Rams reportedly eyed dream draft scenario 49ers ensured they didn't get

As much as the Los Angeles Rams were criticized for drafting Ty Simpson with the 13th pick, the rival 49ers also raised eyebrows by taking Ole Miss receiver De'Zhaun Stribling at No. 33. Even as his draft stock rose, he was generally expected to fall closer to the middle of the second round, at the earliest. Leading up to the draft, some big boards ranked Stribling outside the top 100. 

According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, however, San Francisco knew exactly what it was doing. Not only did they want Stribling for themselves, several other teams did, too - reportedly including the Rams:

"What's interesting about this selection is that there were some people who wondered whether this was too early for De'Zhaun Stribling to go," Schefter said. "And yet, there were a couple of teams that I spoke to, leading up to the draft, that felt like Stribling was the best wide receiver in the draft. Another team, supposedly the Los Angeles Rams, had eyes on him.

"And so the 49ers didn't just come up with this pick out of nowhere. They knew that there were other teams that had a very high grade on Stribling, when the 49ers declined to trade out of the top draft slot in the second round and take him there."

If Schefter is right, the 49ers made sure the Rams would not get to enjoy a picture-perfect draft scenario: secure the future franchise quarterback in the first round, then snag a top receiver target sometime on Day 2, possibly as a trade-up candidate. Alas, no dice.

49ers left no chance for Rams to double up by drafting Stribling

Schefter's report is somewhat surprising. Stribling was not among the receiver prospects dominating Rams draft coverage. USC's Makai Lemon, Washington's Denzel Boston, and Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. all received far more focus, whether as targets at No. 13 or later in the first round and into the early second.

Stribling was mentioned, to be sure, but more so as a secondary option on Day 2 or, before his stock really shot through the roof, potentially in Rounds 3 or 4. While his college production was no match for Lemon's, his combination of size and speed gave him an athletic edge in a similar projected role operating out of the slot in an NFL offense. 

Apparently, the Rams may have been higher on Stribling than those around the league had reason to believe. That's not so surprising, given that obscuring the team's true intentions is precisely the front office's job. That's also why so many, if not quite everyone, were stunned by the decision to reach for Simpson. 

For the Rams, netting Simpson and Stribling would have been equivalent to having their cake and eating it, too. No first-round receiver, no problem. There's a guy we like even better. 

San Francisco's decision not to trade back, on the assumption that Stribling would still be there later, suggests that there may well be something to Schefter's intel. Say the 49ers moved back into the 40s. It's highly unlikely, if not altogether impossible, that the bitter rivals would trade with each other, but would the Rams strike a deal with some other team to move within range? 

While they left themselves limited picks to work with after trading for Trent McDuffie, it's possible. If general manager Les Snead wanted Stribling, trust that he could figure something out. Perhaps he simply hoped Stribling would inch closer to the Rams' next selection, at No. 62. The 49ers ensured that wouldn't happen, for Los Angeles or anyone else.

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This article was originally published on ramblinfan.com as Rams reportedly eyed dream draft scenario 49ers ensured they didn't get.