Do a fun exercise. Make a list of all the QBs you would trade two 1's, two 2's, and two 3's for. Right now, at their current age.
Whatever QB the Rams got needs to at least be in the conversation with that group of players. What are the chances of that? And now they have no ammo to get players around him.
The chances of this trade working out for the Rams is really slim. It was SO much to give up. Kroenke/Snead/Fisher is a bad group.
That is an interesting way to break it down and largely fair.
There might be some mitigating factors, in this case:
1) Where are the picks within rounds? Are we talking #1 overall? Or mid-firsts, seconds, thirds? If the Rams finish middle of the pack in 2016 (they did in 2012-2015 with UFAs like Hill, Keenum, Davis, the incredible imploding Foles - and this trade seems geared more to 2017 & 2018, so either an indication Fisher/Snead are confident in their job security, think it buys them a season or two, or just did what they thought was best for the team), the 2017 first and third could also be mid-round. Aren't next year's picks conventionally, historically discounted a round? If so, would that make them more like a mid-second and mid-fourth? I get TEN can still take a first and third round caliber player next year with them (as did the Rams in 2013 and 2014 with their first round picks), but meant in the sense, if OAK calls TEN and says, Hey, Mr. Robinson, can I have your 1.15 for a mid-first next draft, he would probably decline. Viewed that way, spread over time in today's value, more like:
2016 mid first
2 X 2016 mid seconds (PLUS 2017 mid-first? discounted for waiting a year, Rams get Wentz into their system and can start developing him immediately)
2016 mid third
2017 mid third (? discounted to a fourth in today's value)
2) To me, the most key pieces of the puzzle are the first two lines (four premium picks, three at 1.15, #43 & #45 in 2016 and the 2017 mid-first?), not so much the mid thirds (2016 & 2017). At what point is it too much, where would you cut it off and say, no more, that is a deal breaker? Would you do it with one less third rounder? Two less third rounders? One less second rounder? Two less second rounders? One less first rounder? Two less first rounders? The last two options would probably be unrealistic for acquiring the #1 overall, so that would effectively be tantamount to saying, no possible deal for #1. But if that WASN'T the case, and you did consider it, what was most problematic, one too many seconds, a second and a third, would you have done it then? If the latter, and let's say Carson Wentz becomes a franchise QB, it is likely in the future the Rams will be glad they didn't scuttle the trade over something like a day two pick or two?
3) They did kind of have to "overpay" (though if you look at the principal picks, the four 2016/2017 picks in the first two rounds with the #1 overall, the trade chart is nearly a dead heat and aligns almost perfectly book value-wise), if at least PHI was also gunning for the pick. They could offer a trade down to just #8, whereas LA could only offer the 1.15. Noted elsewhere, but the third furthest bungee jump from #1 since the merger (NE went up from 16 for Fryar, HOU from 17 for Earl Campbell), and as far as I can tell, the biggest move up for a QB since the merger. Most are rightfully focused on the sheer volume of day one and day two picks acquired, but LA was asking a lot of TEN, too.
4) Also noted, the deal doesn't get done without #43 acquired in the Bradford trade (ironically by ex-PHI HC Kelly, who otherwise might have considered a QB at #7, Goff slipping to #7 may now be precluded by events he set in motion), so it contributed directly to replacing a former #1 overall who was derailed with consecutive torn ACLs, with a chance at a do over about a half decade later with another #1 overall pick. They could have used the pick, but because they had what was sort of found money, so to speak, that enabled them to not have to include additional picks of their own in the blockbuster, historic trade.
