The Los Angeles Rams have become known for trading top draft picks in order to acquire elite talent.
They did it to land Jalen Ramsey, Matthew Stafford, and most recently to get Von Miller.
But the Rams have still shown an ability to build via the draft as well.
Just look at receiver Cooper Kupp, who is on pace to set the single-season record for receiving yards.
He was not a heralded player coming out, but here he is looking like Jerry Rice.
Kupp was a third-round pick and just one of many players succeeding on the Rams who were taken in the third round or later.
Notable players the #Rams have drafted in the 3rd round or later via ESPN pic.twitter.com/KazKx3aAGS
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 7, 2021
This late-round success is why the Rams have built a contender.
Hitting On Important Picks
The Rams trading away first-round selections means they have to pay extra attention to picks in the third round or later.
Darrell Henderson was taken in the third round of the 2019 draft, while someone like Tyler Higbee went in the fourth round back in 2016.
The true core of the Rams was built from within thanks to proper scouting by the organization.
Cooper Kupp is the first player in the Super Bowl era with 900 Rec yards and 10 Rec TDs through the first eight games.
He is on pace for:
🔥 133 Rec
🔥 1,963 Yds
🔥 21 TDs pic.twitter.com/JQ0R5E00Dk— ESPN (@espn) November 1, 2021
Doing this is key because it means the roster is so stable that the team can afford to miss out on a first-round pick every so often.
The problems would start to come if the Rams ended up cutting most of their draft picks.
That would lead to a situation where the roster would be in trouble once all the acquired talent via trade needs to be paid.
But this organization is in great shape and GM Les Snead made a good point recently to remember that compensatory picks are still in the equation.
So if the Rams lose top talent and even trade away draft picks, they will still get some compensation in return.
NEXT: Rams CB Jalen Ramsey Launches New Campaign