Rams’ Trade Up to No. 1 Pick Has Impact on 49ers

When news broke Thursday morning that the Los Angeles Rams had made a trade for the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL draft, the ripples could be felt all the way to the Bay Area.The Rams, in need of a franchise quarterback on the field and for their new/old fans in Southern California, are likely to select one of the top two QB prospects in North Dakota State's Carson Wentz or Cal's Jared Goff. The Cleveland Browns, who hold the No. 2 overall pick, also are projected to take a quarterback.That means the 49ers, who appear to be in the market for a young passer, would be off the quarterback market at the top of the first round with their No. 7 pick. It also probably erases the possibility they can trade up in the first round to go after either Goff or Wentz.The other top-rated QBs, Paxton Lynch of Memphis and Connor Cook of Michigan State, are projected to be low first-round or second-round selections.On the other hand, the Rams' bold move could actually benefit the 49ers.The move up to No. 1 cost the Rams dearly, and the 49ers would also have had to pay a high price to move higher. The Rams gave up two second-round picks this year, a third-rounder this year and their first- and...