, the team aimed for just six rookies in the 2025 NFL Draft. If The Loser's Curse truly is the main driver of draft success, the Rams are fighting against the odds this year.

As always, thanks for reading.

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