Joe Torosian's Outsiders Sports

The Rams traded backup center Geoff Reece, a third-round pick out of Washington State in 1975, along with a 1977 second-round pick (#51 overall), to the Seattle Seahawks for the 31st pick in the ’77 draft.

Got it? Good!

In the 1977 Draft, the Rams took:
Bob Brudziński, LB, #23 overall, and then used the 31st pick on Nolan Cromwell.

Also in that draft, the Rams selected Billy Waddy, Wendell Tyler, and Vince Ferragamo…All five of these players started in Super Bowl 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Note: The third-round pick used to draft Reece in 1975 was acquired by the Rams from Green Bay in the John Hadl trade. That trade netted the Rams two #1s, two #2s, and a 3rd. In player capital, that translated to: Pat Thomas, Monte Jackson, and Mike Fanning. As well as Cromwell and Ron Jessie via trade/compensation.

Last Note 1977: The fourth round pick (#91 overall) the Rams used to take Vince Ferragamo…Came from trading linebacker Ken Borderlon to New Orleans in July of 1976.

Borderlon played with the Saints through 1982…Ferragamo, of course, took the Rams to the Super Bowl.

Happy Birthday to Cody Jones, who turns 75 today.

The Dutchman, Norm Van Brocklin, passed away in 1983 at 57.

The Hall of Fame quarterback shared quarterback duties with Ram legend Bob Waterfield early in his career.

In the 1951 NFL Championship game against the Cleveland Browns, Waterfield started. But it was Van Brocklin’s 73-yard touchdown pass to Tom Fears that proved to be the game-winner, 24-17.

In that same season (9/28/51), Van Brocklin set the single-game record for passing yardage with 554yds. A record that still stands.

After the 1957 season, Van Brocklin retired and returned a few months later (sound familiar?). But he didn’t want to play for Ram HC Sid Gillman and wanted more control of the offense.

In May of 1958, he was dealt to Philadelphia for two players and a number one pick.

(The pick, #2 overall in 1959, was Dick Bass, the centerpiece of the Rams rushing attack throughout the 1960s.)

Van Brocklin led the Eagles to the NFL title in 1960 and then retired. Later he was the head coach for both the expansion Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons.

1984—Rams trade picks #21 & #134 to the Kansas City Chiefs for cornerback Gary Green. He excelled for the Rams in 1984 and 1985.

Green, drafted 10th overall in 1977 out of Baylor, was a front line corner for KC. He appeared in three Pro Bowls for the Chiefs, and added a fourth while with the Rams.

He retired in 1986 after developing a bulging disc in his neck.

Irony is the Rams gave up the 21st pick in the 1984 draft for him, and the Rams gave up the 29th overall pick this year for Trent McDuffie…And McDuffie was the Chiefs 21st overall pick in 2022.

Both men are listed as being 5-11.

The Chiefs used the 21st pick in the 1984 draft to take John Alt out of Iowa. Alt was KC’s starting left tackle for 13 seasons and made two Pro Bowls.

Alt is the father of Los Angeles Chargers tackle Joe Alt.

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1990—The Rams, in need of a backup quarterback, sent the 58th overall pick to the Detroit Lions for Chuck Long.

Long, a former first round pick, doesn’t do anything for the Rams. The Lions draft a WR, Reggie Barrett, who doesn’t do anything for them at #58.

Here’s where it gets painful.

At #59, the Arizona Cardinals draft future Hall of Fame cornerback Aeneas Williams. The Jets take multiple Pro Bowl linebacker Mo Lewis at #70, and the Dallas Cowboys take Erik Williams, who becomes their tackle for 10 seasons, wins three Super Bowls, and is named to four Pro Bowls.

The Rams in the first three rounds of 1990 got: Bern Brostek, Pat Terrell, and Latin Berry.