mocking the Rams (what do various mocks or write-ups have the Rams doing)

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April 9, 2019 at 11:06 pm #99793

zn
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from Mock draft roundup: Who the experts have the Rams taking

Mock draft roundup: Who the experts have the Rams taking
ie: https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2019/04/09/nfl-rams-mock-draft-roundup-picks-projections/

…

Here are the latest projections:

Robert Klemko, Sports Illustrated
Round 1, pick 31: CB Deandre Baker, Georgia

Many mock drafts have the Rams going with an edge rusher or interior lineman in the first round, but Klemko thinks the Rams will look to bolster their secondary first.

“A strong zone corner for defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is the way to go here, with Aqib Talib another year closer to retirement,” Klemko writes.

He makes a fair point about Talib, who is 33 now and missed significant time last year with an ankle injury. Talib was still able to play at a high level when on the field last year, but his decline could start rapidly at any time.

Marcus Peters improved over the second half of the season, but he still wasn’t what the Rams were hoping for. He’s entering the final year of his contract in 2019, and the Rams don’t have much at corner behind Talib and Peters, so a cornerback in the first round definitely makes some sense. Baker won the 2018 Jim Thorpe award, given annually to the nation’s top college cornerback.

Joe Tansey, Bleacher Report
Round 1, pick 31: EDGE Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech

Tansey isn’t the first analyst to link the Rams to Ferguson. Back in February, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. had the Rams taking Ferguson with their first-round pick. Ferguson was extremely productive in college, racking up 17.5 sacks and 26 tackles for loss last year as a senior.

We don’t know if they’ll actually end up drafting him, but the Rams are definitely doing their digging on Ferguson. In fact, we just got news Monday that the Rams will be hosting Ferguson for a pre-draft visit next week. Ferguson was uninvited from the combine due to a prior arrest, but reportedly showed well at his pro day.

Ferguson was timed running a 40-yard dash in as fast as 4.75 seconds, according to Tony Pauline of Draftanalyst.com. Pauline wrote that he “moved exceedingly well and did not drop a ball during linebacker drills.”

Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports
Round 1, pick 31: DT Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State

Round 3, pick 94: CB Michael Jackson, Miami

Round 3, pick 99: DT Renell Wren, Arizona State

Wilson has the Rams taking Simmons with their first pick. He isn’t the only one who thinks the Rams will go in that direction, as Charles Davis of NFL.com recently had the Rams taking him in the first round, as well. Simmons almost certainly would’ve been an early first-round pick, but he tore his ACL back in February while preparing for the draft.

He likely won’t be able to make much of an impact as a rookie, but could be great value for 2020 and beyond. One could make the argument that since the Rams are in the middle of a Super Bowl window where winning now is everything, that they should focus on adding players who can immediately contribute.

But there’s also a case to be made that the Rams need to build for the future and add as much talent as they can on cheap rookie deals, and Simmons would certainly bring a lot of upside. Wilson has the Rams going with a cornerback and defensive tackle with their third-round picks.

Jackson, who had four interceptions as a junior in 2017, ran a 4.45 40-yard dash at the combine. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein is skeptical about his chances of becoming a starting corner at the next level, and writes that “teams could transition him to a safety spot early in his career.”

About Wren, Wilson writes that he “is short in experience but long on strength and athleticism and benefited from a strong showing at the Senior Bowl.” Wren had 4.5 tackles for loss last year and could help the Rams replace Ndamukong Suh as a run-stuffer who eats up blocks.

Charlie Casserly, NFL.com
Round 1, pick 31: DL Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame

Another defensive line prospect here for the Rams as Casserly, the former Redskins and Texans general manager, has them taking Tillery.

“The Rams take the best defensive lineman prospect left on the board. Michael Brockers can shift inside to play nose tackle, while Tillery lines up at defensive end,” Casserly writes.

Tillery had 8.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks last season. Many observers are high on Tillery’s potential and think he has a chance to be elite at the next level. Unfortunately, there’s a good chance Tillery is off the board by the time the Rams pick at 31. Recently we broke down how the Rams might need to execute a trade up in order to land Tillery.

