Rams reaping the rewards from last year's draft night trade with Falcons
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The Rams, NFC Championship Game contenders and Super Bowl favorites, hold the 13th pick in the first round this year due to a strategic trade with the Falcons last year.
- Last year, the Rams traded their 2025 first- and third-round picks to the Falcons for Atlanta’s 2025 second- and seventh-round picks plus their 2026 first-round pick, anticipating better future value.
- Rams GM Les Snead and coach Sean McVay’s job security allowed them to prioritize long-term gains, while the Falcons, under pressure to win immediately, sacrificed their 2026 first-round pick but failed to retain their coaching staff.
- The Falcons' new regime must rebuild without a first-round pick, and their former target James Pearce is currently not with the team due to legal issues.
- The Rams, having traded for cornerback Trent McDuffie with their own first-round pick, still possess valuable draft capital and flexibility to improve their roster, reflecting their successful long-term team-building strategy.
