In an NFL Films video released this month, a draft day conversation between the Rams and the Jets revealed the strong interest the Rams had in trading up for the 10th pick in the draft.
It was no secret that the Rams were trying to trade up, but now we know what the Rams were willing to give to get the player they wanted at the top of the draft.
The assumption has been that the Rams were targeting Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, and if that’s the case, it would make sense that the Raiders were offered the same deal for pick 13 (with Bowers on the board) that the Jets were offered for pick 10.
Nobody’s disappointed that the Rams landed Verse and Fiske, but this video confirms Rams did try to move up and pre-draft rumblings suggested that player they were targeting was Bowers. pic.twitter.com/cdWsEmSOLa
— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) June 14, 2024
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has reported that the Rams were aggressively trying to pull off a trade until Bowers was drafted by the Raiders. He also said the Rams and Colts were among a group of teams that were believed to be trying to trade up for Bowers.
There isn’t any reason for the Raiders reveal the offers they received for the 13th pick, but it’s believed that they had a top-5 grade on Bowers going into the draft. GM Tom Telesco said the Raiders never expected Bowers to be available at pick 13 and his decision to hold on to the pick, despite significant offers, would support that belief.
Based on the conversation between the Rams and the Jets, it’s probably a safe assumption that the Raiders turned down picks 19 and 52 for the 13th pick they used on Bowers.
Time will tell if the decision they made was a good one.
