new thread (March): Rams draft

Saw the results online (not “live”) soon after they happened. Unlike past years, though, didn’t get to watch many of the on-field drills, which can be enlightening. Anyway, it looks like mph is integrating well with the 40 time, as they’re using it to measure the kids during their 40, the gauntlet drills, and go-routes too. That’s smart. Down-side, of course, is they don’t have full gear on.

Some surprises: I thought Brenden Rice would fly in the 40, the 10-yard split, and pretty much everything else. Something must have happened to him between the time he clocked above 23mph in pads to now. He was also in the 1.4s for his 10 when Feldman put him on his freak’s list. Someone that fast, in game gear, should run better than 4.5 in gym clothes, and his combine 1.55 split doesn’t track, either.

Combine testing still has its place, and should be used as a part of overall eval. But I’d bet no team uses it as its primary metric any longer, if they ever did.

Quinyon Mitchell* would be a great 1st rounder. Could be the Rams’ lock-down corner for years. But I’d take Dallas Turner, the edge rusher, before him, if he falls. But that’s unlikely. He’s probably Top Ten. Hoping the rumors of the Rams being infatuated with Xavier Worthy are just rumors. His 4.21 doesn’t help make up for his 165 pounds, and his frame doesn’t look like he can add much more weight. I think that would be a terrible 1st rounder. They also reportedly love Rome Odunze, but he has great size, good speed, catch-radius, etc. Wrong round for the Rams to take a receiver, given their other needs, regardless.

*Max Melton is another corner who looks like he could really help the Rams.

Billy_T wrote:

Quinyon Mitchell* would be a great 1st rounder. Could be the Rams’ lock-down corner for years. But I’d take Dallas Turner, the edge rusher, before him, if he falls.

i would love to see those guys on the rams. but yeah. i don’t see them being available at 19. but who knows. maybe a trade up? personally i’d want turner.

the offensive tackles look really good. and there should be one available at 19.

it sounds like shelton is likely to come back so i’d prefer a tackle.

Too fuqin slow.

The only rookie to play every snap for the Rams this season!@Stevelavila at the #NFLCombine

📺 @nflnetwork | Begins Feb. 29 pic.twitter.com/1iyWvaBUeg

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) February 28, 2024

Taliese Fuaga met with the #Rams over the last few days. Watching him handle Laiatu Latu with ease during the Senior Bowl makes this stuff so difficult. The difference in a top-10 pick, and a pick in the 19-20 range. pic.twitter.com/8x1kX7cjbe

— Rams Brothers (@RamsBrothers) March 4, 2024

Taliese Fuaga was moving #nflcombine pic.twitter.com/J2aBOCsjW0

— East Coast Gridiron (@ECG_Pod) March 3, 2024

This continues to look like the best O-line draft in ages, at least at the top, and that’s an obvious position of need for the Rams. Not so sure about “depth,” but there are all kinds of elite guys who seem to be switching places as the best of the best. It’s also among the best ever for wideouts at the top, especially size/speed freaks. As with the O-line, I don’t see the depth of previous years, but the top guys are more numerous. Stronger at the top for QBs as well, and corners. Depth falls off even moreso there. Which means if the Rams stick at 19, they’ll get a really good player. Good shot at Pro-Bowl type. They’d have to work hard not to. Edges would be a huge plus, too, relative to other years, if not for this (IMO): The top guys aren’t that big, and Latu has injury concerns. Apparently, he’s all clear from the neck injury that forced his early retirement, but that it happened it all would scare me as a GM. For his health, more than anything else.

