The blockbuster trade the Los Angeles Rams are making for Matthew Stafford will give them a proven veteran at the game’s most important position, with a fairly team-friendly contract, considering the current market for such a player.
The down side?
The Rams haven’t made a first-round pick since they took Jared Goff No. 1 overall in 2016, and after this deal with the Detroit Lions, they’re not scheduled to make another Day 1 selection until 2024.
Yes, that’s seven straight years without a first-round pick.
Rams general manager Les Snead and the rest of the team’s decision-makers are clearly willing to make bold moves to take advantage of their window for making a championship run, but if it doesn’t work, it could backfire in a big way by leaving them without premium talent developed via those early draft picks down the road.
