Los Angeles Rams have built a title-winning team unconventionally but are the envy of their NFL rivals after winning Super Bowl LVI

The Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals took very different approaches to reach Super Bowl LVI.

The Bengals got there with a mixture of smart drafting and shrewd additions in free agency.

The likes of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Joe Mixon and Tee Higgins were drafted by Cincinnati in recent years and all played a significant role in them becoming AFC champions.

In contrast, the Rams haven’t had a first-round draft pick since they traded up with the Tennessee Titans in 2016, to select quarterback Jared Goff with the first overall pick that year.

Since then, the strategy has been to acquire proven talent in the league and the Rams haven’t been afraid to trade away high draft picks to get these players.

In 2018, the Rams traded their first and sixth-round draft picks to the New England Patriots in exchange for wide receiver Brandin Cooks and a fourth-round pick in the 2018 draft.

Cooks played a big role in the 2018 season, with his 80 catches for 1,204 yards and five touchdowns helping the Rams reach Super Bowl LIII, where they lost 13-3 to New England.

A drop in production followed for Cooks in 2019, with the receiver recording just 42 catches for 583 yards and two touchdowns.

By 2020, Cooks was traded away to the Houston Texans along with a 2022 fourth-round pick for Houston’s second-round pick in that year’s draft.

Jalen Ramsey becomes a Ram

The Rams traded for Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey in 2019, giving the Jaguars their first-round draft picks in both 2020 and 2021, as well as a fourth-round pick in 2021.

Although Los Angeles gave up a lot of draft capital to acquire Ramsey, he has been a big part of the Rams recent success.

Speaking to the media before Super Bowl LVI, Ramsey stated his belief that he is the best player in the league in his position.

He said: ‘I believe I’m the best corner – excuse me, I believe I’m the best defensive back in the NFL.

‘So, I always try to prove myself right and prove others right throughout my whole career.’

Jacksonville selected edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson with the 2020 first-round pick that they acquired in the trade, but he has struggled to make an impact so far, recording only two sacks in his first two seasons.

Clemson running back Travis Etienne was selected with the 2021 first-round pick that Jacksonville obtained in the trade, but he suffered a Lisfranc injury in a pre-season game and missed his entire rookie season.

The fourth-round pick that was part of the Ramsey deal was traded back to the Rams on draft day, as the Jaguars moved up nine spots to select edge rusher Jordan Smith.

Smith didn’t make any impact in his rookie season, so right now it does appear as though the Rams got excellent value in trading for Ramsey.

LA trade for quarterback Matthew Stafford

For the next two seasons, the Rams won’t have a first-round draft pick once again, as they used their 2022 and 2023 first-round picks as part of a blockbuster trade with the Detroit Lions for quarterback Matthew Stafford.

The trade saw the Rams part ways with Jared Goff, their first-round selection in 2016, who was sent to Detroit as part of the deal.

Stafford was the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft, and in the 2011 season he helped guide the Lions to the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

Further trips to the play-offs followed in 2014 and 2016, but Stafford and Detroit failed to make it past the Wildcard round each time.

The trade to Los Angeles has clearly benefitted Stafford and the Rams, as much as the Rams were invested in Jared Goff, they knew they needed an upgrade at quarterback.

Despite not winning a play-off game in Detroit, Stafford was highly thought of across the league and seen as the missing piece in the jigsaw that could lead the Rams to Super Bowl glory.

Likewise with Stafford, having spent such a long time on a struggling team, the change of scenery to a Super Bowl contender was what he needed at this stage of his career.

Goff had a difficult first season in Detroit and the Lions finished bottom of the NFC North with a record of 3-13-1.

In Super Bowl LVI, the Rams edged a closely-fought encounter with the Cincinnati Bengals, leaving it late to seal a 23-20 win.

Acquiring title-hungry Odell Beckham Jr.

Odell Beckham Jr. played a key role in the game, scoring the opening touchdown for the Rams before leaving the game due to a knee injury.

Beckham was signed as a free agent in November, after being released by the Cleveland Browns earlier that month.

Having started his career with the New York Giants, Beckham starred in New York before being traded to Cleveland in 2019.

When a player of that talent hits the open market, he is bound to generate interest from plenty of teams.

Beckham wanted to go and compete for a title and that restricted his options as a free agent.

The Green Bay Packers appeared to be the most likely option, with the Packers in control of the NFC North and Aaron Rodgers chasing another Super Bowl ring.

However, it was the Rams who swooped in ahead of Green Bay to sign Beckham on a one-year deal.

Just hours after the Rams announced the arrival of Beckham, wide receiver Robert Woods suffered a torn knee ligament during practice that would end his season.

The Rams also traded away second and third-round picks in 2022 to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Von Miller at the start of November.

Miller was MVP when the Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50.

His veteran leadership helped inspire the Rams against Cincinnati, recording two sacks on the day, which means he is now tied with Charles Haley for the most career sacks in Super Bowl history.

It was clear that the Rams were in an aggressive win-now mode from the moves that they were making; with the Super Bowl being hosted on their home turf, they wanted to be in it.

Aaron Donald a defensive menace for the Rams

Although the Rams have a history of trading away draft picks, two players that were drafted by the team made decisive plays that sealed the franchise’s second Super Bowl title.

Aaron Donald was drafted in the first-round back in 2014, when the franchise was still in St. Louis.

Donald has been a dominant player since he entered the league, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014, before going on to win Defensive Player of the Year three times, in 2017, 2018 and 2020 respectively.

He also recorded two sacks as Cincinnati struggled to protect quarterback Joe Burrow throughout the game.

Cooper Kupp makes history

Cooper Kupp has proven to be a steal since arriving in Los Angeles as a third-round pick out of Eastern Washington back in 2017.

The star wide receiver made history this season, becoming the first player to capture the triple crown as well as winning Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP all in the same season.

On top of this, he recorded the most catches ever in a single post-season with 33 receptions.

Stafford relied heavily on Kupp all season and it was no different in the Super Bowl.

Kupp scored the Rams second touchdown of the game in the second quarter to give them a 13-3 lead.

The game-winning drive secured his status as Super Bowl MVP, with Stafford connecting with Kupp five times on the drive, including the game-winning touchdown with just a minute and 25 seconds remaining.

After the game, Stafford was full of praise for his wide receiver. He said: ‘I just thank the coach for saying “you and Cooper Kupp go and get this thing done” and calling plays for him.

‘I kept finding ways to get him the ball, and he kept making unbelievable plays. That is what he does.’

The Rams have gone against the grain in their approach to building a title winning team, but right now, they’re the envy of every other franchise in the NFL as Super Bowl champions.