Rams in talks to trade #2 pick

[ThomasTomasz]

The Rams, because they traded away the right to draft No. 2 overall in the 2012 draft so the Redskins could take Robert Griffin III, have the No. 2 overall and the No. 13 overall picks in this year's draft.

Aside from the Texans at No. 1 overall, the Rams might have the most leverage or power of any squad in the draft, mostly because they don't need a franchise quarterback and they have a pretty decent left tackle in Jake Long (so they wouldn't necessarily need to draft Auburn tackle Greg Robinson, as four of the five CBSSports.com mock drafters are predicting-- unless they wanted to place him on the right side of the line). Jadeveon Clowney would be a strong pick, but St. Louis already has one of the best pass-rushers, Robert Quinn, on its team.

So, why not think about a trade? That seems to be the thought process of Rams general manager Les Snead, who told theMMQB.com's Greg Bedard that St. Louis has been talking to teams.

“We have had some conversations with multiple teams,” Snead said. “They're more flirtatious calls than anything. We have numbers 2 and 13, but Houston has No. 1. Nobody can really seriously chat with us until they are happy with at least two players. I think what might happen as we get closer to the draft, maybe it comes to fruition what Houston is going to do, maybe it doesn't, you have more serious talks probably the week of the draft going, ‘Hey, if our player is there at 2, this is what we're going to offer.' I think it will get more serious.”

Making matters even better for Rams are the depth of this year's draft and the notion that a number of players could fit into the top-2 taken (Clowney, Johnny Manziel, Blake Bortles, Robinson, Teddy Bridgewater, maybe even Khalil Mack all are legitimate players that could be grabbed at either No. 1 or No. 2).

“I actually think there's more than one player that people would want to move up for. I just don't know what they'd want to give to move up,” Snead said. “At the top maybe there's four or five players who were one step or one notch ahead of the very good, and sometimes a team might say we need to get that guy. You don't know the value of what people would be willing to give. The fact that there could be multiple teams eyeing one of those guys could drive up the price a little bit.”

Much of it, of course, might depend on what the Texans do with their pick. Though a selection like Clowney or one of the quarterbacks would make sense for Houston, it's been reported that the team also wouldn't mind trading down.

"Maybe we'll trade down and still get a quarterback that can do the job and get an outstanding defensive player," Texans owner Bob McNair said in January. "It's an exciting time. Everything's a moving target. Lot of different pieces."

And lots of different teams who might want to take a crack at either the No. 1 or No. 2 selections. For now, we wait, because by this time next week, a team's thought process might have changed completely.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on...d-in-talks-with-teams-about-trading-no-2-pick

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I approve.

As I said the day the Rams locked up the #2 pick, I would either take Clowney, or trade out.

 

[Hasselbeck]

Far from a surprise here. Snead is the type of GM that wants to accrue more picks for the future. I'm sure he'd move back if a team were willing to fork over their first rounder in 2015.

The Rams suitors for that 2nd overall pick largely depend on what Houston does though. I think more teams would move up for Clowney at this point than a QB.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Far from a surprise here. Snead is the type of GM that wants to accrue more picks for the future. I'm sure he'd move back if a team were willing to fork over their first rounder in 2015.

The Rams suitors for that 2nd overall pick largely depend on what Houston does though. I think more teams would move up for Clowney at this point than a QB.

I don't think it matters what Houston does. #2 pick is more valuable than the #1. The #2 pick is the spot you go to, without an insane price point, to jump everyone to acquire a non-#1 player. Clowney, barring him not going #1, Sammy Watkins, Khalil Mack, one of the premier OL...those are the types of guys that would be targeted @ 2 most likely. Similar to the way Jordan was eyed up @ 3 last year.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Far from a surprise here. Snead is the type of GM that wants to accrue more picks for the future. I'm sure he'd move back if a team were willing to fork over their first rounder in 2015.

The Rams suitors for that 2nd overall pick largely depend on what Houston does though. I think more teams would move up for Clowney at this point than a QB.

Houston is in a tough spot for sure. Teams would rather wait for the second pick, as it's a little less money and a lower cost in terms of what is given up. I think a trade for them isn't going to happen, so they need to decide what their QB choice is, or if they go BPA with Clowney.

 

[Golden Taters]

It would be pretty cool to see how dominate the Rams pass rush would be with Clowney in it, but it is probably smarter to just trade down.