5) Characterizations of the drafting acumen of Snead and Fisher in general, and the aftermath of the RG3 trade are mixed. The principals to me are the three first rounders, DT Brockers, LB Ogletree and LT Robinson, as well as second rounder Janoris Jenkins. RB Pead was an unmitigated disaster (reportedly dunderheadedly miscalculated a trade down of a few picks and lost out on first two choices, LBs Mychal Kendricks and Bobby Wagner, Pead was probably a distant plan C, they should never have traded down further than where they risked losing their target/s, DUH

, in fairness, Snead was a recent hire and didn't have his fully scouting apparatus installed yet). Bailey has had setbacks (two substance-related suspensions and two bullets in the head last year, it is a miracle he lived, he is working out, highly uncertain at this point if he ever plays another down). He had a third most TDs (25 in 2012) in FBS history, and I thought was a promising third round pick at the time. Brockers is on a fifth year option contract and they reportedly would like to extend him (one corollary of the monster trade is they have a ton of looming free agents from all the extra RG3 picks in the next few years, with four less premium draft picks in the next few years [[first or second in 2016/2017]], that could enable LA to use some of that saved cap money that otherwise would have been earmarked for the rookies, to sign their own - they could also have more money to attract skill position free agents at WR or TE in 2017 and 2018, once Wentz has his rookie year behind him, and pointing towards the move to Kroenke World in the QBs fourth season). He doesn't play a glamorous position or stat-friendly role, but by absorbing blocks, occupying lanes, pushing the pocket, that enables stars Donald, Quinn and Ogletree to make more plays. Tree is the new MLB expected to be the 2017 fifth year option player, and he will bring an element and dimension of speed, athleticism and playmaking ability Laurinaitis didn't have (a positional disadvantage intra-divisionally since the inception of the Snead-Fish regime, relative to the likes of All-Pros/Pro Bowl Willis & Bowman, Wagner, pre-suspension Washington). He was around top 10 in solo tackles as a rookie and soph (missed more than half of 2015 with broken leg, a huge blow to the Rams defense), and had the most combined FFs in 2013/2014 with 10 at any position - for perspective, Laurinaitis just had his first FF in 2015. IMO, he has Pro Bowl potential in the middle (played inside and outside at Georgia, recruited as safety, similar career/positional arc and trajectory to Karlos Dansby and Jamie Collins). Robinson has underwhelmed and disappointed, especially for a #2 overall (Brockers #14, Tree #30). They could have taken Watkins. They do sometimes seemingly draft on athletic upside to a fault (he may have had historically good speed for his size coming out of Snead's alma mater). At this point, recent HOF inductee LT Orlando Pace (one of greatest of his era, with Ogden and Jones) played four years at Ohio State, in a more NFL relevant system where he learned pass pro, and even he didn't instantly dominate. So Robinson is behind the curve, and if the light doesn't come on, he will have been a grave, severe mistake. In Pace terms, he would be an NFL rookie and still is playing technical catch up. Physically, athletically he is a beast. His biggest issue seems to be conceptual, recognition, concentration, getting out of position, missing stunts, twists and DL games. If his technique catches up with his formidable athleticism, he can still be a very good LT, and that has value. Those three players are 26, 25 and 24, respectively, and could help the Rams for the next half decade. CB Jenkins left, but was the highest paid CB in the 2016 free agency cycle (and second most after Revis in guaranteed money through 2017). He is expected to generate a 2017 third comp pick. In their first draft, they added UFA S McLeod who I think became the highest paid S in this free agent cycle, and is expected to yield a 2017 fourth comp pick - they can be traded for the first time. So Jenkins goes to the positive side of the RG3 aftermath ledger, and they should get credit for scouting, developing McLeod. And this is important, imo, instead of having a second and fourth in 2017, and a second straight blowed up draft, they are expected to have a second, third and two fourths. Lastly, they added former #7 overall former safety Barron in 2014 (for 2015 fourth and sixth round picks). He was probably overdrafted AS A SAFETY, if not as shocking as earlier BUF top 10 pick of Whitner, but after subbing at WLB for the sidelined Tree, in the last 2/3 of the season, he was projecting for about 100 solo tackles, and top three-ish in the league, with Telvin Smith, for example (WLB Lavonte David had 85 last year, but has consistently been a tackle machine among the league leaders). They just signed him to a 5/45 deal (David signed for 5/50 in 2015?). So if he plays like the Pro Bowl caliber WLB he looked like last year, they get credit for manufacturing a star with merely two day three picks.
6) So why did they need to get to #1? If they zeroed in on Wentz would be one reason. They needed to prevent another team like PHI beating them to the punch. Maybe CLE wasn't an option, if they hoped for their choice of QBs. They may not have liked lesser options like Lynch and Cook. Until yesterday morning, I thought they could be in play, but I can see how they could fall in love with Wentz. I think (DJ mentioned it also yesterday) an obvious comparison, small school (Alcorn State), big, fast, athletic, mobile, arm talent, charismatic, leader - Air McNair. Who Fisher can hope for lightning to strike twice (finishing what he started in the TEN Super Bowl lost to the Rams, maybe the closest ever), pairing his blue chip, McNair doppleganger QB with a faster, more explosive and talented Eddie George in Gurley.
