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Since Los Angeles Rams General Manager Les Snead became GM in 2012, he’s always been one to wheel and deal when it comes to the NFL Draft. Tonight was no different as he spent his first opportunity in the 2019 NFL Draft to put together a trade with the Atlanta Falcons.
The main outcome? An added third-round pick at #79.
Here’s what the Rams have done in the third round since the 2012 NFL Draft:
LA Rams third-round draft history since 2012
| Year | POS | Player | Pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | POS | Player | Pick |
| 2012 | CB | Trumaine Johnson | 65 |
| 2013 | S | T.J. McDonald | 71 |
| 2013 | WR | Stedman Bailey | 92 |
| 2014 | RB | Tre Mason | 75 |
| 2015 | OL | Jamon Brown | 72 |
| 2015 | QB | Sean Mannion | 89 |
| 2017 | WR | Cooper Kupp | 69 |
| 2017 | S | John Johnson | 91 |
| 2018 | OL | Joseph Noteboom | 89 |
While Snead hasn’t batted 1.000 here, no teams do. Even in the first round. The real takeaway is that Snead has actually overseen a very, very successful third-round hit rate.
And if we’re taking the pairing of Snead and current Rams Head Coach Sean McVay as a different quantity entirely from the pairing with former Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher, Snead has done exceptionally well since McVay’s hiring in 2017.
So as justifiable as it was to seek a trade down going into the draft tonight, it’s very easy to understand why it makes sense coming out of the first round.
The Rams added a pick in a range where they’ve had recent historic success and where this particular draft is well-stocked.
A job well done, Lester P. Snead.