Rams GM Les Snead had 3 words to say about rooting against the Falcons for a better draft pick
That's because L.A. owns Atlanta's first-round pick in 2026 after they traded out of the first round this past season. The Falcons took edge rusher James Pearce with the Rams' No. 26 pick, while the Rams took tight end Terrance Ferguson with the Falcons' No. 46 pick.
The bittersweet part of all this is that former Rams' defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is the head coach of the Falcons. That isn't lost on Rams general manager Les Snead, but he told the "NFL Daily" podcast this week that "business is business" when it comes to rooting against other teams when you have their draft pick.
The Rams can go in a few directions with their two first-rounders in 2026. They could keep both and make two selections in the first round, trade one or both to move up in the first round (perhaps to take Arch Manning if he declares) or even trade one or both picks away before the draft for veterans that can help their 2025 plans.
The world is the Rams' oyster, but a worse season from the Falcons will help the Rams' draft pick as well as their push for playoff contention in 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
30 Most Important Bears of 2025: Drew Dalman (No. 7)
The Chicago Bears are gearing up for an exciting 2025 NFL season, which features some new faces within the organization poised to get the franchise back to its winning ways. That starts with the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach, as well as overhauling the interior offensive line, adding pieces on defense and a potenital impactful rookie draft class. Every day from now right up through training camp, we're counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2025 season. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year. Next up at No. 7 is Drew Dalman, who the Bears invested in to anchor the offensive line and turn their luck around at center. Background Position: Center Age: 26 Experience: 5th season 2025 cap hit: $13.64 million 2024 recap Dalman took a big step in his development with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, where he had his best season yet -- and it happened at just the right moment with him slated to become a free agent. While Dalman has always been an elite run blocker, he made strides in pass protection, earning the lowest pressure rate of his career (3.7%). Overall, Dalman earned a 78.8 grade from Pro Football Focus, where he graded out as the fourth-best center in 2024. Unfortunately, Dalman only played in nine games. He landed on injured reserve with an ankle injury following a Week 3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and he returned in Week 13, where he played the final six games of the season. 2025 outlook New Bears head coach Ben Johnson made it clear that he wanted to build from the trenches, which is why the team prioritized the offensive line in a huge way. After trading for All-Pro guard Joe Thuney and guard Jonah Jackson, Chicago wasted no time signing Dalman to a three-year, $42 million contract at the start of free agency. Dalman replaces Coleman Shelton, who started all 17 games in 2024, at a position that's snakebitten the Bears. Protecting second-year quarterback Caleb Williams is the top priority this season, and Dalman will play a key role in Williams' success. Dalman will serve as the quarterback of the offensive line, where he'll help with setting projections and relieving some of the pre-snap burden. Solid communication will be key for Williams and Dalman, and the quarterback-center relationship will be just as important as head coach and quarterback. Big question: Will Dalman finally be the answer at center? The Bears have been searching for Olin Kreutz's replacement for the better part of two decades. While Cody Whitehair was a solid center, the position has snakebitten this franchise for some time. After signing Coleman Shelton to a cheap, one-year deal, Chicago invested heavily in the center position with the free-agent signing of Dalman, who was a top-five graded center by PFF. While no one's expecting Dalman to be the next coming of Kreutz, who has a case for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, stability would be a big win. Dalman is under contract for the next three seasons, but if he can prove to anchor the interior offensive line, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Bears lock him down to an extension and finally solidify the center position. 30 Most Important Bears of 2025 #30 - RB Roschon Johnson #29 - QB Case Keenum #28 - K Cairo Santos #27 - DT Andrew Billings #26 - CB Tyrique Stevenson #25 - WR Luther Burden III #24 - RG Jonah Jackson #23 - LB Tremaine Edmunds #22 - DE Dayo Odeyingbo #21 - S Kevin Byard #20 - S Jaquan Brisker #19 - LB T.J. Edwards #18 - TE Cole Kmet #17 - DT Grady Jarrett #16 - DT Gervon Dexter #15 - RB D'Andre Swift #14 - TE Colston Loveland #13 - OT Ozzy Trapilo #12 - OT Braxton Jones #11 - WR DJ Moore #10 CB Kyler Gordon #9 - OT Darnell Wright #8 - DE Montez Sweat #7 - C Drew Dalman #6 - Coming 7/24 #5 - Coming 7/25 #4 - Coming 7/26 #3 - Coming 7/27 #2 - Coming 7/28 #1 - Coming 7/29 Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Most Important Bears of 2025: Drew Dalman (No. 7)
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Manti Te'o explains why Kyren Williams puts defenses in a 'very uncomfortable situation'
Kyren Williams is entering his third season as the Los Angeles Rams' starting running back after rushing for a total of 2,443 yards in the last two years alone. He's also added 66 catches for 388 yards and five touchdowns as a receiver, contributing in multiple ways for the Rams. Though the Rams do have talent behind him with Blake Corum and Jarquez Hunter, it's Williams' job to lose. The coaching staff loves him, as do his teammates, which is why the team is considering an extension for the young running back. His ability to rack up yards on the ground and also help out as a receiver is what makes him so dangerous, says former NFL linebacker Manti Te'o. He explained to Rich Eisen this week why Williams puts defenses in 'a very uncomfortable situation' when he's on the field no matter the down and distance. 'The thing about the one-back approach is this: It keeps everything at your disposal,' Te'o said. 'When you send in a scat back, defensively, I know 80% of the time you're going to throw the ball. So there's a tendency marker that defensively, I can get into your huddle a little bit. 'OK, if I see Alvin Kamara back there, yeah, he can run the ball. But you're mainly throwing him the ball.' So defensively, when you have Kyren in the game first and second and third down, I don't know what you're going to do. It just puts the defense in a very uncomfortable situation and position to be in.' The Rams have long preferred to have a workhorse back, going back to the days of Todd Gurley – one of the best dual-threat players of the last decade. He played a ton of snaps for the Rams, often staying on the field on third down because he was such a dangerous receiver. Williams isn't quite the pass catcher that Gurley is, but he's a terrific blocker in the backfield and is particularly good as a receiver in the red zone. Corum and Hunter are capable receivers, as well, but if the Rams bring them in exclusively on third downs, it'll be a tell for the defense. This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' Kyren Williams puts defenses in 'uncomfortable situation'
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kyren Williams has 'faith' a new contract with Rams will get done
Despite heading into the final year of his rookie deal, Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams is practicing during training camp ahead of the 2025 season. While neither Williams nor the Rams has given much update on his new contract, the running back told ESPN LA on Thursday that he has "faith it'll get done whenever it gets done." "It's in the works," Williams added. "I have no control over that. Only thing I have control out here is walking on that field and being the best that I can be." This is about in line with what Williams and head coach Sean McVay have said since the two sides began talking about a long-term deal earlier this spring. Williams is making around $5.3 million in base salary this year, but could sign a deal worth at least double number per year if he wants to make as much as some of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL. Williams certainly has a claim to that total after he tallied consecutive seasons of at least 1,000 rushing yards. He's been a staple of the Rams offense since 2023 and the clear starter in the backfield. And while the Rams added two running backs in back-to-back drafts, it would be hard to see McVay not going to Williams if he's still healthy and on the team in 2025. The confidence Williams has in the process, too, makes this situation appear more like inevitability than a major question mark for the Rams during training camp. The only thing left to answer is what the final contract will look like when all the parties have signed on the dotted line. This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Kyren Williams has 'faith' a new contract with Rams will get done
