Did the Rams give up too much? A look at trades for No. 1 overall picks

The Rams shocked the NFL world Thursday moing with a blockbuster deal, giving up four of the top 76 picks in this year’s NFL draft, in addition to a first-rounder and third-rounder in next year’s draft, in order to acquire the No. 1 overall pick from the Teessee Titans.

Did the Rams overpay? Time will tell. One thing is for sure — the price for the No. 1 overall pick has risen astronomically, from the first such deal in 1990 (for future QB bust Jeff George) to the previous one in 2004 (for future two-time Super Bowl-wiing QB Eli Maing).

Here’s a look at the six trades in which teams have acquired the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft:

1990: Indianapolis trades for QB Jeff George

In a deal with Atlanta, the Colts traded:

• OT Chris Hinton

• WR Andre Rison

• a fifth-round pick (OG Reggie Redding)

• a 1991 first-round pick (WR Mike Pritchard)

The Colts also received a fourth-round pick (WR Stacey Simmons)

1991: Dallas trades for DT Russell Maryland

In a deal with New England, the Cowboys traded:

• DB Ron Francis

• LB David Howard

• LB Eugene Lockhart

• the No. 11 overall pick (OT Pat Harlow)

• a second-round pick (DB Jerome Henderson)

1995: Cinciati trades for RB Ki-Jana Carter

In a deal with Carolina, the Bengals traded:

• the No. 5 overall pick (QB Kerry Collins)

• a second-round pick (DE Shawn King)

1997: Rams trade for OT Orlando Pace

In a deal with the New York Jets, the Rams traded:

• the No. 6 overall pick (which the Jets traded to Seattle, which selected OT Walter Jones

• a third-round pick (OG Dan Neil)

• a fourth-round pick (DE Terry Day)

• a seventh-round pick (QB Koy Detmer)

2001: Atlanta trades for QB Michael Vick

In a deal with San Diego, the Falcons traded:

• the No. 5 overall pick (RB LaDainian Tomlinson)

• a third-round pick (DB Tay Cody)

• a 2002 second-round pick (WR Reche Caldwell)

2004: Giants trade for QB Eli Maing

In a deal with San Diego, the Giants traded:

• the No. 4 overall pick (QB Philip Rivers)

• a third-round pick (K Nate Kaeding)

• a first-round pick in 2005 (LB Shawne Merriman)

• a fifth-round pick in 2005 (OT Roman Oben)

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