Mike Renner & Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus
Round 1, pick 31: EDGE Chase Winovich, Michigan

Round 3, pick 94: DL Greg Gaines, Washington

Round 3, pick 99: QB Ryan Finley, NC State

The PFF mock gets very interesting for the Rams. Yet again, it’s a mock with Los Angeles taking an edge rusher in the first round. Winovich is somewhat of a divisive prospect, with many analysts split about how his game will adjust to the pro level. Palazzolo writes that Winovich is “the best edge defender to come out of Michigan, and he can win in the run game.”

Gaines is another defensive tackle who could potentially help bolster the run defense. Suh is not someone who can easily be replaced, and the Rams could be well-served by throwing darts at the board in the middle rounds and hoping they hit on an interior defender.

Taking Finley in the third round is interesting, especially because the Rams just signed Blake Bortles to be Jared Goff’s backup in 2019. The last time Snead picked a quarterback in the third round, it was Sean Mannion, and we all know how that turned out.

But backup quarterback has been a weakness for the Rams the past couple of seasons and they’ve been lucky that Goff has never gotten seriously hurt. Even with Bortles in the fold, it might not be a bad idea to invest in the position further and potentially develop a young quarterback.

Brad Gagnon, Bleacher Report
Round 1, pick 31: DL Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame

Gagnon also has the Rams going with Tillery. Interestingly, he elaborated more on his thought process, and had the Rams choosing between Tillery and Kansas State offensive tackle Dalton Risner with the 31st pick. Ultimately he went with Tillery because it filled the “bigger need” immediately.

“It’d be fun to see an aggressive interior rusher like Tillery develop alongside Donald, and there’s little reason to believe he wouldn’t be effective right off the bat in that defense, especially on passing downs,” Gagnon writes.

Gagnon argues there’s a “massive hole” next to Donald with Suh gone, and the Rams could fill it nicely with Tillery. Talk of Tillery going to the Rams has started to heat up a lot recently, and it’ll be interesting to see whether it’s all smoke or if the Rams really are interested.

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from 2019 Rams Mock Draft Roundup: Sixth edition

Myles Simmons

https://www.therams.com/news/2019-rams-mock-draft-roundup-sixth-edition

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At ESPN, Mel Kiper Jr. And Todd McShay put together a “dueling” mock draft where each made a selection for every pick in the first two rounds. (Insider subscription required – $$)

Kiper projected North Carolina State center Garrett Bradbury to L.A. in that spot.

“I thought about cornerback here, but Bradbury could replace John Sullivan in the middle of the offensive line,” Kiper writes.

On the other hand, McShay projected Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Rams at No. 31.

“A 342-pound run-stopper with 5.05 speed ought to replace Ndamukong Suh nicely alongside Aaron Donald,” McShay writes.

Bradbury was the 2018 Rimington Trophy winner as the best center in college football. He was initially a tight end at NC State before switching to the offensive line in 2015 after a redshirt season in 2014. A three-year starter, Bradbury checked into the Combine at 6-foot-3 and 306 pounds. He put up 34 reps on the bench press.

Lawrence played 38 games for Clemson — racking up 18.0 total tackles for loss and 10.0 total sacks. Lawrence suffered a quad strain at the Combine, but still checked in at 6-foot-4 and 342 pounds, putting up 36 bench press reps.

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Writing for the Washington Post, longtime NFL reporter John Clayton has the Rams going with Florida edge rusher Jachai Polite in the first round.

“Polite has had some bad workouts and interviews and has seen his stock drop. The Rams retained Dante Fowler Jr., but only on a one-year deal, and added veteran Clay Matthews at edge rusher, but Polite could contribute as a rookie while developing as a longer-term option at the position,” Clayton writes.

Polite made a couple headlines at the Combine for his comments about the Rams’ Sean McVay, calling the head coach a “cool uncle” figure. And Polite also made headlines for his Combine performance, which was not nearly as impressive as he would’ve liked. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 258 pounds, Polite recorded 28.5 tackles for loss and 15.0 sacks in his career at Florida. He was a first-team All-SEC honoree in 2018 after recording 11.0 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss.

In his latest mock at NFL.com, analyst Charles Davis projected the Rams to select Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons in the first round.

“If he hadn’t torn his ACL in February, I doubt he gets out of the top 10. With Ndamukong Suh likely leaving, another partner on the interior for All-World DT Aaron Donald is chosen. The Rams will be happy to wait a bit for him to be 100 percent before turning him loose,” Davis writes.

Simmons was quite productive at Mississippi State, where he recorded 33.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks in three seasons on the program’s defensive line. He also forced five fumbles, recorded seven passes defensed, and a pair of fumble recoveries.

