Some Draft Prospects…… April draft thread #2

This topic has 20 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 7 months ago by InvaderRam.

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April 8, 2018 at 12:30 pm #85008

Agamemnon
Participant

Agamemnon

April 8, 2018 at 4:32 pm #85009

JackPMiller
Participant

Some guys that could be there for us to draft in the 3rd round, Remember these are just a few names I’m giving you as possibilities.

Jamarco Jones OT Ohio State

Kendrick Norton NT Miami(FL)

Marcell Frazier Edge Missouri

Alex Cappa OT Humboldt State

Tyquan Lewis DE/OLB Ohio State

Darius Leonard Edge South Carolina State

April 8, 2018 at 5:01 pm #85011

nittany ram
Moderator

A Rams mock draft with fairly rigorous player profiles….

link: https://www.downtownrams.com/single-post/2018/04/08/Jake-Ellenbogens-2018-Rams-Mock-Draft-40

April 9, 2018 at 2:49 pm #85020

Agamemnon
Participant

Rams get hybrid offensive weapon in latest Draft Wire four-round mock

Rams get hybrid offensive weapon in latest Draft Wire four-round mock

As a result of two blockbuster trades for wide receivers in the past eight months, the Los Angeles Rams will be without picks in the first two rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft. They traded a second-rounder for Sammy Watkins back in August before essentially replacing him with Brandin Cooks last week, who cost Los Angeles a first-round pick.

Sean McVay doesn’t seem worried about the lack of top-60 selections, but waiting until No. 87 to make their first pick in the draft will be difficult. It’s hard to gauge which players will be available at that point, while trying to find both Day 1 starters and good depth at positions of need.

Luke Easterling of Draft Wire did his best to find the Rams some valuable pieces in his latest four-round mock draft, splitting their first four selections between the offense and defense.

In Round 3, Easterling slotted Michigan lineman Mason Cole to the Rams. The former Wolverine started his collegiate career at left tackle, playing his first two seasons at that spot. He then moved inside to guard, which is a more natural spot for him, but it’s not exactly the most highly coveted position.

He could come to the Rams as a versatile lineman with the potential to succeed John Sullivan at center, while providing depth at multiple spots in the interim.

At No. 111 – the Rams’ first pick in the fourth round (via the Dolphins), they grab USC edge rusher Rasheem Green. He’d play outside linebacker in Los Angeles, though he primarily lined up at defensive end for the Trojans. In 2017, he led the team with 12.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, earning All-Pac 12 honors. He’s not the most refined pass rusher, but the fourth round isn’t exactly filled with polished prospects.

Later in the fourth round, Easterling has the Rams taking R.J. McIntosh from Miami and Jaylen Samuels out of NC State. McIntosh projects as a defensive tackle in the NFL, but he doesn’t have the size to play nose tackle in a 3-4 defense. And with Ndamukong Suh in the mix, this pick doesn’t exactly fill a major need. Still, he can be a nice rotational player and future starter with Suh only on a one-year deal.

Samuels is the most interesting pick in this mock, considering no one really knows where he’ll play in the NFL. He’s too short to play tight end, too small to play fullback and lacks the ideal size to line up at wide receiver.

With Sean McVay at the helm, however, he’d have no trouble finding a spot for Samuels. He can play H-back, lining up all over the field – from the backfield to outside the numbers. Samuels also provides value as a return man, though Pharoh Cooper likely has that job on lockdown.

This isn’t the most conventional mock draft you’ll see for the Rams – especially without first- and second-round picks, but it does fill a few needs for them. Mixing in an inside linebacker would’ve improved it further.

Agamemnon

April 9, 2018 at 2:51 pm #85021

Agamemnon
Participant

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jaylen-samuels?id=32462018-0002-5599-3042-1fab298cb54e

I like Samuels.

Agamemnon

April 11, 2018 at 9:12 am #85057

zn
Moderator

FYI. For slightly older material and discussions, the April draft thread #1 is here: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/rams-draft-april-thread-1/

April 11, 2018 at 10:50 am #85063

zn
Moderator

PFF Draft Room – Los Angeles Rams

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pff-draft-room-los-angeles-rams

Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead will have his hands full attempting to find, and fill team needs with players in the 2018 NFL Draft. While the direction of their draft has largely been predicated on a list of needs created following mini-camp rather than by just selecting the best player available in year’s past, the Rams’ needs may be far and few between this offseason after their aggressive start to 2018.

