There were only two teams that traded out of the first round on Thursday night and they came in consecutive spots. The Houston Texans traded down with the New York Giants from No. 25 to 34, moving out of the spot just before the Los Angeles Rams went on the clock. One pick later, the Rams also bailed, trading all the way down to No. 46 in a deal with the Atlanta Falcons.
Is it a coincidence that the Rams hit the “eject” button right after the Giants jumped them and took Jaxson Dart? Or were the Rams planning to take Dart at No. 26 before New York made its move?
It’s hard to say because there’s no clear answer. The Rams had been linked to Dart in the pre-draft process, having spent “considerable time” with him, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Rumors swirled frequently about teams worrying that the Rams would take a QB at No. 26, marking the 25th pick as a good trade-up spot for teams below Los Angeles.
According to Connor Hughes of SNY, the Rams were “never going to take Dart” at No. 26. That’s based on conversations he had with two people inside the Rams’ organization. Hughes reports the Rams “didn’t love him as a prospect – especially not in first.”
Said this twice last night, based off conversations with two people over there: The Rams were never going to take Dart. They were always trying to trade back. Didn’t love him as a prospect — especially not in first.
Idea Giants played chess by jumping LAR for him is untrue. https://t.co/XNiFszNwIw
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) April 25, 2025
Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com shared some conflicting info, saying the “feeling around (the) league was McVay liked Dart.” That would make sense if the Rams did in fact spend “considerable time” with him during the pre-draft process.
Mentioned this on podcast that should be up soon. Feeling around league was McVay liked Dart. Rams were next.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) April 25, 2025
Stapleton mentioned in another tweet that he heard “the Rams were interested in Dart” entering the first round and that “McVay spent time with him.”
Stapleton can’t confirm whether the Rams were actually going to take Dart, but the Giants knew they were at least somewhat interested so there was at least a chance he’d come off the board at No. 26.
It’s not BS. I know @Connor_J_Hughes refuted that last night, but I heard going into Round 1 that the Rams were interested in Dart. McVay spent time with him. The speculation was there. Whether the Rams were pulling the trigger in that spot is irrelevant. Giants would be fools if…
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) April 25, 2025
The Rams don’t seem like a team that would sit on their hands and wait for a coveted quarterback to fall in their lap. They’ve always been aggressive under GM Les Snead, attempting to trade up for Dalton Kincaid in 2023, Brock Bowers in 2024 and reportedly, Tetairoa McMillan on Thursday night.
If they liked Dart that much, they surely would’ve tried to move up for him. The Vikings would’ve been a logical spot at No. 24 given Minnesota’s stock of just four picks. The Texans probably would’ve flipped picks with the Rams at No. 25, too.
The Rams very well could have liked Dart but probably not enough to take him with the 26th pick.
Follow Rams Wire on X, Facebook and now Threads for more coverage!
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams draft rumors: Was LA planning to take QB Jaxson Dart in Round 1?
There were only two teams that traded out of the first round on Thursday night and they came in consecutive spots. The Houston Texans traded down with the New York Giants from No. 25 to 34, moving out of the spot just before the Los Angeles Rams went on the clock. One pick later, the Rams also bailed, trading all the way down to No. 46 in a deal with the Atlanta Falcons.
Is it a coincidence that the Rams hit the “eject” button right after the Giants jumped them and took Jaxson Dart? Or were the Rams planning to take Dart at No. 26 before New York made its move?
It’s hard to say because there’s no clear answer. The Rams had been linked to Dart in the pre-draft process, having spent “considerable time” with him, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Rumors swirled frequently about teams worrying that the Rams would take a QB at No. 26, marking the 25th pick as a good trade-up spot for teams below Los Angeles.
According to Connor Hughes of SNY, the Rams were “never going to take Dart” at No. 26. That’s based on conversations he had with two people inside the Rams’ organization. Hughes reports the Rams “didn’t love him as a prospect – especially not in first.”
Said this twice last night, based off conversations with two people over there: The Rams were never going to take Dart. They were always trying to trade back. Didn’t love him as a prospect — especially not in first.
Idea Giants played chess by jumping LAR for him is untrue. https://t.co/XNiFszNwIw
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) April 25, 2025
Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com shared some conflicting info, saying the “feeling around (the) league was McVay liked Dart.” That would make sense if the Rams did in fact spend “considerable time” with him during the pre-draft process.
Mentioned this on podcast that should be up soon. Feeling around league was McVay liked Dart. Rams were next.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) April 25, 2025
Stapleton mentioned in another tweet that he heard “the Rams were interested in Dart” entering the first round and that “McVay spent time with him.”
Stapleton can’t confirm whether the Rams were actually going to take Dart, but the Giants knew they were at least somewhat interested so there was at least a chance he’d come off the board at No. 26.
It’s not BS. I know @Connor_J_Hughes refuted that last night, but I heard going into Round 1 that the Rams were interested in Dart. McVay spent time with him. The speculation was there. Whether the Rams were pulling the trigger in that spot is irrelevant. Giants would be fools if…
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) April 25, 2025
The Rams don’t seem like a team that would sit on their hands and wait for a coveted quarterback to fall in their lap. They’ve always been aggressive under GM Les Snead, attempting to trade up for Dalton Kincaid in 2023, Brock Bowers in 2024 and reportedly, Tetairoa McMillan on Thursday night.
If they liked Dart that much, they surely would’ve tried to move up for him. The Vikings would’ve been a logical spot at No. 24 given Minnesota’s stock of just four picks. The Texans probably would’ve flipped picks with the Rams at No. 25, too.
The Rams very well could have liked Dart but probably not enough to take him with the 26th pick.
Follow Rams Wire on X, Facebook and now Threads for more coverage!
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams draft rumors: Was LA planning to take QB Jaxson Dart in Round 1?
