Spanning all the way back to 1937, the Los Angeles Rams boast a history of first-round NFL Draft picks flush with impact players and important, franchise-defining moves. The Rams’ strategy has shifted over the years, but the results remain the same. They know how to navigate the player acquisition phase to reach the Super Bowl.
Los Angeles Rams First-Round Draft Picks Throughout History
The Rams’ history of first-round draft picks — more specifically, the team’s fluctuating draft strategy in Round 1 — is one of the more fascinating storylines to refresh on each year. From 1985 to 2016, the Rams only missed Round 1 once. Then, from 2016 through 2023, Los Angeles opted to trade their first-round picks for players like Jared Goff, Brandin Cooks, Jalen Ramsey, and Matthew Stafford.
Interestingly, both strategies — keeping picks and trading them — have worked. The Rams have seen seven first-round picks go on to the Hall of Fame. They have an eighth in waiting in defensive tackle Aaron Donald, and receiver Torry Holt is also an outside candidate for future HOF classes.
2024
- Jared Verse | Pick 19
EDGE, Florida State
2023
The Rams traded the sixth pick to the Detroit Lions.
2022
The Rams traded the 32nd pick to the Detroit Lions.
2021
The Rams traded the 25th pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
2020
The Rams traded the 20th pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
2019
The Rams traded the 31st pick to the Atlanta Falcons.
2018
The Rams traded the 23rd pick to the New England Patriots.
2017
The Rams traded the fifth pick to the Tennessee Titans.
2016
- Jared Goff | Pick 1
QB, California
2015
- Todd Gurley | Pick 10
RB, Georgia
2014
- Greg Robinson | Pick 2
OT, Auburn - Aaron Donald | Pick 13
DT, Pittsburgh
2013
- Tavon Austin | Pick 8
WR, West Virginia - Alec Ogletree | Pick 30
LB, Georgia
2012
- Michael Brockers | Pick 14
DT, LSU
2011
- Robert Quinn | Pick 14
DE, North Carolina
2010
- Sam Bradford | Pick 1
QB, Oklahoma
2009
- Jason Smith | Pick 2
OT, Baylor
2008
- Chris Long | Pick 2
DE, Virginia
2007
- Adam Carriker | Pick 13
DE, Nebraska
2006
- Tye Hill | Pick 15
DB, Clemson
2005
- Alex Barron | Pick 19
OT, Florida State
2004
- Steven Jackson | Pick 24
RB, Oregon State
2003
- Jimmy Kennedy | Pick 12
DT, Penn State
2002
- Robert Thomas | Pick 31
LB, UCLA
2001
- Damione Lewis | Pick 12
DT, Miami (FL) - Adam Archuleta | Pick 20
DB, Arizona State - Ryan Pickett | Pick 29
DT, Ohio State
2000
- Trung Canidate | Pick 31
RB, Arizona
1999
- Torry Holt | Pick 6
WR, North Carolina State
1998
- Grant Wistrom | Pick 6
DE, Nebraska
1997
- Orlando Pace* | Pick 1
OT, Ohio State
1996
- Lawrence Phillips | Pick 6
RB, Nebraska - Eddie Kennison | Pick 18
WR, LSU
1995
- Kevin Carter | Pick 6
DE, Florida
1994
- Wayne Gandy | Pick 15
OT, Auburn
1993
- Jerome Bettis* | Pick 10
RB, Notre Dame
1992
- Sean Gilbert | Pick 3
DT, Pittsburgh
1991
- Todd Lyght | Pick 5
DB, Notre Dame
1990
- Bern Brostek | Pick 23
C, Washington
1989
- Bill Hawkins | Pick 21
DE, Miami (FL) - Cleveland Gary | Pick 26
RB, Miami (FL)
1988
- Gaston Green | Pick 14
RB, UCLA - Aaron Cox | Pick 20
WR, Arizona State
1987
The Rams traded the 20th pick to the Houston Oilers.
1986
- Mike Schad | Pick 23
G, Queens (Canada)
1985
- Jerry Gray | Pick 21
DB, Texas
1984
The Rams traded their pick to the Kansas City Chiefs.
