Rams First Round Draft Picks Since 2000

The NFL is the league where draft picks are most important for building a winning franchise. With teams having a 53-man roster and there being seven rounds in the NFL Draft, that is the easiest way to build your talent base considering there is a salary cap to work around and trades don’t happen as frequently as other sports.

First-round picks are gold for NFL teams… unless you are the LA Rams.

Under head coach Sean McVay, the Rams have yet to pick in the first round. The organization’s last first-round pick was in 2016 when they traded all the way up to No. 1 overall to select quarterback Jared Goff.

They included their 2017 first-round pick in that trade as well. They then traded their 2018 first-round pick to the New England Patriots for wide receiver Brandin Cooks before trading down and out of the first round in 2019. Their 2020 and 2021 picks went to the Jacksonville Jaguars for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and then finally, 2022 and 2023 went to the Detroit Lions in the trade that swapped Goff for quarterback Matthew Stafford.

The Rams have fully leaned into their team-building strategy of trading first-rounders for proven commodities, with general manager Les Snead even coining the phrase “F— Them Picks.”

L.A. has had success with this strategy, winning the Super Bowl in 2021-22 as well as making the playoffs three other times under McVay.

After 2023, the Rams have all of their first-round picks moving forward… for now.

Before the annual draft in April though, let’s take a look back at who the Rams have drafted in the first round this century.

2016: Cal Quarterback Jared Goff (1 overall)

As mentioned, Goff was the Rams’ last pick in the first round in 2016. After looking like a huge bust his rookie season under head coach Jeff Fisher, Goff developed into a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback the next four seasons under McVay.

Goff led the Rams to the Super Bowl in 2018-19, losing to the Patriots. Despite going 42-20 in his four seasons under McVay though, the Rams decided to move on before the 2021 season, trading him for another former No. 1 overall pick in Stafford. Goff remains the quarterback for the Lions, having his best overall season for them in 2022.

2015: Georgia Running Back Todd Gurley (10 overall)

Gurley immediately became one of the faces of the Rams franchise after being taken 10th overall in 2015, winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in his first season. He then put up two of the best seasons for a running back ever in 2017 and 2018, being named First-Team All-Pro in both years as well as Offensive Player of the Year in 2017 when he had almost 2,100 yards from scrimmage and 19 total touchdowns.

Unfortunately, Gurley dealt with a number of knee issues and his Rams tenure came to an end when they released him after the 2019 season despite his contract extension barely kicking in.

Gurley went on to play for the Atlanta Falcons in 2020, his final season in the NFL at just 26 years of age.

2014: Auburn Offensive Tackle Greg Robinson (2 overall)

Robinson will go down as one of the Rams’ worst picks ever as the offensive tackle taken No. 2 played just three seasons with the team and six total NFL seasons.

Players drafted after him in the first round in 2014 include Khalil Mack, Mike Evans, Jake Matthews, Anthony Barr, Taylor Lewan, Odell Beckham Jr. and…

2014: Pittsburgh Defensive Tackle Aaron Donald (13 overall)

Luckily, the Rams had two first-rounders in 2014 and even though they got the Robinson one wrong, they absolutely nailed the 13th pick when they took Donald out of Pitt.

Donald has gone on to be one of the greatest defensive players of all time, being named to nine Pro Bowls and seven All-Pro teams in his nine seasons with the organization, being named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year three times.

Donald finally captured the elusive Super Bowl title in 2021-22, coming up big down the stretch to beat the Cincinnati Bengals and complete his surefire Hall of Fame resume.

2013: West Virginia Wide Receiver Tavon Austin (8 overall)

Austin was one of the greatest college receivers ever, which warranted him being taken by the Rams with the eighth pick in 2013.

His NFL career wasn’t nearly as successful though as he failed to eclipse 510 receiving yards in any of his nine seasons. Austin’s best season came with the Rams in 2015, their last season in St. Louis, when he had 907 yards from scrimmage with nine total touchdowns. His final NFL season came with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 at the age of 31.

2013: Georgia Linebacker Alec Ogletree (30 overall)

The Rams had two picks in the first round in 2013 and used the other one on Ogletree. Just like Austin, Ogletree played five seasons for the Rams and had some success although never vaulted to star level.

His best season came in 2016 when he had 136 total tackles to lead the Rams. His last season also came in 2021 when he played in 16 games for the Chicago Bears.