Rams trade out of first round in Schrager mock draft

Fans would love this trade if it happens this way on Thursday

Peter Schrager’s mock draft has been one of the most anticipated releases over the past few years because he says that he’s basing it on things he’s hearing around the league. Though Schrager’s accuracy is actually not going to be anymore relevant than any other mock drafter, it doesn’t mean it has less merit than another person’s guess who has worked for the league.

If Schrager is right about what the Rams will do — and Schrager has long been closely tied to L.A.’s front office and coaching staff — then Les Snead will trade out of the first round entirely.

In Schrager’s mock draft posted on Wednesday, the Rams trade down with the New York Giants and don’t make any picks on day one, which would move L.A.’s first pick from 26 to 34. The Giants moved up to draft Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, who obviously Schrager is in a roundabout way saying that the Rams have no interest in as a possible pick.

The Rams have once again been one of the most talked about teams leading up to the draft even in spite of only picking 26th, because many analysts and fans are curious if Snead will do anything related to the quarterback position. Matthew Stafford’s age is certainly part of that equation, but also the fact that Sean McVay is open about the fact that the quarterback is going to take the rest of his Rams career on a year-to-year decision.

The Rams are not committed to any quarterback beyond 2025 and unless they draft one with their first pick this week, that will continue to be the case.

However, if the Rams stick and pick a quarterback at 26, or trade up for one, it sends a strong message that McVay wants to develop that player to take over for Stafford by 2026 or 2027.

Most fans will be elated if the Rams are able to trade back and add more capital and most fans will be annoyed if L.A. takes a quarterback. The Rams don’t have a second round pick. So even though it is highly unlikely that Snead could add a second round pick by trading back, he might be able to get more capital on day three that would allow the team to trade up from the third round, if they want to.

Or it could just be more later round picks, which has worked out well for Snead recently.