What Do Early 2017 Mock Drafts Say About the Los Angeles Rams’ 2016 Season? "More 7-9"

The Los Angeles Rams gave up a boat load of picks in order to draft Jared Goff first overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. And before he can even set foot on the field, there is speculation as to how the Rams are going to fare in the upcoming season, via the always accurate, never-too-early 2017 NFL mock draft.

No, the Rams don’t have a first round selection next year as a result of the aforementioned trade up with the Tennessee Titans. But prognosticators tell us how they think the Rams will finish up their 2016 campaign....without ever really saying so.

Where do the Titans use their added 1st round pick in 2017?  And what does it mean for the (predicted) win/loss record for the Rams in the upcoming year?

Well, I’m not sure what it says, but what I gather is that folks aren’t very optimistic about the upcoming season for the Rams. Regardless of mean, median, or mode, the predicted result isn’t pretty. Trading up to get their franchise QB apparently won't equate to a winning season. Heck, it, in all likelihood, doesn’t even have them achieving their first .500 season since 2006.

For starters, the Rams’ 7-9 season of 2015 landed them the 15th overall pick...which, as you can see, appears to have been a superior result to the one they’ve got coming their way this year.

For the sake of optimism (if you can call it that), let’s say the Rams best effort (according to these mocks) lands the Titans the 11th overall pick.  What does that look like?

*  The 11th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft belonged to the Chicago Bears, who held a 6-10 record in the season prior

*  The 11th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft belonged to the Minnesota Vikings, who held a 7-9 record in the season prior

*  The 11th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft belonged to the Tennessee Titans, who held a 7-9 record in the season prior

*  The 11th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft belonged to the San Diego Chargers, who held a 7-9 record in the season prior

*  The 11 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft belonged to the Kansas City Chiefs, who held a 7-9 record in the season prior

...I think you get the drift.

I’ve not quite mastered the art of the 360-day-away mock draft, but it appears you start by asking yourself whether or not a team has gotten better in the offseason, and you start from there. And whether it’s the addition of a young stud QB, or the subtraction of several key defensive players, it appears the early answer - for the Rams - is "no."

(for what it’s worth, Walter Football has them picking 5th -- four teams in the last five years that have picked 5th overall had a 4-12 record the year prior)