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In another three-round mock, USA Today Draftwire’s Luke Easterling projects the Rams to trade back from No. 31 with the Broncos to pick up (at least) No. 41 in the second round and No. 71 in the third.

Despite the trade back, however, Easterling has the Rams selecting a pretty popular pick for the club at No. 31 in Clemson defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence at No. 41.

For the third-round picks, Easterling has L.A. picking up Alabama State offensive tackle Tytus Howard at No. 71, Notre Dame linebacker Drue Tranquill at No. 94, and Utah S Marquise Blair at No. 99.

Also at NFL Network, analyst Cynthia Freuland put together an analytics-based mock draft. You can read about her methodology in the full article here, but she projects Alabama safety Deionte Thompson to Los Angeles at No. 31.

“The Rams added free safety Eric Weddle this offseason, and the Alabama safety would be an excellent complement to him. This is another instance of a safety being projected as a hybrid, and coordinator Wade Phillips is exactly the right teacher to get the most out of him. One big trend reflected in my model is the evolution of the safety position. This is a prime example, because for another team, Thompson would be more of a “true” free safety. But as offenses evolve, changing the roles of tight ends and running backs and relying more on short and quick passes, safety roles are evolving, too,” Freuland writes.

Thompson had two interceptions and six passes defensed for Alabama in 2018. He also recorded three forced fumbles and had a fumble recovery. He played 29 games in three years for the Crimson Tide.

Finally, at The Athletic analyst Dane Brugler put together a seven-round mock that features Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence headed to Los Angeles at No. 31.

“Few would dispute that Aaron Donald is the most talented defensive player in football. But without Ndamukong Suh at the nose, offenses are able to spend more time scheming to stop Donald. However, adding a freaky big man like Lawrence would help,” Brugler writes (Athletic subscription required – $$).

For the rest of the selections, Brugler has…

3-31-94 Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State

3-36-99, Michael Jordan, C/G, Ohio State

4-31-133, David Long Jr., LB, West Virginia

5-31-169, Carl Granderson, EDGE, Wyoming

6-31-203, Darwin Thompson, RB, Utah State

7-37-251, Derrick Baity, CB, Kentucky

April 9, 2019 at 11:16 pm #99794

zn
Moderator

In summary (first pick only):

CB Deandre Baker, Georgia
EDGE Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech
2 for DL Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
EDGE Chase Winovich, Michigan
CENTER Garrett Bradbury, North Carolina State
3 for DT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson (1 on a trade down)
EDGE Jachai Polite, Florida
DT Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
SAFETY Deionte Thompson, Alabama

That’s 12 voters. 9 players named. 3 voters vote Edge, 6 vote DT, 2 vote DB, 1 votes center.

…

April 10, 2019 at 4:09 pm #99804

zn
Moderator

4 dream scenarios for Rams in 1st round of 2019 NFL draft

Cameron DaSilva

4 dream scenarios for Rams in 1st round of 2019 NFL draft

The Los Angeles Rams will surely have their eyes on a handful of prospects in Round 1, hoping one of them falls to No. 31 overall. Last year, we saw Derwin James slide to the Chargers at 17th overall after he was projected to go in the top 10, so there’s no such thing as a guarantee in the draft.

There are a few ways things can go for Los Angeles on April 25, both good and bad. Here are four dream scenarios for the Rams in the first round.

Jerry Tillery or Dexter Lawrence fall to No. 31

Tillery and Lawrence are projected to be drafted right around where the Rams pick in Round 1, but neither is certain to fall to Los Angeles. Tillery seems to be going somewhat overlooked throughout the pre-draft process, while Lawrence is the best pure nose tackle in the class.

If either player drops to the Rams at No. 31, the Rams should have a fairly easy decision to make. Tillery and Lawrence would both drastically improve the Rams’ defensive line, which is arguably the team’s biggest weakness right now.

Tillery would move Michael Brockers from defensive end to nose tackle, which is an upgrade in terms of the pass rush goes. Lawrence, on the other hand, would slide right in to replace Ndamukong Suh, improving the run defense.

Rams trade back and still land Juan Thornhill

Trading back is a strong possibility for the Rams this year. They don’t have a second-round pick and the strength of this draft is in the middle rounds. Moving back 10 or 15 spots would net the Rams an additional selection late in the third round or early in the fourth, while still likely having the option to select an impact player in Round 2.

