New England sent picks No. 56 and No. 101 to the Rams to move…
New England sent picks No. 56 and No. 101 to the Rams to move up to No. 45 for cornerback Joejuan Williams. Los Angeles immediately moved No. 56 to Kansas City and ultimately turned the trade chain into additional selections, including safety Taylor Rapp, who became a starter on the Super Bowl LVI champions. Williams never became a comparable Patriots starter, giving the Rams the stronger return.
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 2019 2nd round pick (56th overall subsequently traded, Mecole Hardman)
- pick 2019 3rd round pick (101st overall; traded with pick 133 to New England for picks 97, Bobby Evans, and 162; New England selected Yodny Cajuste at 101)
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2019 2nd round pick (45th overall, Joejuan Williams)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
New England traded picks Nos. 56 and 101 to the Rams for No. 45 during the 2019 draft, then selected Vanderbilt cornerback Joejuan Williams. Los Angeles did not simply make selections at the acquired slots. The Rams moved No. 56 to Kansas City and continued reshaping the return, with the trade chain helping them land safety Taylor Rapp and additional draft capital.
Why the Value Separated
Williams never developed into the kind of full-time cornerback expected from an aggressive second-round move. He contributed on defense and special teams but did not secure a lasting starting role during his Patriots tenure. Rapp, by contrast, became a regular starter in the Rams' secondary and started during the franchise's Super Bowl LVI championship season. Even though the chain required additional transactions, Los Angeles converted the original incoming capital into meaningful roster production.
How the Deal Aged
The Rams' repeated movement makes this transaction more complicated than comparing No. 45 directly with Nos. 56 and 101. The important point is that Los Angeles preserved and redirected the value rather than allowing it to disappear. New England concentrated two Day 2 assets into Williams and did not receive a corresponding high-level role. The Rams ultimately generated a starter plus further opportunities from the capital they received.
Final Verdict
Los Angeles wins, B- to New England's C-. The Rams' return was not a spectacular haul, but it produced more useful football value and included a starter on a championship team. New England's decision to move up was defensible for a corner it liked, yet Williams' limited starting impact never justified the two-pick price.