With eight picks all within 108 selections of one another from Rounds 3-6, the Rams may become likely trade contenders in this year’s draft as they’ve addressed arguably their biggest need already this offseason with the acquisition of cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib to form one of, if not the best, secondary in the league. In years past, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has been heavily involved in evaluating defensive players for the coaches so selecting an edge rusher early could be highly likely as well to play next to the fierce interior duo of Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh.

The Rams busy offseason has had their 2018 draft picks in constant flux. Out is their first-round pick (in exchange for Brandin Cooks), a fourth-round pick (Peters), a fifth-round pick (Talib) and a swap of sixth-round picks for Robert Quinn to go to Miami. In are a second-round pick for Sammy Watkins to head to Kansas City, a set of fourth-round picks (from Cooks & Quinn), and another fourth-rounder and a sixth-rounder for linebacker Alec Ogletree. All told, the Rams don’t make their first selection until Pick 87 of Round 3 this year and hold only one of their own original draft selections.

Los Angeles has heavily factored in Senior Bowl week production into their recent draft classes, evidenced by their selection Cooper Kupp and Samson Ebukam – smaller school products from Eastern Washington a year ago. Using our Wins Above Replacement (WAR – roughly the number of wins a team gets from replacing an off-the-street player with the player of interest) metric as a model, Kupp was the second-most valuable rookie wide receiver from the 2017 NFL Draft and 12th-most valuable rookie at any position a season ago. RB Todd Gurley ranked second among all running backs in WAR, behind only rookie talent Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints. On the defensive side of the ball, an emerging star at safety in John Johnson III finished as the league’s 10th-most valuable rookie at any position from the 2017 draft.

HOW HAVE THE RAMS’ DRAFT CLASSES STACKED UP LEAGUE WIDE 2013-2017?

Overall WAR of drafted players for the Rams: 9th
Drafted Players with the Highest WAR (per season):

– Aaron Donald

Arguably the NFL’s best player, earning a PFF grade above 88.2 each seson of his career.

– John Johnson III

Had a great rookie season, earning a PFF grade of 85.8 in the Rams secondary.

– Cooper Kupp

A steal of last April’s draft, Kupp was one of seven qualifying receivers to average more than 2.0 yards per route run from the slot.

– Todd Gurley

His 2016 struggles were real, but Gurley’s emergence as a receiver in 2017 (90.5 PFF grade there) was a revelation for the Rams’ offense.

– Lamarcus Joyner

His move from slot cornerback to safety was a boon for the Rams’ defense as it was for his PFF grade (from 78.4 to 90.3).

Drafted Players with the Lowest WAR (per season):

– Greg Robinson

Earned a PFF grade below 50.0 each of his seasons with the Rams.

– Tanzel Smart

Just 11 stops and six total pressures in 319 snaps in 2017.

– Tyler Higbee

Gave up an outrageous 13 total pressures as a pass-blocker at tight end in 2017.

– Gerald Everett

Started strong as a rookie, but faded a bit, catching just 53.1 percent of his targets, with three drops.

– Tavon Austin

Never lived up to his draft position or new contract, with a highwater mark of 509 receiving yards in 2016.

April 12, 2018 at 1:28 am #85079

zn
Moderator

Rams Want to Repeat Success of Drafting Without First-Round Pick

Myles Simmons

http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Want-to-Repeat-Success-of-Drafting-Without-First-Round-Pick/dc02c4fe-de2c-4498-9bdc-2df42e66fad2#content-tools-share

The Rams are no stranger to quiet first rounds of the NFL Draft — particularly in the last few years.

Sure, Los Angeles traded up to select quarterback Jared Goff at No. 1 overall in 2016. But that created a relatively drama-free first evening of the draft for the franchise. And since the Rams traded their 2017 first-round pick to the Titans for the right to select Goff, last year’s opening night was tranquil, too.

The script will largely be the same on April 26, as the Rams traded their first-round pick to the Patriots as part of a deal to acquire wide receiver Brandin Cooks. But this year will at least start out quiet on Friday, too, as Los Angeles dealt its second-round pick to Buffalo last August to acquire wide receiver Sammy Watkins.

