Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Rams: Les Snead Earns Top Marks in Latest GM Power Rankings

Originally posted on LAFB Network | By Ryan Anderson | Last updated 5/10/24

Opinions of Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead run the gamut. So much so, that how one ranks Snead may actually say more about the ranker, than the ranked. Does the ranker properly understand probability? Do they look highly upon innovative thinking? Do they think the point of football is winning games? If the answer to these questions is yes, then Snead will be ranked highly. If not, well you know the answer.

The author of the latest Pro Football Network GM ranking, Dallas Robinson is in the “Yes” camp placing Snead as the sixth-ranked GM in the league.

“Among an NFL front office cohort that can fall victim to groupthink, Les Snead and the Los Angeles Rams use a relatively unique approach,” writes Robinson, “For years, Los Angeles used its early draft capital to trade for established stars like QB Matthew Stafford and CB Jalen Ramsey while hoping to hit on mid- and late-round picks. That strategy worked and led to a Super Bowl win.”

“After a 5-12 campaign in 2022, Snead and Sean McVay have rebuilt again, finding steals like WR Puka Nacua, DT Kobie Turner, and EDGE Byron Young last year before using their first first-round choice in eight years on EDGE Jared Verse in 2024.”

Los Angeles Rams GM, Les Snead Ranked #6

Snead was a divisive figure in the minds of NFL commentators in the early years of the Sean McVay era. Some viewed his aggressive tactics as short-sighted. Yes, those moves culminated in a Super Bowl win in 2021, but they would have to pay the piper and that is when all the nay-sayers would get their vindication.

That day did come when 2022’s Super Bowl hangover hit HARD. But it came. And went. In 2023, Snead developed an equally audacious on-the-fly rebuild strategy. And it worked. The Rams made the playoffs a year after going 5-12.

Snead remains a divisive figure, innovative thinkers always are. But after flipping five wins from 2022 to 2023, Snead is getting far more, much-deserved respect as a top GM in the league. A good chunk of those nay-sayers only realized Snead’s expertise after doing the unexpected. Just when they were about to happily throw dirt on the Rams, Snead’s strategy resurrected the team.

The argument is no longer about aggressive trades and mortgaging the future, it is now only about why he is still underrated.

Snead trails; 1.) Howie Roseman – Philadelphia Eagles, 2.) Brett Veach – Kansas City Chiefs, 3.) Eric DeCosta – Baltimore Ravens, 4.) Brian Gutekunst – Green Bay Packers, 5.) Brad Holmes – Detroit Lions.

This article first appeared on LAFB Network and was syndicated with permission.

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