In theory the higher rated player has the greater probability for success, or at least for greater success. But not all "raters" are created equal. Some are much better at assessing those probabilities than others, which is why you have the kind of extremes you do with the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams.

Also, trade downs are exchanges of probable value that, if done well, increases or at a bare minimum matches your net value. If there is a net decrease, you've screwed up, and the Rams as we know, are historically very good at being very bad at that.

The problem you or anybody else here has at taking the Rams position against the field is that the Rams current brain trust is demonstrably bad against the field. But make no mistake that when you criticize somebody for viewing the Rams moves negatively, you are unavoidably defending the Rams decision making ability to deliver relative positive outcomes, and that is simply not a tenable position as we sit here today given their clear record.