Over the past six years, the Los Angeles Rams have built their team by making trades.
The most notable trades they’ve made were by using draft picks for players.
Those trades have given them two Super Bowl appearances and one championship.
However, there’s the question if they will eventually regret trading away so many of their draft picks.
For the short-term, it appears their strategy is working.
The story isn’t over for Los Angeles and the draft picks they traded away.
If there are long-term regrets for Los Angeles, each trade needs to be examined further.
The Trade That Started It All: Rams Trade With Titans To Select Jared Goff
The first big trade of draft picks came in 2016.
Los Angeles traded six picks to Tennessee for their number one overall pick and two additional picks.
2016 Draft Trades.. #Bills
GOFF TRADE
Titans Received
Picks 15, 43, 45, 76 (2,180) & 2017 1st/3rd SelectionsRams Received
Picks 1, 113 & 177 (3,088.6)WENTZ TRADE
Browns Received
Picks 8, 77, 100 (1,705) & 2017 1st / 2018 2ndEagles Received
Pick 2 (2,600) & 2019 4th— Chad Forbes (@NFLDraftBites) March 16, 2018
While everyone saw the Titans as the winners, they got Derrick Henry with the Rams pick, the ultimate winner was the Rams.
That is because they made a Super Bowl with Jared Goff, the player they selected first overall.
The Titans have yet to make a Super Bowl since that trade.
However, the Rams only made one Super Bowl with Goff before they traded him away.
But the trade they made with Detroit would pay off instantly, at the cost of additional draft picks.
Mortgaging The Future With Confidence In Matthew Stafford
Their next big trade of draft picks came with the deal to acquire Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.
In 2021, the Rams sent Goff, two first-round picks, and a third-round pick to Detroit for Stafford.
While the Rams won a Super Bowl with Stafford, the Lions have yet to use those two first-round picks.
However, tonight will see which player they select with one of those first-round picks.
So the jury is out on the long-term effects of this trade, but the short-term gave them instant success.
Rams Trade Two More 2022 Draft Picks For Von Miller
Before the 2021 trade deadline, the team made a deal with the Denver Broncos for linebacker Von Miller.
In the deal, the Rams got Miller, while the Broncos received the second and third-round picks of 2022 from Los Angeles.
Blockbuster: Broncos are finalizing a trade to send eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker Von Miller to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for two second-day 2022 draft picks, league sources tell ESPN.
Miller is now saying his goodbyes to his friends in the Broncos’ training facility. pic.twitter.com/wJjlDOQkPU
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 1, 2021
However, Miller’s time in Los Angeles was short-lived.
After winning a Super Bowl with the team, he became a free agent and then signed with the Buffalo Bills.
While Miller helped an already decent Rams defense, the Rams lost out on two players this year for him.
The Rams might ultimately regret this deal with the Broncos.
Final Take
While the Rams have traded away 11 draft picks for three key players, it didn’t hurt them.
However, the effects might be felt when the contracts for star players like Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp expire.
They could have drafted players to be future replacements, if those players decide to leave Los Angeles.
But for now, the Rams have zero regrets with mortgaging their future for the present.
However, if they lose their star players to free agency, they might start regretting those decisions.
NEXT: How Much Should Cooper Kupp's Contract Extension Be Worth?