Report: Rams Looking To Trade No. 2 Pick

This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to those who have followed the 2014 NFL draft closely. According to Adam Schefter over at ESPN, the St. Louis Rams are currently in talks to trade the second overall pick in the draft that’s coming up early next month. 

MMQB also indicates that the Rams have had conversations with multiple teams about trading this pick, which was originally acquired from the Washington Redskins in the 2012 deal that resulted in Robert Griffin III landing in D.C.

This makes sense for a few different reasons.

Scott Kane, USA Today: Rams feel Bradford is the answer at QB.

• General manager Les Snead has indicated multiple times that the Rams are sold on Sam Bradford as the franchise quarterback moving forward. That type of confidence in a quarterback that has both struggled on the field and missed time due to injury might not make a whole lot of sense. In any event, one of the upper-echelon signal callers of the 2014 draft class will be available with the Rams selection at No. 2 overall. If they’re not looking in that direction, why not trade down to a team that might be?
• Jadeveon Clowney. This is another position that the Rams seem to be set at with Chris Long and Robert Quinn manning the starting defensive end posts. They combined for 27.5 sacks a season ago. While there is a small chance that St. Louis stays at No. 2 overall and selects Clowney, it wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense at this point.
• St. Louis has already acquired a plethora of picks that it has turned into players for Robert Griffin III in that blockbuster two years ago last month. Why not attempt to continue reaping the rewards of said deal? After all, the Rams aren’t just one or two players away from contention in the NFC West. They need help at multiple positions. Trading out of the second spot while acquiring picks in both 2014 and 2015 makes a ton of sense here.

Other Team’ Needs

Brian Spurlock, USA Today

Some have indicated that higher draft picks bring less value in the 2014 NFL draft simple because of how deep the class is. And I agree with that notion. On the other hand, if a team can get a franchise quarterback at No. 2 overall or a generational defensive player in Clowney, the lack of perceived value is thrown out the window. In this, there are multiple teams out there in need of one or the other.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Either Clowney or Teddy Bridgewater will be available with the second pick. Jacksonville is selecting third overall and is need of both an elite player in Gus Bradley’s Seahawks-esque defense and a franchise quarterback. In reality, this is one of those deals that could be made prior to the draft itself taking place. Jacksonville, targeting one or both of them, could look to move up a spot while giving up maybe a third and fifth in the process.

Cleveland Browns:

Pretty much in the same situation as the Jaguars, this consistent bottom feeder is in need of a shot in the arm at the quarterback position. Heck, it’s needed that shot since Bernie Kosar was being…Bernie Kosar. Trading up to the second pick would enable the Browns to get their guy, whether it’s Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles. This is likely one of those deals that would have to be done with the Rams on the clock at two on draft day. Though, the Browns could be okay with either/or when it comes to the top-three signal callers. A move like this would likely require Cleveland, who has five picks in the first three rounds, to yield the 26th overall pick and a fourth rounder in return.

Atlanta Falcons

This would be all about bringing Jadeveon Clowney to the ATL. The Falcons are coming off a miserable, injury-plagued season but is also just one year removed from a trip to the NFC Championship game. They are also in need of a stud pass-rush threat up front on the defensive side of the ball and Clowney would be a perfect fit. Probably more so than any team picking in the top 10, Atlanta could afford to exhaust some draft picks in order to get its guy. While pure conjecture, a move like this might cost Atlanta its second rounder in 2014 and a first-round pick in 2015. It could also utilize the philosophy of yielding multiple picks both years in lieu of that first rounder next year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

One possibility is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who just traded Mike Williams to the Buffalo Bills. They are in need of  a starting-caliber wide receiver and Sammy Watkins is the best prospect at that position since both A.J. Green and Julio Jones came out back in 2011. The issue here is that Tampa Bay already spent its first rounder last season on Darrelle Revis, who is no longer on the team. It also yielded a fourth rounder in the 2014 draft in that trade. Would Lovie Smith and Co. be willing to mortgage the future on one player?

In the end, we can expect St. Louis to move out of the second spot or select one of the top-two offensive tackles in the class in Greg Robinson or Jake Matthews. It just remains to be seen exactly how far Snead and Co. might be willing to move down. My bet is that either St. Louis works out a deal with Cleveland prior to draft day or waits to see what the Houston Texans do at No. 1 overall before closing out a potential trade.

Photo: Kim Klement, USA Today