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NFL
Rams have 3 entries in all-time draft busts list since 1975
TL;DR
The Los Angeles Rams have three entries in the all-time draft busts list since 1975, including running back Lawrence Phillips and quarterback Sam Brandon. Additionally, a trade from the Robert Griffin III deal contributed to their draft failures.
Key points
- Los Angeles Rams have three all-time draft busts since 1975
- Lawrence Phillips and Sam Brandon are notable busts
- Robert Griffin III trade contributed to Rams' draft failures
Lawrence PhillipsSam BrandonRobert Griffin IIILos Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams' draft history is littered with success stories and failures over the past 50 years. USA Today Sports' Nate Davis went back in time to compile the biggest draft busts over that span, and only found two Rams players who he'd deem as failures at the their respective picks — and one collection of players from a major trade.
The only players to make the list were running back Lawrence Phillips and quarterback Sam Brandon, who were on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of their rank on the list. The trade compensation, meanwhile, was from the Robert Griffin III trade from 2012 that didn't really help the Rams in the long-run.
Here are the biggest Rams busts from the past 50 drafts, stacked up against the rest of the NFL.
No. 6: RB Lawrence Phillips, 6th overall in 1996
Bad player. Bad dude. And St. Louis should have known better. The Rams parted with DT Sean Gilbert to acquire the Phillips pick – Eddie George was still available – and they exported Jerome Bettis to Pittsburgh in a separate deal to clear the way for Nebraska’s fallen star. Phillips averaged 3.4 yards per carry and didn’t make it through his second season with the Rams, cut amid excessive in-season drinking.
No. 9a: Rams' haul for Robert Griffin III in 2012
On the opposite end of the RG3 coin? St. Louis parlayed its bounty into Michael Brockers, Janoris Jenkins, , , , , and . Some decent (and not-so-decent) players there, but obviously not a group that came anywhere close to salvaging the NFL in The Gateway City, much less providing the bedrock for a perennial powerhouse.
Q&A
Who are the biggest draft busts for the Los Angeles Rams?
The biggest draft busts for the Rams include running back Lawrence Phillips and quarterback Sam Brandon.
What was the impact of the Robert Griffin III trade on the Rams?
The trade for Robert Griffin III in 2012 resulted in draft compensation that ultimately did not benefit the Rams in the long run.
How many draft busts have the Rams had since 1975?
The Rams have had three entries in the all-time draft busts list since 1975.
