Last week the Los Angeles Rams made the decision to trade up 14 spots in the 2016 NFL draft in order to select number one overall. The ramifications of this decision will be felt not only by the Rams but all the other teams in the draft. The several listed in this article are just a few but are the most immediate and important.
1. Quarterback is the first position off the board.
Why the Tennessee Titans were so willing to flip their pick is the presence of Marcus Mariota on their roster. With a young QB already in their possession, the Titans were left with two choices: to stay in their position or select their choice of prospects in a deep draft. They ended up opting for number two, dealing for a multitude of picks. Unlike the Titans, the LA Rams have a hole at the game's most important position, and the amount of “draft capital” given up pretty much guarantees they will select a quarterback first overall.
2. This is a make or break season for the L.A. Rams.
This trade is a very win-now move for the Rams, who over the years have built a talented roster with a strong defense and running game. Theoretically, the team has been a quarterback away from true playoff contention, considering that they regularly finish a mediocre 7-9. Usually, the drafting of a quarterback buys a head coach a couple of years to try and develop their young passer, but entering his fifth year, Jeff Fisher is potentially in the hot seat without a playoff berth this season. Making this move is a statement by the franchise that they are ready to win, and are hoping that their future rookie passer will cover up some holes on the offensive line and wide receiver.
3. The Titans have a clear path to rebuilding.
Tennessee hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2008 and have generally been irrelevant in most news circles due to a talent-starved roster that has lacked playmakers outside of Chris Johnson. They were off to a good start changing that perception by drafting Mariota, number two overall in the 2015 draft. Unfortunately, outside of him and Jurrell Casey on defense, there is not much to be excited about on the roster. With a new general manager in Jon Robinson and a quiver full of draft picks, he has the chance to fill out some real depth to the offense and defense in Tennessee.
4. The Browns are once again losers.
With a subpar free agency that has caused more loss than gain for the perennial, less-than-inspiring Cleveland team, the draft was what people had to look forward to. Armed with the number-two overall pick, they were in a similar position as the Titans without the luxury of being armed with a QB for the future. They had the option of their choice of the top-two draftable quarterbacks, Carson Wentz or Jared Goff, or to trade back. Instead, one of those two is going to be taken by the Rams. This may leave them with the less-desirable choice, and only one blue chip QB prospect remaining would leave them with fewer trade options as teams may have lower grades on whoever remains. It is nothing but a lose-lose prospect for the Cleveland Browns in 2016.
5. Teams picking in the top 10 that already have an established quarterback benefit the most.
The teams highlighted here are the ones picking higher than sixth overall, with the exception of the Titans. But the teams more in the middle tier, your Eagles and 49ers, and even stretching into the lower first-round picks, Broncos, are immediately affected by this decision as well. With two quarterbacks likely to be off the board with the first two picks, it sends a ripple effect through the entire first day of the draft.
