On the same day that the Rams traded their first-round draft pick from 2006 for a bowl of soup, they also dumped their second-round pick from that season: Joe Klopfenstein.
At least they got something back for Hill.
Klopfenstein was advertised as a catch-first tight end, but he only had 13 grabs over the last two seasons after a reasonably productive rookie year.
As pointed out by Evan Silva over at Rotoworld (PFT’s second cousin by marriage), the Rams’ 2006 draft class was comically bad, especially on the first day. Hill and Klopfenstein are practically Canton-bound compared to the team’s three third-round picks.
Tight end Dominique Byrd had multiple run ins with the law before getting cut.
Defensive tackle Claude Wroten was suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy and eventually dumped.
The last third-rounder, linebacker Jon Alston, lasted one season before getting released. (He’s now on the Raiders.)
Two players remain on the Rams from the 2006 draft (guard Mark Setterstrom, defensive end Victor Adeyanju), but neither start for the team.
And that, ladies and gentleman, is how you wind up drafting second overall in consecutive seasons.