At this point, the Rams’ first 2018 draft pick doesn’t come until No. 87 overall — that’s the 23rd pick in the third round. Los Angeles does currently hold eight draft picks, with three in the fourth round, and four in the sixth. All the late-round picks prompted general manger Les Snead to joke with the media last week, “Yeah, we’re going to give up all our sixes for somebody’s first.”

But not having a pick until No. 87 does change the way the club approaches the draft. Realistically, it has to.

“I found it easy when we’re doing draft meetings now,” Snead said. “[L]et’s just say we’re [looking at] position A. You say, ‘Look, if these four or five players, if they fall guess what we’re picking them.’ They’re not falling to 87, so now we go, ‘Alright, let’s focus on the ones that are really realistic in that part of the draft, especially in the third and the three fourths.”

One factor that helps in drafting players in that range is the clarity the coaching staff and personnel staff have in what a fit looks like for the Rams on offense, defense, and special teams.

“We know what we’re looking for and then we just have to sit down,” Snead said. “Because I think when you’re specific with your fits in what you’re looking for, you can manage — especially those in that subset of picks — and try to find four contributors in that area.”

The Rams did go through a somewhat similar process last year and were successful with it. As Snead pointed out, L.A. drafted a pair of starters in wide receiver Cooper Kupp and safety John Johnson III. It won’t necessarily be easy, but the Rams would like to replicate that kind of success in 2018.

“I think we really have to scrutinize the players that are going to be in and around that third round pick and early fourth rounders and make sure we make the most out of them,” Snead said. “Historically, you can. Last year we got Cooper Kupp and John Johnson in the third round. You’d love to repeat that. Hard to do sometimes, but that will be the goal and you have to really take advantage of those slots and make it work.”

April 12, 2018 at 2:55 pm #85087

zn
Moderator

5 ideal OLB targets for the Rams in Round 3 of the NFL Draft

Cameron DaSilva

5 ideal OLB targets for the Rams in Round 3 of the NFL Draft

Early on in the draft process, the Los Angeles Rams’ top targets included the likes of Harold Landry and Marcus Davenport – two of the best pass rushers in the 2018 class. After trading for Brandin Cooks, however, those players will be long gone when the Rams finally go on the clock in the third round.

As a result, their focus will shift toward players more likely to be there at No. 87, particularly at outside linebacker. There are still starters to be had at that spot, they just won’t have the ceilings that Landry and Davenport possess.

Here are five ideal targets for Los Angeles in the third round, not all of whom are locks to be there.

Rutgers OLB Kemoko Turay

Turay should be the Rams’ No. 1 target in the third round, regardless of position. He’s not the most refined pass rusher, but his best football is ahead of him. He boasts elite athleticism with great explosiveness, both of which are traits teams look for in pass rushers in the middle rounds of the draft.

Put him on a team coached by Wade Phillips and he’ll absolutely maximize his potential relatively soon. As it stands right now, he can step in from Day 1 and be a designated pass rusher for the Rams, which is exactly what they need off the edge.

He’s the perfect size to play outside linebacker, too, standing at 6-foot-5, 252 pounds with 4.65 speed. At his pro day, Turay posted a 6.84-second three-cone drill, which would’ve ranked fourth among defensive linemen and linebackers at the combine. That’s an outstanding number for an edge rusher.

Florida State OLB Josh Sweat

Sweat is a similar player to Turay in the fact that he wasn’t wildly productive in college, posting only 5.5 sacks his final year at Florida State. However, at 6-foot-4, 251 pounds, he has great measurables and athleticism for the position. There are some concerns about his durability, having suffered two knee injuries since his senior year in high school, but when healthy, he has great potential.

He performed well at the combine, too, running a 4.53 40-yard dash with a 4.28-second 20-yard shuttle, both of which were among the best in Indianapolis. He fits well as both a 4-3 defensive end and 3-4 outside linebacker, the latter of which he’d obviously play in Los Angeles.

His draft projection is all over the map, from early second round down to the fourth round. The third round would be the sweet spot for him, especially for a team in need of an uber-athletic edge rusher.

Sweat’s length would also be a nice addition on special teams, particularly as a punt and field goal blocker.

Oklahoma OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo

Okoronkwo is clearly someone the Rams are interested in. He’s one of their 30 official pre-draft visits, which teams reserve for players they’re high on. A bit undersized at 6-foot-1, 242 pounds, Okoronkwo’s draft stock gets hurt by his lack of length. His 4.77 40-yard dash didn’t do anything to wow scouts, either, but his production is impossible to ignore.