Trading back and landing a safety like Thornhill would be a dream scenario for Los Angeles because even at No. 31, Thornhill would be a solid pick. With so much uncertainty surrounding the safeties in this class and so much depth at the position, the Rams can get great value in Round 2 if they move back.

A top interior O-lineman is available

If the Rams are wiped out of defensive prospects, they’ll turn to the offensive line. Dalton Risner would be a nice pick, but the Rams would get more out of someone like Garrett Bradbury or Chris Lindstrom. Both have very few flaws as players and could be long-term starters at center and guard, respectively.

Los Angeles lost Rodger Saffold and moved on from John Sullivan this offseason, opening up holes at guard and center. Bradbury or Lindstrom would be home run selections at No. 31 if they were to fall, which is possible because of how much defensive talent there is in Round 1. The O-linemen could slide as a result.

Clelin Ferrell slips through the cracks

Ferrell is on that second tier of pass rushers, slotting in behind guys like Josh Allen, Montez Sweat, Brian Burns and of course Nick Bosa. However, he’s projected to go somewhere between No. 15 and 25 with Oakland at 24 potentially being his floor. It’s possible he’ll slip through the cracks with as much depth as there is at OLB/DE in this class, and if he were to fall to the Rams, he’d likely be near the top of their board at No. 31.

Ferrell would step in right away as a contributor at outside linebacker, keeping Clay Matthews inside more often. The signing of Matthews shouldn’t prevent the Rams from taking an edge rusher in Round 1 and Ferrell would be among the top realistic options for Los Angeles.

April 11, 2019 at 12:06 am #99816

zn
Moderator

Agamemnon wrote:

This is a list of names I am looking at. The comments are from PFF. It will probably change. A trade down is good too.

7. DI JERRY TILLERY, NOTRE DAME
Tillery tied Quinnen Williams for the highest pass-rushing grade among interior defenders in college football. Tillery’s sack totals don’t tell the whole story as he was a dominant week in and week out.

8. DI JEFFERY SIMMONS, MISSISSIPPI STATE
He tore his ACL but did it so early in the process that he could still play as a rookie. Simmons had a run-defense and pass-rushing grade over 90.0 this past season.

19. OT DALTON RISNER, KANSAS STATE
Risner started all four seasons at Kansas State and his career low grade was 87.9 overall.

26. C ELGTON JENKINS, MISSISSIPPI STATE
The Mississippi State center allowed all of five pressures this past season on 369 pass-blocking snaps.

28. S DARNELL SAVAGE, MARYLAND
Savage has back-to-back seasons with grades over 86.0 overall. He’s a missile around the line of scrimmage, laying some impressive hits in the flat.

29. EDGE CHASE WINOVICH, MICHIGAN
Winovich is coming off back to back seasons with grades over 90 overall – the only such qualifying power-5 player in the draft class that can boast that.

32. DI DEXTER LAWRENCE, CLEMSON
Nose tackles of 340-plus pounds are going the way of the Dodo in the NFL, but Lawrence is a pretty ridiculous athlete for his size. He had the 12th best pass-rushing grade among interior players in college football.

34. OT GREG LITTLE, OLE MISS
Over the past two seasons, Little allowed all of 26 total pressures on 993 pass-blocking snaps.

April 12, 2019 at 1:52 pm #99856

zn
Moderator

from MMQB, 2019 NFL Draft: Biggest Need, Hidden Need and Top Targets for all 32 Teams

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/04/12/draft-needs-targets-all-32-teams?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=themmqb&utm_medium=social

==

What’s your team thinking before the draft? Breaking down needs and targets for all 32 teams: https://t.co/mAy0HG8baa pic.twitter.com/HhHlVZOLfO

— The MMQB (@theMMQB) April 12, 2019

==

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LOS ANGELES RAMS

Biggest Need: Interior O-line. Rodger Saffold must be replaced at left guard. And at center, savvy veteran John Sullivan’s football IQ has been so integral to this offense that you wouldn’t be surprised to see the Rams call the 34-year-old around Labor Day to lure him back for one more year. (They chose not to exercise his contract option in March, but that was to save $6.25 million in cap space.) Even if the idea of milking one more year out of Sullivan is floating in the back of Sean McVay’s and GM Les Snead’s minds—and it’s just a guess that it even is—the Rams still needs long-term insurance at center or guard. They used their second pick last year on Brian Allen, but that came in the fourth round. Their first pick, third-rounder Joseph Noteboom, will get a chance to start inside, but the hope is he can one day assume 37-year-old Andrew Whitworth’s left tackle spot. With one of the league’s best O-line coaches (Aaron Kromer), the Rams, theoretically, can trust in their ability to develop a project player. But being in full-fledged win-now mode, they’d almost certainly prefer to find a reliable plug-and-play guy.

