Rams trade for the #1 pick!

[Bill Lee]

Not Who, but What......Excitement in Los Angeles......

Just a few letters away from Excrement in Los Angeles!

 

[Gronk]

The common thread is that when WSH went for RG3 they also had a relatively new billionaire owner and a relatively new stadium and a so a paniced front office with a dire need to make a splash to keep their jobs.

Hmm? Snyder has owned that team since '99, the stadium isn't new either. The same ****ty group of people are running the Rams as when they were in STL.

I don't think either Wentz or Goff is a big enough STAR to make the "need a marquee name" argument very compelling here. One or both of them may be a "great kid", have "all the raw skills", and be "a guy you can trust as the face of your franchise" as I keep hearing. But nobody is arguing that either of them is the big name of Luck, Newton, or even Winston/Mariota, nor is either of them even really a sure thing starter this season. Certainly not Wentz, who's effectively jumping up 2 levels of competition and, production-wise, was at best only a notch above the other guys who have played QB in his program while they steamrolled their way to 5 straight titles. If he was 3 inches shorter he probably wouldn't even get drafted.

 

[manxman2601]

Hmm? Snyder has owned that team since '99, the stadium isn't new either. The same ****ty group of people are running the Rams as when they were in STL.

But nobody is arguing that either of them is the big name of Luck, Newton, or even Winston/Mariota, nor is either of them even really a sure thing starter this season. Certainly not Wentz.

Maybe not name, but Mayock is saying that Wentz has Brady/Luck upside. Cossell says that Wentz is better than Mariota/Winston. There's a lot of love out there for him.

I haven't really watched him so can't speak to that myself. Just passing on info.

 

[Gronk]

Maybe not name, but Mayock is saying that Wentz has Brady/Luck upside. Cossell says that Wentz is better than Mariota/Winston. There's a lot of love out there for him.

I haven't really watched him so can't speak to that myself. Just passing on info.

Yeah, I was addressing mainly the aspect of commercializing the guy right out of the gate as the face of their newly returned team. Even Goff being from Cal doesn't have quite the same cache as if they were drafting a guy from, say, USC to be the new starting QB.

He may be great, I don't know. I don't know a ton about him other than watching clips of his games reminded me of watching a high school team beat up on their JV squad. The context of Brady/Luck upside comparison is funny given the gaping chasm between what was expected of the two when they were drafted. A lot of that stuff just comes off as hyperbole to me, it's not like any of them ever have to answer for it when they're wrong. If a guy sucks, "well, you know, everyone thought Wentz was gonna be amazing!" even though not everyone thought that but no one wanted to be wrong on TV so they went along, and then they put his picture next to Todd Marinovich and move on to the next next big thing.

 

[Bill Lee]

I don't think either Wentz or Goff is a big enough STAR to make the "need a marquee name" argument very compelling here.

Case Keenum and Nick Foles help make that argument pretty darn compelling. How do you sell those two guys to a new market? Much easier to engage the audience by offering them the first pick in the draft, yada yada. So many here are so convinced that draft position/ranking matters so much (see the Easley thread for proof). They'd rather have a team of mediocre players with high draft ranks that stick around for a long time than have some genuine talents. Given this, it shouldn't be hard to sell the LA crowd on that shiny new quarterback, at least for a year or two.

 

[Gronk]

Case Keenum and Nick Foles help make that argument pretty darn compelling. How do you sell those two guys to a new market? Much easier to engage the audience by offering them the first pick in the draft, yada yada. So many here are so convinced that draft position/ranking matters so much (see the Easley thread for proof). They'd rather have a team of mediocre players with high draft ranks that stick around for a long time than have some genuine talents. Given this, it shouldn't be hard to sell the LA crowd on that shiny new quarterback, at least for a year or two.

That's true. I was thinking about them trying to have a good football team and did overlook that there will certainly be morons that need a jersey to buy.

To that end, they might have bought a Johnny Manziel or Mike Vick jersey too

 

[STLRAMBRINGER]

just another example of a Kroenke franchise.

gets me psyched for new season, then makes a decision based on making money instead of winning games.

/wrists

 

[RecoveringCowboy]

Lets see few years ago WSH gave STL 7 picks for a QB... the outcome... RGIII will be a PS guy in 2 years.. Now STL is doing the same.. I just dont get it..

Parity?

 

[convertedpatsfan]

You are right in the competitive side of things, but i don't think you are truly thinking about the "Marketing" standpoint. The LA Rams will need, more than anything else right now, to sell tickets. It is better to have an exciting commodity, even if uncertain, now and generate momentum and enthusiasm than to slowly build a team for the future. That's why i don't dislike the trade. If any established franchise did it, i would hate it.

I don't know. I mean they weren't really having much trouble generating interest this year:

Los Angeles Rams get 56,000 deposits for 2016 season tickets

Sure, Case Keenum wasn't the answer. But this is a huge haul to give up in a year when neither of the top 2 QBs is close to a sure thing and to a team that had no interest in drafting a QB. I'm not totally against the move, and I understand what you're saying.

But the price was ridiculous to pay. If they offered 2 1sts and a 2nd for Andrew Luck, I bet the Colts think about it, and they'd still have a few extra picks and at least a real young franchise QB instead of the gamble they're about to take. Heck, they could have offered 2 1sts and a 2nd for Mariota and the Titans probably would have said yes. It's a lot to pay for a QB that isn't really close to a sure thing.

It may pay off in the end. Just like watching somebody hit on 19 in blackjack at a casino and get 21. They could win this. But the odds are really against it, and the price they paid makes those odds even more difficult.

 

[manxman2601]

Jets tried to trade for the first pick according to Tony Pauline:

Sources close to the situation tell me the New York Jets made a serious offer to the Tennessee Titans for the initial pick of the draft. Those with knowledge of the situation tell me the team was close to getting the deal done.