Last season, he had 76 tackles, eight sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss, earning Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors along with Malik Jefferson of Texas. Add those numbers to his nine sacks and 67 tackles in 2016, and it’s easy to see why teams are intrigued by him.

The third round is a perfect time to draft Okoronkwo, too. He does have a great motor and always gives 100-percent effort. He’d be a perfect fit in Wade Phillips’ defense, which doesn’t exactly prioritize top-tier measurables. Shaq Barrett, for instance, is just 6-foot-2, 249 pounds, while Von Miller is just a shade bigger at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds.

LSU OLB Arden Key

Key is quite possibly the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in the draft. If you watch his tape from 2016, you’ll see a potential top-10 pick. He earned All-SEC honors with 12 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss, following up an eye-popping freshman year where he recorded 41 tackles and five sacks.

Pop in his tape from last season and you wonder whether he should be drafted before the fifth round. He took time away from the team for personal reasons and comes with some off-field concerns, which will give general managers and coaches pause in the draft.

At his best, though, he has the potential to be an elite pass rusher. If he can get his mind right and focus on football, Key could be a steal in the third round. Unfortunately, it’s unclear how committed he is to the game and his physicality after running a 4.89 and 4.91 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day.

That’s a terrible time, but it’s his burst and short-area quickness that will allow him to win at the next level … if he wants to.

USC OLB Uchenna Nwosu

Nwosu is an intriguing prospect in the fact that he has good size and speed at 6-foot-3, 251 pounds, running a 4.65 40-yard dash at the combine. He has the athleticism to chase down ball carriers from the backside, which is a plus, but he has room to grow as a pure pass rusher.

He sometimes has trouble getting off of blocks against the run and is best suited to rush off the weak side, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. He simply has the be better against the ground game, which is crucial when playing SAM linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

Initially, he can be a designated pass rusher for the Rams. Phillips will find the proper way to use him early on, which is what makes him such an enticing player in the third round.

===

alyoshamucci says:

I’d add Holland because I think Sweat is off the board. Key won’t get there either … regardless of his 40 his tape is good.

I’d go

Sweat
Ogbo
Turay
Nwosu

April 12, 2018 at 3:10 pm #85089

zn
Moderator

from NFL Draft Rumors

ALBERT BREER

https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/04/12/cleveland-browns-nfl-draft-rumors-quarterback-mmqb

• Late first-round picks lack value. The other day I was spitballing on a potential Bills-Giants swap with a team exec, who said to me, “The problem is that the 22nd pick might as well be in the third round.” He was exaggerating, but only a little bit. The consensus I’ve heard is the difference between 22 and 52 is minimal this year, which is part of why the Colts did well to land a couple high second-rounders in their trade with the Jets.

A good draft for grunt positions. You like interior offensive linemen? How about nose tackles? Nickel corners? Then this is the draft for you. We told you a couple months ago that Barkley and Nelson would likely be the top two prospects in the class—and that a back and a guard being rated that high would cause positional value debates all over the Top 10. Well, those could continue on down the line with really good tailbacks and guard/centers, and inside corners and big bodies for the defensive line available late in the first round and into Round 2.

April 12, 2018 at 4:32 pm #85090

zn
Moderator

Brugler: 7-round mock NFL Draft

http://nfldraftscout.com/brugler-7round-mock-nfl-draft/

87. Los Angeles Rams: Jerome Baker, LB, Ohio State (6-1, 229, 4.53)
111. Los Angeles Rams: Brandon Parker, OT, North Carolina A&T (6-8, 305, 5.37)
135. Los Angeles Rams: Hercules Mata’afa, DE, Washington State (6-2, 254, 4.76)
136. Los Angeles Rams: John Kelly, RB, Tennessee (5-10, 216, 4.64)
176. Los Angeles Rams: Korey Robertson, WR, Southern Miss (6-1, 212, 4.56)
183. Los Angeles Rams: Bradley Bozeman, OC, Alabama (6-5, 296, 5.46)
194. Los Angeles Rams: Matt Pryor, OT, TCU (6-6, 343, 5.60)
195. Los Angeles Rams: Kentavius Street, DL, NC State (6-2, 280, 4.87)

April 13, 2018 at 10:28 am #85098

zn
Moderator

Rams will be looking to address linebacker in draft as they rebuild middle of defense

GARY KLEIN

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-linebackers-20180412-story.html

With the addition of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, the remade Rams defense is even more stout along the front and upgraded on the back end.