Hidden Need: Cornerback. Depth is already a concern for this season, plus every corner on the roster, including starters Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, is in the final year of his contract. Locking up Peters is the top priority, but given his locker room reputation in college and at Kansas City, plus his inconsistent technique and boom-or-bust style of play, you want to wait until the last possible minute to make that long-term commitment. Which means Peters could well play out this season and then the 2020 season on the franchise tag before getting his deal. A lot can happen during that time. The Rams need options at his position.

Also Looking For: Pass Rusher. The Rams signed the soon-to-be 33-year-old Clay Matthews, not the 25-year-old Clay Matthews. And with Ndamukong Suh gone, they’re down a penetrator inside.

Who They Can Get: There’s maybe a 50/50 chance the Rams can stay where they are and grab NC State’s Garrett Bradbury, an athletic pivot who is NFL-ready. If they’re prepared to go with Allen and look toward the corners and pass rushers, Washington’s Byron Murphy, who thrived playing off-coverage in college, is a natural fit. Temple’s Rock Ya-Sin would also be an interesting developmental prospect. Among the pass-rushers, they could be in the right range for Louisiana Tech’s Jaylon Ferguson on the edge, or perhaps they go with Notre Dame DL Jerry Tillery and worry about how he fits next to Aaron Donald later.

April 15, 2019 at 4:38 pm #99923

zn
Moderator

Should the Rams trade out of the first round of the NFL draft?

Trading down in the draft has proved valuable, and the depth at a certain position could suit the Rams well

RYAN KARTJE

link: https://www.ocregister.com/2019/04/13/kartje-should-the-rams-trade-out-of-the-first-round-of-the-nfl-draft/

Fourteen years ago, in a paper first published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, two economists posited that NFL teams had failed to understand the value of their top draft picks. Thousands of hours of work spent by scouting departments had made them overconfident in their own judgment.

As such, these teams routinely overvalued their highest selections – and even made irrational deals to accumulate even higher picks, when it made far more sense to do the opposite. The NFL draft’s best value, the economists found, always came from trading down.

Several NFL analytics departments took notice at the time. The Patriots, as one might expect, became masters of such draft manipulation. But most teams continued to ignore this logic entirely. In an interview, one of the paper’s authors, Richard Thaler, spoke of his experience working with Washington owner Dan Snyder, who heard Thaler out, before promptly ignoring all of his advice during the draft. Years later, in a fitting twist, Thaler would go on to win the Nobel Prize in Economics for his work in predicting irrational behavior.

“Market forces have not been strong enough to overcome these human failings,” the authors concluded.

Even smart franchises have fallen victim to these failings during draft season. Last year, the Saints traded away a future first-round pick, along with their No. 27 overall pick and fifth-rounder, to move up 13 spots to 14th overall. That pick became pass rusher Marcus Davenport, who finished with five sacks and showed some promise as a rookie. But was it enough promise to match the value of two first-round picks? Unless Davenport becomes a perennial Pro Bowler, how could it be?

It almost never is. The smartest NFL teams, instead, take advantage of their overconfident peers’ worst instincts and use them to exploit inefficiencies in the market. They trick other teams into trading up, pile up future picks, and then choose a player with an almost identical chance of success as the one they would’ve drafted.

Take the Colts, for example. Last season, they moved down three spots, from third overall to sixth, netting two second-round picks in 2018 and a future second-rounder in 2019 from the Jets, who coveted USC quarterback Sam Darnold.

The jury is still out on Darnold, but there’s no denying the historic haul the Colts received in return for his draft rights. The Colts used the sixth overall pick to draft All-Pro rookie guard Quenton Nelson. Then, with back-to-back picks early in the second round, one from the Jets and the other their own, the Colts took another All-Pro – and defensive rookie of the year – linebacker Darius Leonard, followed by their starting right tackle, Braden Smith.