My own view: Rams should not draft a QB in Round One. They have too many other immediate needs. Draft a backup later, re-sign Wentz, or trade for Zach Wilson. Don’t spend the first on Bo Nix. Go corner, edge, o-line, especially. Wideout, perhaps, if they trade down and add picks. But I think they need to upgrade both lines and corners first.

one thing i could see them doing. if they are interested in taliese fuaga. they probably have to trade up for him. but if they were to draft him then they let dotson go. plug fuaga at right guard. hav at right tackle. alaric at left tackle. sign him to a multi-year contract. avila at left guard. shelton at center.

and what i like about it is you plug fuaga at rg but then he’s a logical candidate to replace hav the next year. his combine tape looks amazing. very quick. supposedly very impressive in interviews.

zn wrote:

InvaderRam wrote:

one thing i could see them doing. if they are interested in taliese fuaga. they probably have to trade up for him. but if they were to draft him then they let dotson go. plug fuaga at right guard. hav at right tackle. alaric at left tackle. sign him to a multi-year contract. avila at left guard. shelton at center. and what i like about it is you plug fuaga at rg but then he’s a logical candidate to replace hav the next year. his combine tape looks amazing. very quick. supposedly very impressive in interviews.

How does them signing Dotson impact your thinking on this?

i don’t think they go this route anymore. most likely draft a prospect in the lower rounds. i’m now leaning toward edge rusher, cornerback, wide receiver. i’m not as high on latu as some people are. but what do i know? and projections right now are leaning that way.

i like chop robinson. he’s toolsy to borrow a term from baseball. i wouldn’t mind seeing a cornerback either. wide receiver would be out of left field but it might make sense long term.

i could see a scenario where rams draft powers-johnson. now THAT would be intriguing… what a potentially scary iol THAT would be.

• This reply was modified 8 months, 2 weeks ago by InvaderRam.

Thanks for posting the new pick order.

It looks like they did slightly better with the 3rd rounder than we thought (98), a tad better with one of the sixth round comp picks (209), but one sixer looks like it slipped into the 7th (254). Or I may just be confused by the entire process!

;>)

Signing Dotson gives them some breathing room. I’d still draft a guard/center or two, but a bit later. I think corner and edge go to the top of the mountain now. If Dallas Turner is there at #19, the Rams should pounce. If for some reason there’s been a real run on corners and edges, and the best are gone, trade down a bit and grab that huge center Invader mentioned.

Would also love to see the Rams draft Jaylen Wright as RB2, but I think his strong performance at the Combine ended any chance of him being a later round sleeper. I thought he’d run in the 4.3s, and he did. Looks like he’s put on good weight, too. Up to 210. Since the Rams don’t have a 4th, he’s likely gone by the time they draft in the 5th. But if the Rams think RB2 is a big enough need for #98, it wouldn’t upset me, though that might be a good spot for Theo Johnson, the TE. Or perhaps Junior Colson, linebacker.

It’s a strong draft. They should do just fine.

Billy_T wrote:

If Dallas Turner is there at #19, the Rams should pounce.

i would love for that to happen, but i think he’s gone by then. they’d have to trade up to get him.

as far as defensive backs. someone’s gonna slip. i still like cooper dejean and it seems like he’s a prime candidate to slip down the draft. it might be better for the rams to trade down and keep accumulating draft picks.

Last year’s draft was insanely good, and the Rams are going into this draft in a very good position. With their 11 picks, if the Rams strike gold on a CB and a pass rusher, they’re in the the hunt.

They are mostly set on the offensive side of the ball. The nailed the OL, they resigned Robinson, and they replaced Higbee. A complimentary RB would make them more dangerous, but the O is set. They will be drafting for depth and the future there, not immediate starter needs. That’s incredible, actually.

Looks to me like the draft will focus mostly on defense and STs.

On defense, they have some quality up front. Hitting on both Turner and Young was amazing. They got Jones in the middle, and Lake in the back looks pretty good. Williams is an upgrade at CB. I can’t imagine that anybody is going to bowl Johnson over with an offer, so the Rams can probably keep him. I have a feeling Witherspoon and Fuller are gone, but my feelings don’t amount to much in the way of evidence.

So there are plenty of places that could stand an upgrade. The Rams didn’t get much out of the non-Aaron Donald DE spot, or the LBs outside of Jones. If they could get a disruptive DE or strongside LB, that would be great. A top-notch CB would be great. If they could hit on those 2 picks, they can do whatever they like with the remaining 9, and I’ll be happy. Well…8. Because I would like a K who can hit FGs.