But what of the middle?
Trades that sent linebackers Alec Ogletree and Robert Quinn to the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins, respectively, make linebacker a position of need for the Rams heading into the April 26-28 draft.

“That’s a position where you have to add depth,” general manager Les Snead said. “It’s very hard to replace Alec Ogletree with one player, because Alec could play the run and play the pass.
“We may have to address that with a rotation of players who have different strengths.”
The Rams’ strength and conditioning staff managed linebacker Mark Barron’s multiple physical issues last season. It could be a challenge again as Barron, 28, begins his seventh NFL season, the third year of a five-year contract he signed before the 2016 season.
Third-year pro Cory Littleton, a special teams standout, stepped in at times last season for Barron and Ogletree, and could start inside with Barron. Second-year pro Samson Ebukam is in line to take Quinn’s spot after starting two games and recording two sacks last season.
The Rams added free-agent Rakim Wilson, who started 16 games the last two seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips acknowledged that the Rams need “six or seven” linebackers to fill out the 90-man offseason roster.
“We’re not where we need to be yet,” he said. “But I think we will be after the draft. … I think we’ll be comfortable about where we are.”
Linebackers under contract: Mark Barron ($10 million), Cory Littleton ($635,000), Rakim Wilson ($750,000), Samson Ebukam ($707,000), Bryce Hager ($723,000), Carlos Thompson ($630,000), Ejuan Price ($555,000), Garrett Sickels ($480,000).
Free agents: Connor Barwin, 31, is testing the market. There is a possibility that the locker room leader and mentor for Ebukam and others could return, but it would be at a price well below the $3.5 million he earned last season. Free agent Junior Galette was on the Washington Redskins roster when coach Sean McVay and linebackers coach Joe Barry were with that franchise, but he was hurt both seasons.
Draft: The Rams have eight picks — one in the third round, three in the fourth round and four in the sixth. They will be looking for linebackers — especially edge rushers — in all rounds, and also as they attempt to sign undrafted free agents.
Roster decisions: The Rams are not in panic mode about their linebacker corps, especially in a league in which five and, occasionally, six defensive backs are deployed to stop passing offenses. Barron’s salary was thought to make him a potential target for release or restructure, but the Rams instead dealt Ogletree to make room for Talib and his $11-million price tag.

April 13, 2018 at 6:22 pm #85106

zn
Moderator

Rams set on defensive line now that Ndamukong Suh is on board, but may still look to add depth

GARY KLEIN

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-defensive-line-20180413-story.html

The Rams do not need a good draft to boost their defensive line.

They accomplished the feat, at least for the short term, with one huge free-agent acquisition — signing Ndamukong Suh to a one-year, $14-million contract.
Suh, selected second overall in the 2010 draft, will line up in a front that includes reigning NFL defensive player of the year Aaron Donald and a third former first-round pick, Michael Brockers, who enjoyed perhaps his most successful season in 2017.

The most highly regarded prospects in the April 26-28 draft — players such as North Carolina State’s Bradley Chubb, Washington’s Vita Vea and Texas-San Antonio’s Marcus Davenport — will be long gone by the time the Rams finally make the 87th pick, a third-round selection on Day 2.
But they still will be looking to possibly add depth to a line that could be dominant.
Suh should help the Rams improve dramatically against the run. Last season, they ranked 28th in rushing defense, surrendering 122.3 yards per game.
Suh, with 51½ sacks, also should help an already formidable pass rush.
The NFL’s best quarterbacks are capable of avoiding pressure and stepping up in the pocket to make plays. Atlanta’s Matt Ryan gave a clinic in last season’s playoff victory over the Rams.
But with Suh, Donald and Brockers now there …
“It’s a real bonus,” Phillips said, “to have the kinds of guys we have in the middle.”
The Rams have plenty of productive rotational players, but they could still use depth, especially players of the larger variety.
Brockers’ injury against the Falcons last season forced Morgan Fox into a role that lasted longer than he was accustomed to, limiting his effectiveness.
Defensive linemen under contract: Ndamukong Suh ($14.5 million), Michael Brockers ($11 million), Aaron Donald ($6.9 million), Ethan Westbrooks ($2.25 million), Matt Longacre ($1.9 million), Dominique Easley ($850,000), Morgan Fox ($630,000), Tanzel Smart ($596,000), Omarius Bryant ($480,000).
Free agents: The Rams re-signed Easley, who is coming off a season-ending knee injury, and let rotational tackle Tyrunn Walker become a free agent. They might venture into the market after the draft to add depth.
Draft: Last year, when they were looking for receivers, the Rams found Cooper Kupp in the third round and Josh Reynolds in the fourth. The scouting department is on the spot again as the Rams look for value with a total of eight picks in the third, fourth and sixth rounds.
Roster decisions: General manager Les Snead has said for months that the Rams have a plan for signing Donald to a huge extension. Those kinds of moves usually come with a cost that forces the exit of others.

