Los Angeles Rams in line for two high compensatory picks in 2019
The Los Angeles Rams may lack draft capital in 2018, but they could have some of the most top 100 picks in the NFL in 2019…
With all of the deals the Los Angeles Rams have made this offseason, it seems hard to believe they would be in any sort of contention for high compensatory picks in the 2019 NFL Draft.
But they are.
The Rams lost both Trumaine Johnson and Sammy Watkins this offseason at annual rates of $15 million and $16 million respectively.
Along with Kirk Cousins’ $28 million APY, and Nate Solder’s $15 million APY, the Rams lost two players who received some of the biggest contracts league-wide.
What does that translate to?
Well, in this case, it translates to two third round compensatory draft picks in the 2019 NFL Draft.
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As things currently stand, the Rams would be armed with four picks in the top 100 if these picks stay.
The Rams traded their second round pick in 2019 to the Kansas City Chiefs for cornerback Marcus Peters, but they will have plenty of ammunition in next year’s draft with a first rounder and three third round picks to do more dealing and continue to re-shape their roster.
How does this work? Didn’t the Rams sign Ndamukong Suh and re-sign a few key players as well as make trades for big name guys?
Absolutely. But not a single one of the moves the Rams made — not even one — counts against their 2019 compensatory draft pick formula.
Ndamukong Suh was a cap casualty in Miami, and cap casualties do not count against the comp pick formula. Nor do contracts acquired via trade. The Rams have orchestrated everything perfectly this offseason, fitting star players under their 2018 cap, while also positioning themselves well for a couple of extra high draft picks in 2019.
That’s how you build for the future while trying to win now.