History shows this blockbuster trade won't work out for the Rams
The Los Angeles Rams made a blockbuster trade -- the biggest jump to No. 1 in NFL history -- on Thursday, acquiring the first overall pick exactly two weeks before the NFL Draft. In doing so, the Rams gave up a king's ransom to get the Tennessee Titans' selection -- a move they were on the other end of four years ago.
Officially, the Rams sent Tennessee the 15th pick, two second-rounders and a third-rounder in 2016, and a first- and third-round selection in 2017. In return, they received the first overall pick, as well as a fourth- and sixth-round selection in this year's draft.
You might remember in 2012 when the Washington Redskins sent the Rams three first-round picks and a second-rounder to take Robert Griffin III. This trade, now with the Rams being the ones sending the picks instead of acquiring them, is eerily similar and figures to land Los Angeles its next franchise quarterback.
The Rams clearly got the better end of the RG3 trade four years ago with it proving to be a colossal mistake for the Redskins, so why is Los Angeles taking a similar chance to what Washington did? The Rams desperately need a quarterback, but history isn't on their side.
Past blockbuster trades involving top picks have backfired more than they've worked out.
This one is obvious, mainly because of the haul St. Louis received in exchange for Griffin III, who wound up being a bust in Washington. In the four years after acquiring the former Baylor quarterback, the Redskins only won 26 games -- nine of which came with Kirk Cousins as the full-time starter in 2015. The Rams benefitted greatly from this trade and it has helped rebuild the franchise and put them in position to move up in the 2016 draft.
Another bust from the 2012 draft was the result of a trade. The Browns gave up a fourth-, fifth- and seventh-round pick to move up just one spot to take Richardson third overall. He only started 17 games. The Browns are still searching for a star running back and have finished at the bottom of the AFC North for five straight seasons. Richardson is viewed as one of the biggest busts of the past decade.
The New Orleans Saints fell in love with Ricky Williams in the 1999 draft, and gave up their entire haul to take him fifth overall. New Orleans gave Washington every single one of its picks that year in addition to a first- and third-round pick in 2000 to move up seven spots and bring Williams to New Orleans, where he only spent three seasons. The Redskins, on the other hand, traded up to land Champ Bailey in 1999 and drafted LaVar Arrington in 2000 as a result.
The trade of all trades came in 1990 when the Minnesota Vikings essentially handed the Dallas Cowboys a dynasty. The Vikings gave up five players and eight picks to land Walker, who only spent two-plus seasons in Minnesota. In the three seasons that Walker was with the Vikings, Minnesota only had one winning season and made the playoffs once. The Cowboys, however, turned the trade into Emmitt Smith and Darren Woodson, who helped lead Dallas to three Super Bowls from 1992 to 1995.
These past trades don't necessarily mean the blockbuster won't work out for the Rams, but the odds don't look great. Carson Wentz and Jared Goff are both great quarterbacks and should have solid NFL careers, but they aren't viewed as Peyton Manning- or Andrew Luck-type prospects. Only time will tell how this turns out for Los Angeles.
