Why 9 winners and 4 losers from Rams victory could start 2nd winning streak

(2) - DT Braden Fiske

When the LA Rams traded their 2024 Round 2 and 5 picks and a future 2025 Round 2 pick to trade up to select Florida State Seminoles defensive tackle Braden Fiske with the 39th overall pick, NFL Draft analysts piled on declaring the team paying too dear a price for Fiske. At the time, we argued that the Rams not only were within their rights to trade up, but a failure to do so would have been a horrific failure to improve the team.

Let's tackle this another way. Let's compare the Top 5 defensive tackles chosen in the 2024 NFL Draft, not only from when they were selected, but their 2024 production. All set? Let's go:

1. DT Bryon Murphy - 16th overall | 22 tackles | 0.5 QB sacks | 2 TFL | 1 QB hit
2. DT T'Vondre Sweat - 38th overall | 31 tackles | 0.0 QB sacks | 3 TFL | 1 QB hit
3. DT Jer'Zhan Newton - 36th overall | 26 tackles | 1.0 QB sacks | 2 TFL | 6 QB hits
4. DT Braden Fiske - 39th overall | 29 tackles | 5.0 QB sacks | 6 TFL | 5 QB hits
5. DT Kris Jenkins - 49th overall | 17 tackles | 1.0 QB sacks | 1 TFL | 1 QB hit

Now, let's revisit the 'cost,' of Fiske once again. It's clear from the data table above that the Rams not only landed a competent starting defensive tackle, but the team found the unicorn in an interior defensive lineman who can pressure and sack opposing quarterbacks. If you add the number of quarterback sacks recorded by the other four defensive tackles draft among the top five, Fiske's numbers are still double what they have amassed, combined.

Tell me again why trading up for rookie DT Braden FIske was an overpay? Since Fiske is outplaying Murphy, the Rams traded the equivalent of two Round 2 and one Round 5 picks (estimated 800 value) for the production that exceeds that of the 16th overall player chosen (1000 value).

Perhaps those overeager draft analysts ought to hold off on those declarations until they actually see how the selected player performs.