April 13, 2018 at 8:39 pm #85107

zn
Moderator

Florida_Ram

The Huddle Report Ranks NFL Draft Experts

…

If you agree or not with the overall rankings, that is not the point of this Draft Post.

In 2017, The Huddle Report Listed their Top 100 Players and 88% were selected in the top 100.

In 2017, The Huddle Report Listed their Top 200 Players and 86% were selected in the top 200.

With that being said, I thought I would list their TOP 200 of 2018 as a reference guide and another resource to put in your draft toolbox.

THE HUDDLE REPORT TOP 200

1 QB Josh Allen Wyoming 6-5 237 4.7 84.76
2 QB Sam Darnold USC 6-3 221 4.8 74.17
3 RB Saquon Barkley Penn St 6-0 233 4.4 94.33
4 QB Josh Rosen UCLA 6-4 226 4.9 78.74
5 QB Baker Mayfield Oklahoma 6-1 215 4.8 75.65
6 ER Bradley Chubb North Carolina St 6-4 269 4.6 93.85
7 OG Quenton Nelson Notre Dame 6-5 325 5.2 87.64
8 CB Minkah Fitzpatrick Alabama 6-0 204 4.4 80.93
9 CB Denzel Ward Ohio St 5-11 183 4.3 83.82
10 S Derwin James Florida St 6-2 215 4.4 89.98

11 LB Roquan Smith Georgia 6-1 236 4.5 86.41
12 DL Vita Vea Washington 6-4 347 5.1 –
13 LB Tremaine Edmunds Virginia Tech 6-5 253 4.5 –
14 DL DaRon Payne Alabama 6-3 311 4.9 90.43
15 WR Calvin Ridley Alabama 6-1 189 4.4 76.14
16 QB Lamar Jackson Louisville 6-2 216 – –
17 OC James Daniels Iowa 6-3 306 5.2 88.65
18 DL Maurice Hurst Michigan 6-1 291 4.9 89.59
19 OT Connor Williams Texas 6-5 296 5.0 92.44
20 ER Harold Landry Boston College 6-2 252 4.6 90.82

21 CB Jaire Alexander Louisville 5-10 196 4.3 82.29
22 ER Marcus Davenport UTSA 6-6 264 4.5 91.50
23 DL Taven Bryan Florida 6-5 291 4.9 93.59
24 WR DJ Moore Maryland 6-0 210 4.4 88.55
25 OT Mike McGlinchey Notre Dame 6-8 309 5.2 87.12
26 LB Rashaan Evans Alabama 6-2 232 4.7 80.39
27 LB Leighton Vander Esch Boise St 6-4 256 4.6 95.03
28 OG Isaiah Wynn Georgia 6-3 313 – –
29 DL Harrison Phillips Stanford 6-3 307 5.2 90.30
30 CB Josh Jackson Iowa 6-0 196 4.5 83.64

31 RB Derrius Guice LSU 5-11 224 4.4 83.15
32 CB Mike Hughes Central Florida 5-10 189 4.5 79.86
33 OG Will Hernandez UTEP 6-2 327 5.1 86.46
34 OT Kolton Miller UCLA 6-9 309 4.9 93.10
35 WR Courtland Sutton SMU 6-3 218 4.5 85.14
36 S Ronnie Harrison Alabama 6-2 207 4.5 81.64
37 CB Carlton Davis Auburn 6-1 206 4.5 81.45
38 CB Isaiah Oliver Colorado 6-0 201 4.5 82.05
39 WR Christian Kirk Texas A&M 5-10 201 4.4 82.88
40 RB Sony Michel Georgia 5-11 214 4.5 –

