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Prior to the 2013 NFL draft, fans and media members alike had a feeling the St. Louis Rams would select two wide receivers. The only problem was no one knew who those two receivers would be. Names like Cordarrelle Patterson, Tavon Austin, DeAndre Hopkins, Robert Woods and Justin Hunter were all logical early-round choices.

Austin’s stock rose considerably as the draft drew near, so the possibility of drafting him looked bleak. But the Rams didn’t let his ascension into the top 10 scare them off. St. Louis’ front office pulled the trigger and executed a blockbuster draft day trade with the Buffalo Bills to ensure its selection of the first-team All-American.

That meant the selection of one wide receiver was down with one to go. In the third round, no one believed the Rams would select another West Virginia wideout with Quinton Patton and Da’Rick Rogers still on the board.

Rogers ended up going undrafted for off-the-field issues, and Patton wasn’t held as in high regard as Stedman Bailey, so St. Louis made the move.

Drafting Bailey meant the organization drafted two wide receivers from the same school in the first three rounds of the draft. That’s not something that happens everyday. Yet, it didn’t matter that both players went to the same school. The only thing that mattered was the on-field ability of both players. Less than two months in, the move appears to already be paying dividends.

Let’s break down the five benefits of having Austin and Bailey together in St. Louis.