The numbers I quoted were the number of players actually drafted each year, not the number of picks the Rams had going into the draft. The Rams have a reputation for trading away all of their draft picks, but in reality they end up with more picks that most teams.
Just to pick a team at random, the 49ers drafted 58 players from 2017 while the Rams drafted 67 players. (If you want me to check a different team lmk who.)
Trader Les might well move up and down in the draft to get the players he wants, but that is a far cry from trading away all their draft picks.
About building thru the draft ...
Looking at the Rams depth chart on [
www.ourlads.com] 21 of the 23 starters listed were drafted by the Rams, signed as UFAs late enough to not impact the comp pick formula, signed as college free agents, or signed off someone's practice squad.
Only 2 were acquired by trade: Dotson and Stafford.
OK, but that's today. What about our SB winning team you might ask? [
www.ourlads.com] shows the Rams depth chart on 2/1/22, the last one they published before the SB.
18 starters either drafted, signed as UFAs or undrafted college players, or plucked form another team's practice squad. (note: I'm counting either Long or Haley as the nickle back since Ourlad's doesn't identify one on this chart.)
The 5 they acquired by trade: Corbett (traded to the Rams in 2019 for a 5th), Stafford (2021), Michel (2021 for a 5th and 6th), Miller (2021), and Ramsey (2019).
My take: the Rams traded for 2 starters prior to 2021, and when they saw they had a real shot at the SB in '21 they picked up a couple studs in Stafford and Miller and a depth guy (Michel) to put them over the top.
Personally I'd be OK if they did that again when the time is right ...
AlbaNY_Ram
