Von Miller traded to Rams: How Los Angeles emptied the ’22 draft pick cupboard to assemble star-studded roster

The Los Angeles Rams are going all-in on trying to win a Super Bowl this season. The club has pushed essentially all of its draft capital into the center of the pile and has brought aboard a number of high-profile players in hopes of hoisting a Lombardi Trophy following Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles this coming February. The latest blockbuster move includes the team acquiring eight-time Pro Bowl pass rusher and Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller in a trade with the Denver Broncos. To get Miller, the Rams shipped away a second and third-rounder in the 2022 NFL Draft, which were the highest picks available to the club due to all of their previous moves. 

So far, every transaction that L.A. has made leading up to this season has put it in a position to contend for a championship. At 7-1, the club is currently second in the NFC West and only looking up to the Arizona Cardinals. The Rams also currently own the third-highest odds in the NFL at Caesars Sportsbook to win the Super Bowl this season at +700. 

Of course, all of this does come at a cost. In the case of the Rams, they are essentially punting on the NFL Draft and opting for high-end established talent to hopefully get them over the hump. This is a practice that L.A. has adopted for a little bit now, most notably with the trade to acquire Jalen Ramsey back in October of 2019. The team surrendered a 2020 and 2021 first-round pick (which eventually turned into K’Lavon Chaisson and Travis Etienne) to the Jaguars along with a 2021 fourth rounder. 

As it relates to this team and the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft, the Rams currently only have a third-round compensatory pick (via the Brad Holmes hire by the Lions), a fifth, and two seventh-rounders (their own and a former Dolphins selection). 

Here’s a look at how every other one of those picks in next year’s draft was spent to make this team arguably the Super Bowl threat.

2022 first-round pick

Los Angeles’ first-round pick in 2022 was one of the key assets that was shipped to Detroit in the blockbuster that saw the club acquire quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Rams sent that selection along with a 2023 first-round pick, quarterback Jared Goff and a 2021 third-rounder to Detroit in exchange for the Pro Bowl signal caller. So far, that upgrade at quarterback has proven to be beneficial for the Rams as they entered Week 8 with the second-best offense in the NFL in DVOA and just posted 38 points in a win over Houston. In that win, Stafford tossed for 305 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. 

2022 second, third-round picks

These assets were just moved to acquire Von Miller in a deal with the Broncos on the eve of the NFL Trade Deadline. These picks were the highest pieces available to Los Angeles to trade in this upcoming draft. The team still does have a compensatory third-rounder waiting for them this offseason under the enhanced Rooney Rule after former director of college scouting Brad Holmes was hired last offseason to become the Lions GM. 

Meanwhile, Miller brings with him over a decade of NFL experience and is considered to be one of the greatest pass rushers of his era. He’s also shown an ability to play well under the brightest lights, winning Super Bowl 50 with Denver and being named Super Bowl MVP. He certainly raises the ceiling for what the Rams front seven can be, but it does come at a pretty hefty price as Miller is set to be a free agent at the end of this season. 

2022 fourth-round pick 

The Rams’ 2022 fourth-rounder was traded to the Houston Texans along with receiver Brandin Cooks back in April of 2020. Los Angeles received a 2020 second-round pick that was eventually used to select receiver Van Jefferson. The 25-year-old has been able to come into his own in Year 2 and has carved out a solid role for himself in the offense. Through eight games, he’s third on the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Jefferson is also second on the team in yards per reception (16.3). 

2022 sixth-round pick

Los Angeles shipped its 2022 sixth round pick (along with a 2023 fourth-rounder) to the New England Patriots back in late August to acquire running back Sony Michel. This deal came in the aftermath of the Rams losing second-year back Cam Akers for the season and wanted to add depth behind Darrell Henderson. Michel has suited up in all eight games for L.A. this season and has rushed for 251 yards and a touchdown while catching six of his seven targets for 34 yards. In his lone start (Week 3 vs. Buccaneers), Michel rushed for 67 yards and caught three passes for 12 yards.  

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