Zaven Collins is a 6’4, 260 pound linebacker out of Tulsa who is described as an “explosive, game-impacting” player at his position who could have a huge impact on the right NFL defense. That’s why Collins is projected to be a late first round pick and it is highly unlikely that he’d ever come near the Rams’ first pick at 57.
However, what if Collins made it out of the first round and started drawing the interest of onlookers for being a “draft faller” on day two? Is it possible that if the right player was still on the board at the top of day two that LA would be able to trade up for him if they wanted to?
How far up could the Rams trade?
According to Rich Hill’s draft value chart — which averages draft pick trades since the 2011 CBA — the 57th pick is worth 16.66 points. If the Rams wanted to trade up to pick 40, they’d need to find 10 points to make it worth it.
LA’s third round pick at 88 is worth 8.2 points.
Corrected new draft value chart, based on every draft trade since the new CBA after the 2011 draft. pic.twitter.com/ioBsC62xL4
— Rich Hill (@PP_Rich_Hill) April 23, 2017
Hypothetically, if Zaven Collins fell out of the top 39 picks, and the Rams thought “Wow, that guy would solve so many problems for us at linebacker,” then they could risk not getting the player they would have selected at 88 and instead secure the player who they’d dream of drafting at 57 if they only believed he would fall that far.
The Broncos, who hold pick 40, might accept picks 57 and 88 to move down. Draft value charts are only valuable as guideposts, not hard and fast rules, and it could be that in a depreciated year, Denver would accept even loss. Or LA could also throw in something of little, but some value, like a 2022 sixth round pick or a pick swap.
Would it be worth it for the right player to sacrifice not getting another player in the following round?
For what it’s worth, the Rams’ third round picks since hiring Sean McVay in 2017 have been Cooper Kupp, John Johnson, Joseph Noteboom, Darrell Henderson, David Long, Terrell Lewis, and Terrell Burgess. Their second round picks have been Gerald Everett, Taylor Rapp, Cam Akers, and Van Jefferson, but the highest of those came at 44.
The Rams haven’t drafted inside the top 40 picks since Jared Goff in 2016.