“It’s allowing us to consistently win games.” Les Snead believes his Los Angeles Rams don’t need to commit to the future to win
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Les Snead
Les Snead has used his general manager role with the Los Angeles Rams to create a consistent winning force. However, his method of doing so differs wildly from other teams.
While most teams heavily value their first-round picks and use them to bring in new young talent at a cheaper price from college football, the Rams have been extremely willing to part ways with their picks to bring in big-name stars to win immediately.
This year alone, they have traded away two first-rounders along with a second and third-round pick to bring in Matthew Stafford and Von Miller. In fact, they haven’t made a first-round selection since 2016 when they picked Jared Goff who was sent to Detroit in the Stafford trade.
While this strategy seems to be highly effective, it doesn’t go without its risks. The amount of pressure to win when those picks are dealt away is immeasurable. If a team can’t then win, they’re left without the ability to invest in high-quality young players in the draft or at least have to take a chance on later picks in the draft.
That being said, Snead recently revealed that he’s quite happy with the team’s philosophy and doesn’t want it to change.
Les Snead believes the Los Angeles Rams don’t need high round draft picks to win
In a recent interview conducted by ‘New York Post’ Les Snead was quoted saying “The model is working. It’s allowing us to consistently win games, consistently contend for NFC West.”
Snead further added, “We’ll try to use our picks in an innovative, creative way and sometimes it will be picking players in the draft and sometimes it will be using them to go acquire players.”
Since the last first-round pick the Rams used in 2016, they have a record of 59-38 so it certainly has been working out. The high-risk high reward method is also working out in terms of the draft as they’ve used their later-round picks (3rd round and after) to get players like Cooper Kupp, Tyler Higbee, and Greg Gaines.
If the Rams can bring home a Super Bowl ring this Sunday, then no one will question their methods for the time being. However, it wouldn’t be too surprising for those questions to come around when they start losing some stars to age or salary cap restrictions.
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Roshan Anand
(278 Articles Published)