Mock Draft Roundup: 7th Edition

St. Louis Rams
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Mock Draft Roundup: 7th Edition

Posted 5 hours ago

Myles Simmons Rams Insider @MylesASimmons

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PHOTOS: Rams 1st Rd Draft Picks

6th edition: Mar. 9 | 5th edition: Mar. 2 | 4th edition: Feb. 16
3rd edition: Feb. 9 | 2nd edition: Jan. 26 | 1st edition: Jan. 12

One name pops up more than any other in this week’s edition of the roundup, and it’s a player on the offensive line. But there are a couple more familiar projections at wide receiver to go over as well in the aftermath of an eventful first week of the new league year.

Here are five predictions from five of the nation’s top analysts.

Starting with one of those skill players, Rob Rang of CBS Sports has the Rams selecting Amari Cooper at No. 10, writing that he could be great to pair with new starting quarterback Nick Foles.

“Cooper would be an absolute steal at this point in the draft,” Rang writes. “He ranks as one of the easier projections to the NFL due to his sharp route-running, soft hands and terrific acceleration.”

As you likely know by now, the wideout had a tremendous season with the Crimson Tide in 2014, winning the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver. Cooper caught 124 passes for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist for his accomplishments as well, finishing third behind Oregon’s Marcus Mariota and Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon.

As for that name on the offensive line, three of this week’s analysts have the Rams selecting LSU offensive tackle La’el Collins.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound tackle was awarded the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the SEC’s best blocker, and was a second-team All-American in 2014. After serving as the Tigers’ starting left guard his sophomore season, he was the team’s left tackle his junior and senior years.

He’s someone who has been projected to either start at tackle or could slide inside to play guard and excel.

Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated writes, “The Rams should enter 2015 planning to lean on RB Tre Mason as the catalyst for their offense. Doing so with a line bookended by Greg Robinson and Collins would set Mason up to succeed. New QB Nick Foles also has to have a clean pocket, so taking care of the O-line is a must.”

NFL.com’s Brian Baldinger likes Collins for St. Louis as well, citing the importance of blocking up front.

“Protection for Nick Foles is paramount, and the Rams know all too well what it’s like to play without a No. 1 QB,” Baldinger writes.

Dan Kadar of SB Nation also predicts Collins, saying that a pick along the line has stayed the best option for the team.

“An offensive lineman has been the consistent choice for the Rams at No. 10, and what they’ve done in free agency doesn’t change that notion,” Kadar writes, adding that Collins is a strong blocker with good footwork.

To finish off with another skill-position player, CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler has St. Louis picking West Virginia’s Kevin White.

“The Rams need to inject life into the offense, regardless of who is the starting quarterback in 2015,” Brugler writes, adding that he’s the best “attacking” receiver in the draft.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound receiver had a stellar senior season with 109 receptions for 1,447 yards, becoming a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award in the process. He solidified his status as a top receiver in this year’s incoming rookie class with a blazing fast 4.35 40-yard dash at the combine.