Why the NFL Draft isn’t as important as it used to be[
www.bostonglobe.com]
From the Article-
This year, the Rams have decided that the draft isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, either. They traded their first-round pick for Cooks, and last year they traded their 2018 second-round pick for Sammy Watkins.
The Rams built their team the expensive way, adding several big veterans through trades and free agency: Ndamukong Suh, Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, and more. And when the draft is held next weekend, the Rams won’t be on the board until the third round, pick No. 87.
It’s a strategy that the Rams developed through experience — the hard way.
“We learned this through the RG3 trade,” vice president of football operations Kevin Demoff said in February at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, referring to the big 2012 trade that sent the No. 2 pick, which would become Robert Griffin III, to Washington.
The Rams emerged from that deal with eight draft picks over three years, including five in the top two rounds. They were supposed to be locked and loaded with young talent, ready to take on the NFC for years to come.
Six years later, only one player is left: defensive tackle Michael Brockers, he of 19 sacks in six seasons. Left tackle Greg Robinson, a No. 2 overall pick, was a huge bust and lasted just three years. Cornerback Janoris Jenkins was allowed to walk in free agency after four years. Linebacker Alec Ogletree provided five serviceable seasons, and was just traded away to the Giants. Running back Isaiah Pead and wide receiver Stedman Bailey had their careers cut short by freak accidents. Zac Stacy and Rokevious Watkins flamed out quickly. And coach Jeff Fisher was fired after five playoff-less seasons.
The problem, the Rams found out, was that they didn’t have enough time to develop their young players, thanks to the new practice rules established by the 2011 collective bargaining agreement.
“In the new CBA, you get such limited time with players,” Demoff said. “Going really young, I think, was easier when you had more time in the offseason, more time in training camp. We had a player last year who missed all of the offseason because he didn’t graduate until late, and he had 10 practices until the preseason opener.
“It’s great to have picks, but even if you hit on them, how they develop is so much harder now. You don’t necessarily have three years to develop these guys.”
Greg Robinson, the second overall pick in 2014, lasted three years with the Rams.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/19/2018 05:35AM by RamBill.
