Los Angeles Rams Trade for Number One Pick

Story posted April 14, 2016 in

The Los Angeles Rams, in a move to excite the city of Los Angeles about their new football team, have bet it all and traded for the number one overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

The Rams will send their first, second and third round picks the next two years to the Tennessee Titans for the first overall pick this year, as well as a fourth and sixth-round pick this year. This represents the first time since 2004 that a team has traded for the number one pick, with the San Diego Chargers trading the rights of Eli Manning to the New York Giants in that draft.

Compared to what the Rams did in 2012 when they traded their second overall pick to Washington, the Titans this year will receive one less first round pick than the Rams did, but gain more in second and thirds. But what the trade indicates is that Tennessee felt they could trade down and still grab a serviceable player to help Marcus Mariota. The Titans also had to have seen the haul at stake as too much to stay at number one.

What this does for Tennessee is allows for them to build a team around Mariota, who they consider the franchise quarterback. The Titans will have amble opportunity in subsequent drafts to stock pile, and even make a few more trades to grab the guys they truly desire. Look at what the Rams were able to do with their picks and Tennessee has to be happy with what they are walking away with, especially if Los Angeles’ pick does not pan out.

But who will the Los Angeles Rams take? Everyone knows it will either be Carson Wentz or Jared Goff, the two highest rated quarterbacks in this draft. Reports are mixed however on which way the team will go.

Although Wentz may have the higher ceiling, it is far more likely the Rams take Goff with the first pick. Goff, being a University of California product and having played FBS football, may be a better fit for the direction the Rams are trying to head in. But with Goff’s ability to make accurate throws down the middle of the field, pairing him with Tavon Austin could be a nightmare for NFL defenses. Not to mention having Todd Gurley in the backfield will ease the pressure off of the passing game and allow for Goff to setup dangerous play-action plays.

Did the Rams have to trade up though? At 15, they could very well have drafted Paxton Lynch from Memphis, who some think may be better than projected. Are Wentz and Goff that much better than Lynch, especially after Lynch showed an ability to make all the NFL throws necessary at his pro day, including some very tough ones into the wind?

The real questions come in after the Rams pick. Reports have been swirling that the Browns wish to trade out of the second overall pick. If they do so, that team trading up will most certainly be taking a quarterback. If that happens, it would be the seventh time quarterbacks have gone first and second in the draft, with it happening as recently as a year ago with Jameis Winston to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the aforementioned Mariota to the Titans. Something to note however is both the Tampa Bay and Tennessee head coaches were let go the year after selecting quarterbacks in the top two.

Even after the Browns, teams have to be ecstatic at the prospects that will fall. This will likely cause Laremy Tunsil to fall, potentially out of the top 5. Even better for a team like San Diego at three or Dallas at four, who need cornerback help, this almost guarantees Jalen Ramsey will still be on the board.

A team that may not be as happy? The San Francisco 49ers, who at seven may have been looking at drafting a quarterback if one fell to them. Now they will most certainly be walking away without a quarterback, unless they move to the second position.  

The ramifications of this trade will be monitored and play out for all to see over the next few seasons. But the Rams are giving Los Angeles and its fans no shortage of excitement without even stepping foot on a field.

 

David Arroyo is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email arroyodavid01@gmail.com

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David Arroyo

Senior / Broadcast Journalism

David Arroyo currently serves as one of two General Managers for CommRadio. David is a former arts & entertainment director, social media director and editor for the station. He has produced for multiple Penn State sports while in CommRadio, has done play by play for Penn State sporting events such as football, basketball and volleyball and co-hosted and produced his own talk show. During the fall of 2017, David was an anchor, producer and reporter for the Centre County Report. David most recently interned at WPVI-TV, 6abc in Philadelphia during the summer of 2018. While at 6abc he was a programing intern and helped in the production of their weekly show “FYI Philly.” David has interned at B94.5 (State College) and Center City Film and Video (Philadelphia). Follow him on Twitter (@_arroyodavid) or email him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).