Had they stayed put, the Colts could’ve added a Pro Bowl corner in Denzel Ward or a talented pass rusher like Bradley Chubb. But by trading down just three spots, the Colts added two additional high-level starters, and in less than two weeks, they’ll add yet another. Thanks to the Jets, they also own the 34th overall pick in the upcoming draft.

The Rams are slated to pick just three slots before that. But unless one of the top prospects on their board tumbles to the end of the first, they should explore every possible option to trade down, out of the round.

The Rams haven’t picked in the first round since trading up to take Jared Goff with the top overall pick in 2016. They could definitely use another first-round talent on either the defensive or offensive lines.

But by trading down a few picks, the Rams could potentially address both lines. When the Eagles traded the 32nd overall pick last season to the Ravens, they selected tight end Dallas Goedert 17 picks later, moved up seven spots in the fourth to choose a starting corner and, for good measure, added a second-round pick (53rd overall) in the 2019 draft.

The Rams don’t even have to trade down that far to add serious value. In 2017, the Seahawks moved down just four spots from No. 31 and got a fourth-round pick out of the deal.

There’s no reason to think the Rams couldn’t see at least that value – and perhaps even more. Considering the team’s recent success rate with third- and fourth-round picks – receiver Cooper Kupp, safety John Johnson, linebacker Samson Ebukam, etc. – that additional selection could make a significant difference.

The difference between the 31st and 35th pick in this draft, meanwhile, could prove negligible. The draft is deep with defensive talent into the second round, and the Rams’ needs happen to correspond to where the draft is deepest – most notably, on the defensive line. It’s not unreasonable to think Clemson’s Dexter Lawrence could be available with the 34th overall pick or that DeAndre Baker, the Georgia cornerback, could keep sliding all the way to 37.

It’s impossible to predict just how the draft will unfold, but the only true formula for drafting better players is to have more draft picks. Unless there are compensatory selections Les Snead has somehow failed to already unearth, trading down from the first round is the Rams’ most economical path to piling up those picks.

April 15, 2019 at 5:36 pm #99927

Agamemnon
Participant

https://www.therams.com/news/2019-rams-mock-draft-roundup-seventh-edition

Monday, Apr 15, 2019 11:30 AM

2019 Rams Mock Draft Roundup: Seventh edition
Myles Simmons

The Rams offseason program gets going on Monday, with players officially back in the building for the first time since February. But the front office is also starting to put the final preparations in place for the 2019 NFL Draft, which is just 10 days away.

With that in mind, let’s just get straight to this week’s edition of the roundup.

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190415_Tillery

This edition of the roundup has a decent number of picks who analysts agree on.

We’ll start with Connor Orr of Sports Illustrated/The MMQB, who mocked Notre Dame defensive tackle Jerry Tillery to the Rams at No. 31.

“Seven sacks and nine tackles for loss last year, and 38 quarterback pressures, according to SIS. Pray for an offensive line that has to figure out Aaron Donald and a defensive tackle who could one day grow into a suitable Ndamukong Suh replacement,” Orr writes.

NFL.com’s Charley Casserly agrees with Orr on the pick in his latest mock, commenting, “The Rams take the best defensive lineman prospect left on the board. Michael Brockers can shift inside to play nose tackle, while Tillery lines up at defensive end.”

A 6-foot-6, 295-pound defensive lineman, Tillery appeared in 42 games for the Fighting Irish in four seasons, recording a total of 23.0 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. He had 7.0 sacks in his senior season alone. He ran a 4.95 40 and put up 23 bench press reps at the Combine.

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190415_Lindstrom

Like Tillery, two analysts mocked Boston College guard Chris Lindstrom to Los Angeles in the first round.

SB Nation’s Dan Kadar writes, “This offseason, the Rams have lost center John Sullivan and guard Rodger Saffold. 2018 draftees Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen could fill those spots, but the Rams would be smart to add some talent just in case.”

And Rotoworld’s Chris Lindstrom writes, “One major key to the Rams success over the last two years has been offensive line health and continuity. That will be tested this year without John Sullivan and Rodger Saffold.”

A four-year starter, Lindstrom is from a football family — his father played at Boston College and is in the program’s Hall of Fame. Lindstrom was a first-team All-ACC honoree after his senior season. He played most of his career at right guard at BC, but also played some at right tackle in his junior year. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 308 pounds, Lindstrom put up 25 reps on the bench press at the Combine.

