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. However, since 2016, Los Angeles hasn’t made a first-round selection, trading assets 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.

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