7) What were the alternatives? I agree they should have done more, earlier in prior drafts, and they may not have gotten to this point, where they had to mortgage the future. But that said, and given where they were in the life cycle of the rebuild, what if they didn't like the QB class in 2017? So maybe 2018? But what if there record would have been good enough to put them in a similar position, too far to take one of the top QB prospects. And they might not have the extra second round ammo to move up in 2016. So what about 2019. Great. And it takes a year or two to develop. So 2020-20121? And they are moving into Kroenke World in 2019. I think they did what they felt they had to do. If Wentz delivers on his promise, he addresses THE key missing piece of the puzzle that could FINALLY complete the roster. What would that be worth? And maybe it isn't so black and white and overly simplistic as Manning/Brady/Roethlisberger Leaf/Carr/Jamarcbust, as some have portrayed it. If they have been below the level of minimum functionality (offense 29th, passing 32?), Wentz may not necessarily even need to be a top 3-5 QB to propel, catapult them to the next level and playoffs. Last year, their PPG averages were 17.5 offense (#29) and 20.6 on defense (#13). So they were AVERAGING a FG in the hole on a weekly basis. If they move up to a top quarter defense (19.6), that is only a 1 point difference. If they can get to even middling and average on offense (22.8), that yields a 5+ point increase, and now they are UP by a FG on a weekly basis. They have a lot further to go on offense. In this light, I can see them thinking it was a trade they HAD to make. It hurts not being able to draft the likes of TE Henry or WRs Shepard/Boyd with those #43 & #45 picks (though no guarantee they would be there, but in a deep second and third round, SOME prospects would have been). But with no QB, it is moot point. QB is the hard part. I don't know what "It" is, but whatever it is, imo Wentz has it. If he is the Truth and the answer (like the O'Bannon brothers were for the last UCLA hoops championship), they can always add WRs and TEs in free agency and future drafts, likely starting as early as next year. They might even get potential day three prospects at need positions like WR Rashard Higgins, TEs Cajuste, Higbee, Adams, etc., THIS year.
* Like I said, a lot of divided opinions about what they did with the RG3 trade specifically, and some general criticism leveled on that basis. But any fair, overall evaluation of Fisher and Snead's drafting acumen (or lack thereof) would be remiss to gloss over that they drafted two consecutive ROYs in Donald (defense) and Gurley. They also inherited a 15-65 record in the prior half decade from their predecessors that was not only the worst in league history, but maybe in the history of North American professional sports. They suffer in the comparison with SEA and ARI (and SF with three straight NFC Championship games helmed by since fired Harbaugh in 2011-2013), made worse by being in close proximity in the same division. What they have done isn't easy and shouldn't be taken for granted, hitting the reset button, starting almost complete over with a clean roster sweep and being among the best teams in the league within 2-3 years. If EVERY/ALL NFL teams were held up to that same Draconian, withering standard, most of the league's front offices, coaching staffs and scouting departments would be cast aside like the bridge troll in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (what kind of swallow?).
Not a Fisher apologist. He is a handful of losses away from losingest HC in NFL history. If you also look at the top 50 winningest list (he is #13), he is sixth worst by WINNING PERCENTAGE, so call it barely better than the bottom 10%. But I think they are close and would like to see him finish what he started, the roster is vastly more talented than the one he inherited in 2012. And not sure Kroenke wants to have a new HC working out of a trailer for the next three years.
** On a closing note, the Rams could be close. They started 4-3, finished 3-1 = 7-4, which if they could have sustained was playoff caliber. The big problem was the 0-5 Kurt Warner-like donut at the mid-point of their season. It was emblematic of all four seasons, flashes of promise, beating SEA, ARI and SF, but ultimately too inconsistent to string together whole seasons, let alone multiple seasons. They have been "the youngest team in the league" probably every year, maybe still are (though not sure by how much, if the averages of many other teams are just a few months apart, not a critically important and maybe even misleading stat). They have many pieces in place. Defense (including potentially one of the best front sevens in the league with Donald, Quinn, Tree and Barron - secondary could be solid with CBs T. Johnson & Gaines, S McDonald, Joyner undersized but similar to All-Pro Honey Badger, played much faster at nickel CB in 2015 and was an All-American S at Florida St.). Lot of OL picks in 2014-2105. Gurley. Just need a QB to get them over the hump. Obviously that is the most singularly important aspect of this trade. If they make the playoffs, and Wentz looks good doing it (third straight ROY?

), the trade post-mortem will take on a completely different complexion and tenor in a few years.