41 ER Sam Hubbard Ohio St 6-5 270 4.9 90.08
42 S Justin Reid Stanford 6-1 207 4.4 84.99
43 TE Dallas Goedert South Dakota St 6-5 256 – –
44 OC Billy Price Ohio St 6-4 305 – –
45 OT Tyrell Crosby Oregon 6-5 309 5.2 88.62
46 WR James Washington Oklahoma St 5-11 213 4.5 83.23
47 TE Hayden Hurst South Carolina 6-5 250 4.6 85.97
48 ER Lorenzo Carter Georgia 6-5 250 4.5 91.45
49 CB Donte Jackson LSU 5-11 178 4.3 –
50 RB Ronald Jones USC 5-11 205 4.6 82.96

51 TE Mike Gesicki Penn St 6-6 247 4.5 96.41
52 ER Arden Key LSU 6-5 238 4.7 82.43
53 S Jessie Bates Wake Forest 6-1 200 4.5 81.86
54 OG Austin Corbett Nevada 6-4 306 5.1 87.09
55 DL Rasheem Green USC 6-4 275 4.7 90.37
56 WR DJ Chark LSU 6-3 199 4.3 87.86
57 QB Mason Rudolph Oklahoma St 6-5 235 4.9 75.24
58 RB Nick Chubb Georgia 5-11 227 4.5 89.77
59 LB Uchenna Nwosu USC 6-2 251 4.6 86.64
60 RB Rashaad Penny San Diego St 5-11 220 4.4 83.41

61 WR Anthony Miller Memphis 5-11 201 – –
62 OT Martinas Rankin Mississippi St 6-4 308 – –
63 OT Brian ONeill Pittsburgh 6-7 297 5.3 79.35
64 OT Chukwuma Okorafor Western Michigan 6-6 320 4.8 94.05
65 OC Frank Ragnow Arkansas 6-5 308 4.9 94.93
66 OT Orlando Brown Oklahoma 6-8 345 5.8 78.17
67 OG Braden Smith Auburn 6-6 315 5.2 93.06
68 LB Malik Jefferson Texas 6-2 236 4.5 88.91
69 S Kyzir White West Virginia 6-2 218 4.5 85.14
70 DL DaShawn Hand Alabama 6-4 297 4.8 92.13

71 ER Josh Sweat Florida St 6-5 251 4.5 95.14
72 LB Josey Jewell Iowa 6-1 234 4.8 82.89
73 DL BJ Hill North Carolina St 6-3 311 4.9 88.43
74 DL Nathan Shepherd Fort Hays St 6-4 315 5.0 92.55
75 WR Equanimeous St Brown Notre Dame 6-5 214 4.4 84.29
76 DL Tim Settle Virginia Tech 6-3 329 5.2 87.27
77 CB Anthony Averett Alabama 5-11 183 4.3 76.32
78 DL Derrick Nnadi Florida St 6-1 317 5.3 85.94
79 CB MJ Stewart North Carolina 5-11 200 4.5 81.36
80 WR Dante Pettis Washington 6-1 186 4.4 –

81 TE Mark Andrews Oklahoma 6-5 256 4.6 86.53
82 OT Jamarco Jones Ohio St 6-4 299 5.5 78.48
83 RB Kerryon Johnson Auburn 6-0 213 4.5 88.73
84 LB Jerome Baker Ohio St 6-1 229 4.5 88.14
85 ER Kemoko Turay Rutgers 6-5 253 4.6 –
86 ER Dorance Armstrong Kansas 6-4 257 4.8 83.81
87 ER Ogbonnia Okoronkwo Oklahoma 6-2 253 4.7 92.04
88 LB Darius Leonard South Carolina St 6-2 234 4.7 –
89 ER Duke Ejiofor Wake Forest 6-4 270 – –
90 OT Geron Christian Louisville 6-5 298 5.3 –

91 S Marcus Allen Penn St 6-2 215 4.5 86.09
92 TE Ian Thomas Indiana 6-4 259 4.7 82.09
93 CB Nick Nelson Wisconsin 5-11 200 4.5 82.86
94 CB Duke Dawson Florida 5-11 197 4.4 –
95 RB Royce Freeman Oregon 6-0 229 4.5 85.64
96 S Terrell Edmunds Virginia Tech 6-1 217 4.4 91.85
97 DL RJ McIntosh Miami 6-5 286 – –
98 WR Deon Cain Clemson 6-2 202 4.4 81.06
99 WR TreQuan Smith Central Florida 6-2 203 4.4 85.25
100 WR DaeSean Hamilton Penn St 6-1 203 4.4 82.25

