Ram Digest

Stay Or Trade: Will Los Angeles Rams Finally Use First Round Pick?

Will the Rams finally use make a selection in the first round?

Matt Galatzan

May 23, 2023, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead during organized
May 23, 2023, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead during organized / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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The NFL Draft draws closer by the day and decision time will soon arrive for the Los Angeles Rams. While the big question asks who they will select in the first round, the more prevalent one is whether or not they'll use a first-round selection at all. 

Los Angeles has not used a first-round selection since 2016, but perhaps that will change after the retirement of Aaron Donald. There are holes to fill on the defensive line, and there's no guarantee that the players atop the Rams' draft board will be around in the second round. 

In April, Rams' general manager Les Snead explained how the front office prepares for the draft, running "models" to replicate potential scenarios. 

Jan 7, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tyler Johnson (16) is
Jan 7, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tyler Johnson (16) is / Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

"There are scenarios where, right, if you move back, move up, maybe there's a chance you get three players in the first and second rounds versus two," Snead said in April, via the L.A. Times. "And then there's a possibility you only end up with one, right, if you move up."

Experts are split on what the Rams will do in the first round. Chad Reuter of NFL.com projects the No. 19 overall pick will be used on Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson. Bill Barnwell of ESPN sees Los Angeles trading down. 

The need to improve the defensive line may be too significant to take the usual approach of trading down. Snead called adding to the unit "a priority." 

One way or another, however, the Rams should have plenty of options come draft time.

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Matt Galatzan
MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan the Editor-In-Chief of RamDigest.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network. When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered. Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels. For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com

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