Since taking over as general manager of the Los Angeles Rams in 2012, Les Snead has built a reputation as one of the league’s most unconventional team architects. Known for his aggressive trades and “F them picks” philosophy, Snead has managed to uncover elite talent across multiple drafts.. From superstars to underrated contributors, here’s a look at Snead’s best pick from each Rams draft class.
2012 – Michael Brockers
This came down to two players. Trumaine Johnson was became a ball-hawking corner and defensive leader,
but Michael Brockers anchored the defensive line for years. Both players played key roles in stabilizing a rebuilding roster and even contributed into the beginning of the Sean McVay era. But what goes unseen in the box score was Michael Brockers eating up double teams for Aaron Donald to turn into a game wrecker.
Stats with Rams…
M. Brockers: 138 games, 395 tackles, 48 tackles for loss, 62 QB hits, 28.0 sacks, 2 fumbles forced, 9 pass deflections
2013 – Tavon Austin
While Austin didn’t fully live up to his No. 8 overall billing, he still stands as the most impactful player from a relatively underwhelming class. His versatility and explosiveness made him a unique offensive weapon during his 5 years with the Rams.
Stats with Rams:
75 games, 194 receptions, 1689 receiving yards, 12 receiving TDs, 1238 rushing yards, 9 rushing TDs, 3 punt return TDs
2014 – Aaron Donald
This one is obvious. Drafted 13th overall, Donald didn’t just become Snead’s best pick—he became THE greatest defensive player in NFL history. A three time defensive player of the year, defensive rookie of the year, perennial All-Pro, and game-wrecker, Donald defined an era of Rams football and defense as a whole in the NFL.
Stats with Rams:
154 games, 543 tackles, 176 tackles for loss, 260 QB hits, 111.0 sacks, 24 fumbles forced, 7 fumbles recovered, 21 pass deflections
2015 – Todd Gurley
Despite injury concerns, Snead took a chance on Gurley, and it paid off immediately. Gurley won Offensive Rookie of the Year and quickly became the engine of the Rams’ offense, earning Offensive Player of the Year honors (2017) and helping resurrect the Rams offense that has disappeared since the Greatest Show on Turf in the early 2000s.
Stats with Rams:
73 games, 5404 rushing yards, 58 rushing TDs, 2090 receiving yards, 12 receiving TDs
2016 – Tyler Higbee
In a draft headlined by quarterback Jared Goff, it was fourth-round pick Tyler Higbee who delivered long-term value. Higbee developed into a reliable tight end and key piece of the Rams’ passing attack for years. Higbee quietly became the franchise’s tight end leader for receiving yards. Higbee enters Year 11 with Los Angeles; hoping to add a second Super Bowl to his resume.
Stats with Rams:
138 games, 386 receptions, 3949 receiving yards, 27 receiving TDs
2017 – Cooper Kupp
One of the greatest mid-round steals in modern NFL history, Kupp evolved from a third-round pick into 2021 Offensive Player of the Year, Triple Crown Winner, and Super Bowl LVI MVP. Modern offenses began emulating Cooper Kupp’s usage in Sean McVay’s offense. Kupp’s chemistry with Stafford was simply remarkable. Fans will often remember any 3rd down situation as: “3rd & Kupp”. Unfortunately, injuries cropped up from 2022-2024 and led to the Rams deciding to release him from the roster.
Stats with Rams:
104 games, 634 receptions, 7776 receiving yards, 57 receiving TDs, 139 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
2018 – John Franklin-Myers*
The 2018 draft class was definitely Les Snead’s worst. Without a pick until round 3, the Rams drafted a lot of offensive linemen and defensive players to fill out the roster. A few players like Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen grabbed starting spots but were largely unspectacular. I will cheat here and say that John Franklin-Myers was the best pick, although the Rams released him after one season…
Stats with Rams:
16 games, 10 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 1 fumble forced, 1 fumble recovery
Overall Stats:
114 games, 200 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 94 QB hits, 34.0 sacks, 2 fumbles forced, 3 fumbles recovered, 7 passes deflected
2019 – Greg Gaines
A nose tackle who embraced the dirty work, Greg Gaines became a crucial part of the Rams’ defensive front. His physicality and effort helped anchor the run defense during playoff runs.
Stats with Rams:
59 games, 122 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 24 QB hits, 10.5 sacks, 0 fumbles forced, 1 fumble recovery, 0 passes deflected
2020 – Van Jefferson*
Jefferson provided depth but nothing more during his tenure with Los Angeles. This included contributions during the Rams’ Super Bowl run. While not a superstar, his consistency made him the best of this disappointing class.
Stats with Rams:
49 games, 101 receptions, 1499 receiving yards, 10 receiving TDs
2021 – Ernest Jones IV*
It may surprise some, but Jones is currently only 26 years old. Midway through his rookie year in 2021, Jones seized a starting role as the off ball linebacker in Raheem Morris’s defense. He made his presence felt in LA’s Super Bowl LVI win with 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 3 QB hits, 1.0 sack, and 1 passes defensed.
Stats with Rams:
47 games, 320 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 10 QB hits, 5.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 fumbles forced, and 12 passes defensed
2022 – Kyren Williams
A Day 3 star, Kyren Williams exceeded expectations with his vision, toughness, and versatility. He revitalized the Rams’ ground game after the failed Cam Akers experiment and became a centerpiece of the offense in the run game and in pass protection.
Stats with Rams:
55 games, 3834 rushing yards, 36 rushing touchdowns, 111 receptions, 745 receiving yards, and 8 receiving touchdowns
2023 – Puka Nacua
Perhaps Snead’s most impressive find in the draft, Nacua exploded onto the scene with record-setting production as a rookie. His physical style and immediate impact made him one of the biggest steals in the league and arguably the best wide receiver in football.
Stats with Rams:
44 games, 313 receptions, 4191 receiving yards, 19 receiving TDs, 240 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs
2024 – Jared Verse & Braden Fiske (Tie)
With only two seasons under their belt, it’s hard to decide between these two. Jared Verse won Defensive Rookie of the Year but Braden Fiske finished 3rd in the NFL voting showing off his value as a 2nd rounder.
Verse’s Stats with Rams:
34 games, 124 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 45 QB hits, 12.0 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered, 3 passes defensed, 1 blocked punt, and 1 defensive TDs
Fiske’s Stats with Rams:
34 games, 74 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 20 QB hits, 11.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumbles recovered, 1 passes defensed
2025 – Terrance Ferguson
The only other person worthy in this conversation is Josiah Stewart who has operated as the third edge rusher on the defense. But the nod goes to Ferguson after one year. While still early in his career, Ferguson has already shown promising traits as a dynamic tight end. If his development continues, he could become another Snead success story. Considering the Rams had Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, and Davis Allen on the roster already – Ferguson showed that he’s probably the second best tight end at this point of the group of four.
Stats with Rams:
14 games, 11 receptions, 231 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns
Final Thoughts
Les Snead’s drafting legacy is anything but traditional. While he’s often traded away high picks, his ability to find value—from generational superstars like Aaron Donald to late-round gems like Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua—has defined his tenure.
What stands out most is Snead’s balance: bold risks paired with sharp talent evaluation. Even in years without first-round selections, the Rams have consistently emerged with contributors. That’s the hallmark of a front office that understands how to build—not just through the draft, but through vision.
And if history is any indication, Snead’s next great pick may already be on the way.