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190415_Love

A number of analysts also put out multi-round mock drafts — like ESPN’s Todd McShay who has the Rams selecting Lindstrom at No. 31, Stanford running back Bryce Love at No. 94, and Wisconsin offensive tackle David Edwards at No. 99.

“Let’s fill the void left by Rodger Saffold with a real grinder in Lindstrom. Edwards would further shore up the offensive line with his heavy hands and strong lateral mobility. I’d look for a center in the later rounds as well. L.A. also will be looking for some running back depth behind Todd Gurley, and Love would be an excellent fit. The Rams can afford to take a chance on a player such as this here, and with Love’s effectiveness in space, it could pay off handsomely if the Stanford product stays healthy,” McShay writes (ESPN+ subscription required – $$).

Love had an injury-riddled 2018 after returning to Stanford for his senior season. While he rushed for 2,118 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2017, Love had only 739 yards rushing in 2018 before tearing his ACL in December in what was his final college game.

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190325_Bradbury

Also at ESPN, Mel Kiper Jr. put together a three-round mock that has North Carolina State center Garrett Bradbury to Los Angeles at No. 31, Vanderbilt cornerback Joejuan Williams at No. 94, and TCU defensive end L.J. Collier at No. 99.

“If Dexter Lawrence made it to No. 31, he’d be a great fit as the nose tackle in Wade Phillips’ defense. Since he’s not here, though, I’ll look to another potential need spot along the interior of the offensive line, where Rodger Saffold and John Sullivan are both gone from the Super Bowl runners-up. Bradbury played guard for the Wolfpack in 2016 before spending the past two seasons at center. He showed off his athletic ability at the combine, running a 4.92 40 at 306 pounds,” Kiper writes (ESPN+ subscription required – $$).

Bradbury was the 2018 Rimington Trophy winner as the best center in college football. He was initially a tight end at NC State before switching to the offensive line in 2015 after a redshirt season in 2014. A three-year starter, Bradbury checked into the Combine at 6-foot-3 and 306 pounds. He put up 34 reps on the bench press.

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In another three-round mock at CBS, Ryan Wilson has Los Angeles selecting Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons at No. 31, Miami cornerback Michael Jackson at No. 94, and Arizona State defensive tackle Renell Wren at No. 99.

Simmons tore his ACL early this calendar year while preparing for the NFL draft, but Wilson nevertheless has him going in the first round.

“Simmons is a top-5 talent. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL in February, which means he won’t be healthy until midway through the season, best case. But when he returns, the Rams will have a dominant young player in the middle of their defense,” Wilson writes.

On Jackson, Wilson writes, “Jackson is a physical cornerback who excels in press coverage. There are questions about his ability to get in and out of breaks but he can flourish in the right system.”

And on Wren, Wilson writes, “Wren is short in experience but long on strength and athleticism and benefited from a strong showing at the Senior Bowl.”

Simmons was quite productive at Mississippi State, where he recorded 33.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks in three seasons on the program’s defensive line. He also forced five fumbles, recorded seven passes defensed, and a pair of fumble recoveries.

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Also at CBS Sports, Chris Trapasso put together a two-round mock. But since the Rams don’t currently have a second-round pick, his one selection for L.A. is NC State center Garrett Bradbury.

“The Rams use a lot of stretch running plays in their offense, and Bradbury is far and away the premier zone-blocking scheme center in this class,” Trapasso writes.

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Finally, CBS Sports’ R.J. White did a full seven-round mock — including a projected trade in the fifth round. White begins with projecting Texas A&M interior offensive lineman Erik McCoy to L.A. at No. 31.

“I know the Rams like their replacements on the interior of the line, but as a Super Bowl contender, there needs to be a plan B. That’s McCoy, who can play either guard or center and has what it takes to hold his own against fearsome interior rushers like Aaron Donald and DeForest Buckner,” White writes.

For the rest of the picks, White projects…

No. 94: Memphis RB Darrell Henderson

No. 99: Florida ILB Vosean Joseph

No. 133: Auburn CB Jamel Dean

No. 169 — Trade to Pittsburgh for No. 192 and No. 207 No. 192: Auburn NT Dontavius Russell

No. 203: Florida OT Martez Ivey

No. 207: Boston College OLB Wyatt Ray

No. 251: Nevada OLB Malik Reed

Agamemnon

April 17, 2019 at 12:05 am #99968

zn
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Deadpool

I think the Rams are preparing for drafting in the 2nd round. Why?

