Rams might be absolutely going for it here in 2026

[StickierBuns]

Dianna Russini
@DMRussini
A.J. Brown trade discussions are not dead.

Last week, I was told the Rams discussed trading for Eagles WR A.J. Brown before dealing for CB Trent McDuffie.

Dialogue slowed, but Los Angeles continues to monitor the status of the three-time Pro Bowler with interest. We’ll see where both parties go from here.

[purplefaithful]

They'd better go for it now...I dont think Stafford is playing in 27.

[MaroonBells]

Rams are an interesting case study, especially for those who think the draft is the only way to build a roster. In the last NINE drafts they've had precisely ONE 1st round draft pick. They dealt another one this year for McDuffie. They do have the Falcons 1st this year (#13) that came from Atlanta moving up 20 spots for James Pearce in last year's draft. 

Their QB? A former 1st overall pick who was up and down on his former team, whom they acquired after bailing on their own 1st round QB. Stafford has since won a Super Bowl and is the current reigning NFL MVP. The other guy has had a career resurgence in Detroit. It was truly one of the few "win-win" trades in NFL history. 

I think if you see a problem, you should try to fix it, instead of waiting around for some fluid, ever-changing plan or vision to materialize.

[MAD GAINZ]

Do they trade Davante then? How do you get the ball to Puka, Brown, and Adams enough to keep them all happy? Unless it's Brown for Davante and picks?

[purplefaithful]

Rams are an interesting case study, especially for those who think the draft is the only way to build a roster. In the last NINE drafts they've had precisely ONE 1st round draft pick. They dealt another one this year for McDuffie. They do have the Falcons 1st this year (#13) that came from Atlanta moving up 20 spots for James Pearce in last year's draft. 

Their QB? A former 1st overall pick who was up and down on his former team, whom they acquired after bailing on their own 1st round QB. Stafford has since won a Super Bowl and is the current reigning NFL MVP. The other guy has had a career resurgence in Detroit. It was truly one of the few "win-win" trades in NFL history. 

I think if you see a problem, you should try to fix it, instead of waiting around for some fluid, ever-changing plan or vision to materialize.

This also underscores the ripple effect having a healthy, franchise qb can do for you...There arent too many out there, but they outpunch their weight for those lucky enough to have one. 

This is also why I have some empathy for Bengals fans...Just imagine if Burrows could stay healthy? I suspect they'd be right up there with the best the AFC has to offer.

[kmillard]

Rams are an interesting case study, especially for those who think the draft is the only way to build a roster. In the last NINE drafts they've had precisely ONE 1st round draft pick. They dealt another one this year for McDuffie. They do have the Falcons 1st this year (#13) that came from Atlanta moving up 20 spots for James Pearce in last year's draft. 

Their QB? A former 1st overall pick who was up and down on his former team, whom they acquired after bailing on their own 1st round QB. Stafford has since won a Super Bowl and is the current reigning NFL MVP. The other guy has had a career resurgence in Detroit. It was truly one of the few "win-win" trades in NFL history. 

I think if you see a problem, you should try to fix it, instead of waiting around for some fluid, ever-changing plan or vision to materialize.

I think these are words to live by each day as well.

[Godhead]

Rams are an interesting case study, especially for those who think the draft is the only way to build a roster. In the last NINE drafts they've had precisely ONE 1st round draft pick. They dealt another one this year for McDuffie. They do have the Falcons 1st this year (#13) that came from Atlanta moving up 20 spots for James Pearce in last year's draft. 

Their QB? A former 1st overall pick who was up and down on his former team, whom they acquired after bailing on their own 1st round QB. Stafford has since won a Super Bowl and is the current reigning NFL MVP. The other guy has had a career resurgence in Detroit. It was truly one of the few "win-win" trades in NFL history. 

I think if you see a problem, you should try to fix it, instead of waiting around for some fluid, ever-changing plan or vision to materialize.

This is the old George Allen philosophy.
Older guys that know the game is better than an unknown draft pick.

[MaroonBells]

This is the old George Allen philosophy.
Older guys that know the game is better than an unknown draft pick.

Exactly. Think about Greenard. Sure you can maybe trade him for a 2nd round pick, but you have to turn right around and use that pick to replace him. And 2nd rounders hit below 40%. Sure, Greenard cost money, but with him I already know what I have. The 2nd rounder could be the next Scott Crichton for all we know. 

You have to build through the draft so you can have young, cheap players always cycling through, but I think the best teams use a balanced mix of both.

[StickierBuns]

Exactly. Think about Greenard. Sure you can maybe trade him for a 2nd round pick, but you have to turn right around and use that pick to replace him. And 2nd rounders hit below 40%. Sure, Greenard cost money, but with him I already know what I have. The 2nd rounder could be the next Scott Crichton for all we know. 

You have to build through the draft so you can have young, cheap players always cycling through, but I think the best teams use a balanced mix of both.

But the issue is here they never drafted Greenard, they've already paid him what, $19 million in salary a year and $42 million in guarantees? They never received that sweet value of an originally drafted player on his first contract. You can put all the stats up you want about what percentage each round hits but the bottom line is Minnesota needs to start hitting on their draft picks or they'll fade away. Its been horrific under KAM, which means there's next to nothing in that first contract pipeline.

If you can get a late first rounder for Greenard, they should do it. But I have zero problem keeping him on board also. The Rams have Matt Stafford, so they can care lesser sometimes about moving picks....he helps on the misses in FA or the Draft.

[MaroonBells]

But the issue is here they never drafted Greenard, they've already paid him what, $19 million in salary a year and $42 million in guarantees? They never received that sweet value of an originally drafted player on his first contract. You can put all the stats up you want about what percentage each round hits but the bottom line is Minnesota needs to start hitting on their draft picks or they'll fade away. Its been horrific under KAM, which means there's next to nothing in that first contract pipeline.

If you can get a late first rounder for Greenard, they should do it. But I have zero problem keeping him on board also. The Rams have Matt Stafford, so they can care lesser sometimes about moving picks....he helps on the misses in FA or the Draft.

Hard to hit on picks you don't have. After having just 4 top 100 picks in their last three drafts combined, Vikings have 4 in this year's draft alone. They need to do well on those picks. 

After a series of draft busts, Seattle drafted Zabel and Emmanwori in 2025 (both hits) and added them to a big free agent class that included Darnold, obviously the biggest addition. But people talk about how much the Vikings spent in free agency last year. And they did. They ranked 2nd. A recipe for failure? Not exactly. The teams who ranked 1st and 4th played in the Super Bowl. Gotta do both well.