When discussing the success of the Los Angeles Rams since 2017, Sean McVay (rightfully) gets most of the credit. A few more winning seasons and a second Super Bowl trophy will catapult McVay into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But what about Les Snead, his partner in crime?
Snead’s success is often lost in the orbit of McVay’s greatness. It’s hard for it not to be. As the NFL’s sixth-longest tenured general manager, Snead doesn’t always seem to get enough credit for his role in the Rams’ return to glory.
Keep in mind that he had to overcome five straight losing seasons from 2012-16 to get to where he is now. Imagine if Snead had been canned alongside Jeff Fisher following the 2016 campaign. Where would the franchise be now?
Thankfully, Rams fans do not have to imagine the alternative because they can instead enjoy what Snead gifted them:
- Aaron bleeping’ Donald
- A 2017 draft haul highlighted by Cooper Kupp
- Blockbuster trades for stars like Matthew Stafford, Von Miller, Jalen Ramsey and Brandin Cooks
- Key free agency signings like Andrew Whitworth and Odell Beckham Jr.
- A Super Bowl championship
- Securing an influx of youth talent in the 2023 and ‘24 drafts that has produced Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Puka Nacua, Braden Fiske, Kamren Kinchens and the league’s reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, Jared Verse
- And one more time—AARON MOTHERLOVING DONALD!
The main criticisms about Snead are that he has failed to get sizable returns for key players in trades. That is fair, since what the Rams received from the Dolphins for Ramsey was truly laughable. Not even Madden would accept that trade.
However, Snead’s “F them picks” approach more than made up for his shortcomings in that department. While his mentality didn’t have the same impact that McVay had on the league’s hiring practices, other teams followed suit. The Miami Dolphins attempted to emulate the Rams’ all-in approach, yet it never resulted in a playoff win.
L.A.’s rebound from that horrid 2022 season has been a sight to behold, and much of it has to do with Snead’s work in the later rounds of the draft. The Rams have reopened their Super Bowl window because Snead has placed more emphasis on the draft, rather than the aggressive mentality he had previously.
Howie Roseman remains atop the NFL’s hierarchy of general managers. Philly’s second dominant title run under Roseman’s watch will inevitably land him in Canton. Snead is currently not far behind the Eagles’ GM, and a second Lombardi Trophy might have a similar impact on his legacy in Hollywood.
Some HOF general managers include Ron Wolf, Gil Brandt, Bobby Beathard and Bill Polian. Does Snead deserve to be immortalized alongside those greats, whether or not his Rams win another title? I believe you can make a case regardless.
Super Bowl LVI - Los Angeles Rams v Cincinnati Bengals Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images