The Rams have a surprising number of picks in the 2022 NFL Draft for a team that seemingly traded them all away.
But when the NFL dropped the compensatory picks for the 2022 NFL Draft on March 15, Los Angeles found it had five, the maximum number allowed: four for losing free agents in 2021 and another for the Lions hiring Brad Holmes as their general manager. Those five picks bolstered what otherwise would have been the fewest number of picks of the draft, from three to eight.
It's worth remembering that Rams general manager Les Snead traded the team's 2022 first-round pick to the Lions as part of a package that included Jared Goff and picks in the 2021 and 2023 drafts for quarterback Matthew Stafford; he dealt the Rams' second- and third-round picks to acquire linebacker Von Miller; and the team's sixth-round pick for running back Sony Michel (on top of a 2023 fourth-rounder).
Los Angeles happily paid those prices for huge additions to what was ultimately a Super Bowl-winning team. Those prices look that much better considering the Rams have so many compensatory picks. The question now is what to do with them. The Rams may be defending Super Bowl champions, but even they have areas of need that can be addressed in the draft.
With that, The Sporting News breaks down the Rams' 2022 NFL Draft picks:
TSN's NFL DRAFT HQ
Live picks tracker | 7-round mock draft | Top 200 big board
Rams draft picks 2022: Who did Los Angeles take?
- Round 3, Pick No. 104: Logan Bruss, G, Wisconsin
- Round 4, Pick No. 142: Decobie Durant, CB, South Carolina State
- Round 5, Pick No. 164: Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame
- Round 6, Pick No. 211: Quentin Lake, S, UCLA
- Round 6, Pick No. 212: Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia
- Round 6, Pick No. 218: Daniel Hardy, EDGE, Montana State
- Round 7, Pick No. 253: Russ Yeast, S, Kansas State
- Round 7, Pick No. 261: A.J. Arcuri, OT, Michigan State
Click here for live analysis and grades on every pick.
Rams 2022 NFL Draft order
| Round | Pick | Overall | Notes |
| 3 | 40 | 104 | (compensatory) |
| 4 | 37 | 142 | (compensatory) |
| 5 | 32 | 175 | |
| 6 | 32 | 211 | (compensatory) |
| 6 | 33 | 212 | (compensatory) |
| 6 | 39 | 218 | (compensatory) |
| 7 | 17 | 238 | (from Dolphins) |
| 7 | 32 | 253 |
MORE: Why Rams don't have a Round 1 pick in 2022 NFL Draft
Rams NFL Draft needs
- Cornerback: Starter Darious Williams left the Rams for Jacksonville, leaving a hole in the lineup that young players Robert Rochell and David Long Jr. may need time to fill. Ramsey is still in Los Angeles, but a quality pick in the draft could allow him to expand the positions he can play.
- Safety: The Rams were forced to ask Eric Weddle to come out of retirement for the team's playoff run, so they know the value of having additional depth at this position (especially since losing JR Reed and JuJu Hughes in free agency).
- Linebacker: Yes, Los Angeles did bring in six-time All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner. But the position is still thin, and the Rams will likely miss the pass-rushing ability of Von Miller, now on the Bills.
Los Angeles Rams mock draft 2022
Here are the latest 2022 NFL Draft projections for the Rams, according to Vinnie Iyer's seven-round mock draft:
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 3 | 104 | Josh Jobe | CB | Alabama |
| 4 | 142 | Cam Jurgens | OG | Nebraska |
| 5 | 175 | Malcolm Rodriguez | LB | Oklahoma State |
| 6 | 211 | Isaiah Thomas | EDGE | Oklahoma |
| 6 | 212 | Luke Tenuta | OT | Virginia Tech |
| 7 | 238 | Aaron Hansford | LB | Texas A&M |
| 7 | 253 | Ryan Stonehouse | P | Colorado State |
