The Los Angeles Rams have one of the best front offices in the NFL, and as a result, they have been one of the best drafting teams in the league since general manager Les Snead took control in 2012.
Exemplifying their success is their status in CBS Sports‘ rankings of the best first-round picks since 2020. Despite only having one first-round pick from 2020 to 2025, their selection of Jared Verse was ranked 11th. Verse, a 2024 selection, won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He was the 19th selection in his class and the third-highest member (Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels) of his class in the rankings.
“The Rams’ analysis is easily the funniest of any in the NFL,” wrote CBS Sports’ Mike Renner. “They had only one first-round pick from 2020-25, and it was one of the best picks over that span, with Jared Verse checking in at No. 11 out of 191. In an ironic twist of fate, he’s no longer on the Rams after the Myles Garrett trade this offseason. The Rams’ attitude toward the draft is truly one of one.”
While convention might state that the Rams should keep and use their first-round picks if they have such success, every first-round pick flipped since 2019 has been for a star player, including Jalen Ramsey, Matthew Stafford and Trent McDuffie.
Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr., who the Commanders drafted, was ranked 184th. Forbes had a redemptive 2025 after a struggling start to his career in Washington.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: CBS Sports ranks Jared Verse among best first-round picks since 2020
