Another facet of that strategy is to anticipate which guys you won't be able to sign to a second contract (e.g., Greg Gaines) and draft their replacement a couple years ahead to get them ready (e.g., Bobby Brown III).
Gaines didn't get a single start his first two years with the Rams, playing behind Sebastian Joseph-Day in '19 & '20.
BB3 got only 1 start his first 2 years but is poised to start in year 3 ... just like Gaines did.
And the final piece of the puzzle: when some of that cheap talent leaves after their rookie deal they generate comp picks for the Rams in the next draft. As it stands the Rams are in line to get the maximum 4 comp picks next year for Gay, Mayfield, Scott, and Robinson. They also have their own 7 picks so as of today the Rams have 11 picks in the 2024 draft to keep the pipeline of young, cheap talent flowing.
AlbaNY_Ram