1983
- Eric Dickerson* | Pick 2
RB, SMU
1982
- Barry Redden | Pick 14
RB, Richmond
1981
- Mel Owens | Pick 9
LB, Michigan
1980
- Johnnie Johnson | Pick 17
DB, Texas
1979
- George Andrews | Pick 19
LB, Nebraska - Kent Hill | Pick 26
G, Georgia Tech
1978
- Elvis Peacock | Pick 20
RB, Oklahoma
1977
- Bob Brudzinski | Pick 23
LB, Ohio State
1976
- Kevin McLain | Pick 26
LB, Colorado State
1975
- Mike Fanning | Pick 9
DT, Notre Dame - Dennis Harrah | Pick 11
G, Miami (FL) - Doug France | Pick 20
OT, Ohio State
1974
- John Cappelletti | Pick 11
RB, Penn State
1973
The Rams traded the 11th pick to the New England Patriots.
1972
The Rams traded the 17th pick to the New England Patriots.
1971
- Isiah Robertson | Pick 10
LB, Southern - Jack Youngblood* | Pick 20
DE, Florida
1970
- Jack Reynolds | Pick 22
LB, Tennessee
1969
- Larry Smith | Pick 8
RB, Florida - Jim Seymour | Pick 10
WR, Notre Dame - Bob Klein | Pick 21
TE, USC
1968
The Rams traded the 24th pick to the Detroit Lions.
1967
The Rams traded the 15th pick to the Minnesota Vikings.
1966
- Tom Mack* | Pick 2
G, Michigan
1965
- Clancy Williams | Pick 9
DB, Washington State
1964
- Bill Munson | Pick 7
QB, Utah State
1963
- Terry Baker | Pick 1
QB, Oregon State - Rufus Guthrie | Pick 10
G, Georgia Tech
1962
- Roman Gabriel | Pick 2
QB, North Carolina State - Merlin Olsen* | Pick 3
DT, Utah State
1961
- Marlin McKeever | Pick 4
LB, USC
1960
- Billy Cannon | Pick 1
TE, LSU
1959
- Dick Bass | Pick 2
FB, Pacific - Paul Dickson | Pick 9
DT, Baylor
1958
- Lou Michaels | Pick 4
DE, Kentucky - Red Phillips | Pick 5
E, Auburn
1957
- Jon Arnett | Pick 2
HB, USC - Del Shofner | Pick 11
E, Baylor
1956
- Joe Marconi | Pick 6
FB, West Virginia - Charlie Horton | Pick 11
B, Vanderbilt
1955
- Larry Morris | Pick 7
LB, Georgia Tech
1954
- Ed Beatty | Pick 10
C, Mississippi
1953
- Donn Moomaw | Pick 9
C, UCLA - Ed Barker | Pick 12
E, Washington State
1952
- Billy Wade | Pick 1
QB, Vanderbilt - Bob Carey | Pick 13
E, Michigan State
1951
- Bud McFadin | Pick 11
DT, Texas
1950
- Ralph Pasquariello | Pick 9
FB, Villanova - Stan West | Pick 12
DG, Oklahoma
1949
- Bobby Thomason | Pick 7
QB, VMI
1948
The Rams traded the sixth pick to the Detroit Lions.
1947
- Herm Wedemeyer | Pick 9
B, St. Mary’s (CA)
1946
- Emil Sitko | Pick 10
HB, Notre Dame
1945
- Elroy Hirsch* | Pick 5
E, Michigan
1944
- Tony Butkovich | Pick 11
B, Illinois
1943
- Mike Holovak | Pick 5
FB, Boston College
1942
- Jack Wilson | Pick 2
HB, Baylor
1941
- Rudy Mucha | Pick 4
G, Washington
1940
- Olie Cordill | Pick 5
WB, Rice
1939
- Parker Hall | Pick 3
TB, Mississippi
1938
- Corby Davis | Pick 1
BB, Indiana
1937
- Johnny Drake | Pick 10
B, Purdue
*Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
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