1. Because they have been meeting with a ton of 2nd round prospects, esp. having them in for private meetings. Once you start meeting guys at the combine, at pro days and having them in for privates, its serious because there are only so many meetings you can get in during those 3 phases. You don’t waste them.

2. I really think they don’t want to draft an OL in the 1st round. It really seems to go against their philosophy. I also think they are prepared to see all the top EDGE rushers gone. (Bosa, Allen, Sweat, Burns and Ferrell). That leaves CB and IDL. I have (and I’m not alone) Tillery, Lawrence and an injured Simmons as 2nd round players. Or very close to it. And if you are happy with all 3, trade down and take the one thats left. THat leaves CB, they have not talked to one 1st round graded CB. So either they are playing it close to the vest or they are off 1st round CBs.

3. So what is left? A QB, RB, TE or WR? Nope. OT? I doubt it. ILB? goodness no, unless Bush Jr. drops down.

Here are all the prospects the Rams have met with from the combine, pro days or private visits that I think are 2nd rounders.
1. Chase Winovich – Edge – pro day
2. Kaleb McGary – OT – Private
3. Elgton Jenkins – IOL – Private
4. Eric McCoy – IOL – Private
5. Jerry Tillery – IDL – Combine
6. Jonathan Abram – S – Private
7. Taylor Rapp – S – Private
8. Darnell Savage – S – Private
9. Juan Thornhill – S – Private
10. Dexter Lawrence – IDL – Private

So thats a good amount of 2nd round talent, I think they would love to trade down and are prepping for a move so they can acquire more picks. Just a feeling.

Rest of my thoughts: (no real order)

1. I think if you want a WR or a RB, wait until day 3. I think a ton of talent will slide into the 4th and 5th rounds. I think RBs could be had all the way to UDFA.

2. Get ready for a defense heavy 1st round. I think 3-4 QBs, 2 WRs, 2 TEs, 3 OTs, and 2 IOL are taken in the 1st. Thats 12 or 13 tops. Making it 19 to 20 defenders going in the top 32. Thats alot IMO.

3. I think the Rams are targeting a S or IDL early. I don’t know why, its just a feeling I am starting to get. I just cannot shake Adderley, Thornhill, Abram and Rapp at S and Tillery, Simmons and Lawrence at IDL.

4. If I were a GM in need of a starting QB to save my job, I would punt, update my resume and hope I survive the season to draft 1 next year. I know everyone says wait until next years QB class and its never that good, but this one is just brutal.

5. I think the Rams like Polite in the 3rd. Its the end of the round, so not much damage done and if he gets his head on straight, its another in a nice line of middle round home runs.

6. If the Rams draft a TE, its going to be on day 3. Just too many needs to mess with a TE before that. 1 guy I would pay attn to is Trevon Wesco from WVU. Rams talked to him at SB, so he fits the bill profile wise and he is versatile enough to add some value as a blocker from anywhere in the formation and doing a bit of damage underneath in the passing game.

7. I think the Rams definitely come away with a IDL, IOL, Edge, CB or S. Thats 5 of their current 7 draft picks. After those 5 its anyone’s guess. IDL, IOL or Edge double up and OT would be my other guesses.

8. 1 spot I haven’t mentioned is ILB. I think if the Rams draft an ILB, its going to be an OLB that they move inside.

9. After looking at who the Rams have interviewed or met with as far as CBs, I am lost on what they are looking for. But they have met Derrick Baity twice, and he is a big, press man CB and will be around on day 3.

10 I think anyone hoping for Dexter Lawrence in the 1st round is going to be disappointed. If they do go IDL in round 1 its Tillery IMO. I said that last week and I haven’t changed my mind. Why? I think the Rams like Saunders in the 3rd and if they pass on IDL it will be because Saunders is the target later on.

11. i also think anyone hoping for Bradbury at IOL will be disappointed, simply because he will be gone.

12. The one wildcard in the 1st round is Greedy Williams. Its so weird a guy with as many questions as he has with as much talent as he has, has not had a single visit. The only thing I can think of is that teams that are interested are playing it close to the vest. He makes a ton of sense for the Rams. I just wouldn’t bet too much money on him being the pick.

Anyhow, just some things to think about for a day or 2.
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