Stay Or Trade: Will Los Angeles Rams Finally Use First Round Pick?

Will the Rams finally use make a selection in the first round?

By Ray Lucas

May 23, 2023, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead during organized
May 23, 2023, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead during organized / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL Draft draws closer by the day and decision time will soon arrive for the Los Angeles Rams. While the big question asks who they will select in the first round, the more prevalent one is whether or not they'll use a first-round selection at all. 

Los Angeles has not used a first-round selection since 2016, but perhaps that will change after the retirement of Aaron Donald. There are holes to fill on the defensive line, and there's no guarantee that the players atop the Rams' draft board will be around in the second round. 

In April, Rams' general manager Les Snead explained how the front office prepares for the draft, running "models" to replicate potential scenarios. 

Jan 7, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tyler Johnson (16) is
Jan 7, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tyler Johnson (16) is / Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

"There are scenarios where, right, if you move back, move up, maybe there's a chance you get three players in the first and second rounds versus two," Snead said in April, via the L.A. Times. "And then there's a possibility you only end up with one, right, if you move up."

Experts are split on what the Rams will do in the first round. Chad Reuter of NFL.com projects the No. 19 overall pick will be used on Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson. Bill Barnwell of ESPN sees Los Angeles trading down. 

The need to improve the defensive line may be too significant to take the usual approach of trading down. Snead called adding to the unit "a priority." 

One way or another, however, the Rams should have plenty of options come draft time.