I’m told it is believed veteran defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson was part of the deal.

And while many in the New York area dismissed my initial report earlier this week over the New York Jets being dark horses for trading to the top of the draft, it was revealed within 24 hours of the report that Jared Goff would be making an official visit to the franchise. Goff won’t be make it past the fourth pick of the draft.

Will the Jets continue to attempt to move up into the early reaches of round one? Sources tell me they believe so but much depends on who the Los Angeles Rams ultimately select with the first pick in two weeks time.

NFL Draft News & Notes: April 8th

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I do not have any qb in this draft with a first round grade.

The Rams had better be very certain about who they take.

 

[MainePatsFan26]

Case Keenum and Nick Foles help make that argument pretty darn compelling. How do you sell those two guys to a new market? Much easier to engage the audience by offering them the first pick in the draft, yada yada. So many here are so convinced that draft position/ranking matters so much (see the Easley thread for proof). They'd rather have a team of mediocre players with high draft ranks that stick around for a long time than have some genuine talents. Given this, it shouldn't be hard to sell the LA crowd on that shiny new quarterback, at least for a year or two.

I was talking with my dad, also a Pats fan, earlier today about draft picks. Mainly, it seems like a ton of fans ignore sunk costs when evaluating whether to keep players who were selected with a high draft pick, low draft pick, or were undrafted. High draft position is all about acquiring either someone with immense potential or low risk. For example, I could pick at No. 5 a guy with insane physical skills like J.J. Watt who also has off the field baggage. It is a risk, but he has a great enough upside to risk the fifth pick. Conversely, I could pick a guy who I know has a solid resume, good physical tools, and is squeaky clean. The guy won't be Watt, but he may develop into a solid starter for many seasons and may even make the Pro Bowl once or twice.

When making these types of choices, the team is evaluating the potential of players. When a player fails, however, it is water under the bridge. There is no point talking about whether a player came from the first, second, or seventh round once the draft is over because these labels have little impact on the game other than initial salaries. I suspect many a team has overpaid high draft picks following their rookie deals because of the prestige of a high draft pick on a player's resume.

Easley wasn't worth the aggravation versus a bottom basement costing free agent who can contribute the same, if not more this upcoming season. I'm not cursing at the sky that he was a first rounder. He had insane speed and a history of injuries. Injuries and stupidity off the field sunk him. Whatever.

TLDR Who cares about draft picks when the point is winning.

 

[brdmaverick]

Wow, this is one of those rare trades that is bad for the rest of the league. The Titans are getting a huge advantage due to the idiocy of the Rams general manager.

When you combine the draft years for a first, fourth, and sixth round pick they are getting two firsts, two seconds, and two thirds. Not to mention that the value of the 2017 first round pick will be determined by the success or failure of a team starting a rookie QB (more likely to be a failure than success). The haul of picks that the Titans are getting is enough to overhaul any team. Although I suppose the Jets didn't exactly become a dynasty when they had four first round picks one year.

 

[Gronk]

Wow, this is one of those rare trades that is bad for the rest of the league. The Titans are getting a huge advantage due to the idiocy of the Rams general manager.

When you combine the draft years for a first, fourth, and sixth round pick they are getting two firsts, two seconds, and two thirds. Not to mention that the value of the 2017 first round pick will be determined by the success or failure of a team starting a rookie QB (more likely to be a failure than success). The haul of picks that the Titans are getting is enough to overhaul any team. Although I suppose the Jets didn't exactly become a dynasty when they had four first round picks one year.

Yeah I think most teams would be too risk averse to even make the deal. So I respect their balls while also thinking they're stupid, because QB is the most important position but that doesn't mean you can shoehorn in whatever guy is the top prospect at the expense of other spots on the roster. And that IS what they're doing, unless they're totally kidding about "wanting two weeks to debate between which guy it is." When you give up that much for the pick, I kinda think you should know. Be willing to have your head turned if something unexpected comes up (like if the QB that seems like such a great guy tea-bagged a female trainer or something) but giving up that much just to have the #1 pick when they've done a decent job building their team back up from nothing seems dumb. Debating between Winston/Mariota, Manning/Leaf, Luck/Griffin when you already have the #1 pick is different than Ditka-ing your draft for it....and then doing your homework.

Teams have made deals for tons of picks before...Dallas in the 90's with the Walker trade is the only one I can recall that resulted in success, and even that - while absolutely the right move and a big steal by DAL - looks a slightly exaggerated in hindsight.

Side note: watched that 30 for 30 about the Orlando Magic last night and had forgotten that in addition to Penny Hardaway they got 3 first-round picks in exchange for Webber too. Wow! Except...from what I can tell a series of trades that followed meant they didn't draft another decent player until Dwight Howard 11 years later. So no guarantees from the Titans side either (though volume drafting can be a bit more productive in football for various reasons).

 

[Fencer]

They even had a young Belichick as their coach for a while. Too bad for them that he needed a bit more maturing before he became a force.

Not accurate. The old Browns had BB. He set them up to become the Ravens.

 

[Fencer]

Side note: watched that 30 for 30 about the Orlando Magic last night and had forgotten that in addition to Penny Hardaway they got 3 first-round picks in exchange for Webber too.

I thought it was 3 picks including the one used on Penny.

 

[Gronk]

I thought it was 3 picks including the one used on Penny.

Plus! '96 (traded along with Scott Skiles salary dump to Washington), '98 (Keon Clark?), '00 (looks like traded for some other pick, got annoyed trying to track)

 

[TB12TheGoat]

They gave up all of this for Goff or Wentz?

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Sad but true and both have serious issues to overcome before they should start.

unfortunately they could both be thrown to the wolves way too soon.