101 OC Mason Cole Michigan 6-4 307 5.2 81.80
102 WR Michael Gallup Colorado St 6-1 205 4.5 83.27
103 DL Trenton Thompson Georgia 6-3 288 5.0 89.63
104 QB Luke Falk Washington St 6-4 215 4.8 73.15
105 CB Rashaan Gaulden Tennessee 6-1 197 4.6 75.04
106 CB Tony Brown Alabama 6-0 199 4.3 79.36
107 LB Micah Kiser Virginia 6-0 238 4.6 87.83
108 LB Shaquem Griffin Central Florida 6-0 227 4.3 –
109 DL Breeland Speaks Mississippi 6-3 283 4.8 90.74
110 S DeShon Elliott Texas 6-1 210 4.5 84.18

111 ER Chad Thomas Miami 6-5 281 4.9 85.92
112 S Quin Blanding Virginia 6-2 207 4.6 78.32
113 OC Will Clapp LSU 6-4 311 5.3 87.01
114 WR Marcell Ateman Oklahoma St 6-5 216 4.6 81.42
115 RB Nyheim Hines North Carolina St 5-8 198 4.3 83.17
116 RB Kalen Ballage Arizona St 6-2 228 4.4 85.90
117 1st S Armani Watts Texas A&M 5-11 202 4.4 82.56
118 DL Andrew Brown Virginia 6-4 294 5.0 86.11
119 CB Tarvarus McFadden Florida St 6-2 204 4.6 84.78
120 CB Holton Hill Texas 6-2 196 4.4 77.45

121 DL Deadrin Senat South Florida 6-0 314 5.1 86.37
122 3rd QB Mike White Western Kentucky 6-5 224 5.0 73.65
123 DL Justin Jones North Carolina St 6-3 309 5.0 89.56
124 OG Wyatt Teller Virginia Tech 6-5 314 5.2 88.41
125 P Michael Dickson Texas 6-2 208 – –
126 OT Brandon Parker North Carolina AT 6-8 305 5.4 84.71
127 WR Simmie Cobbs Indiana 6-3 220 4.6 79.13
128 RB Bo Scarbrough Alabama 6-1 228 4.5 91.45
129 CB Kevin Toliver LSU 6-2 192 4.5 77.91
130 RB Josh Adams Notre Dame 6-2 215 4.4 83.98

131 LB Fred Warner BYU 6-3 236 4.6 90.48
132 WR Auden Tate Florida St 6-5 228 4.6 81.55
133 OT Desmond Harrison West Georgia 6-6 292 4.9 –
134 RB Jaylen Samuels North Carolina St 6-0 225 4.5 85.41
135 ER Jeff Holland Auburn 6-1 249 4.7 84.85
136 ER Tyquan Lewis Ohio St 6-4 265 4.6 92.63
137 ER Jalyn Holmes Ohio St 6-5 283 4.8 90.24
138 QB Kyle Lauletta Richmond 6-3 222 4.8 78.84
139 ER Hercules Mataafa Washington St 6-2 254 4.7 85.72
140 WR JMon Moore Missouri 6-3 207 4.6 84.82

141 WR Allen Lazard Iowa St 6-5 227 4.5 89.27
142 OT Will Richardson North Carolina St 6-6 306 5.2 89.65
143 CB Isaac Yiadom Boston College 6-1 190 4.5 79.05
144 WR Jordan Lasley Ucla 6-1 203 4.5 81.41
145 RB Mark Walton Miami 5-10 202 4.6 77.43
146 TE Troy Fumagalli Wisconsin 6-5 247 – –
147 S Jordan Whitehead Pittsburgh 5-10 198 4.5 80.00
148 CB Chris Campbell Penn St 6-1 195 4.5 86.45
149 CB Quenton Meeks Stanford 6-1 209 4.4 87.86
150 WR Cedrick Wilson Boise St 6-2 197 4.5 82.82

151 CB Michael Joseph Dubuque 6-1 187 4.5 78.00
152 S Godwin Igwebuike Northwestern 5-11 213 4.4 85.11
153 LB Dorian ODaniel Clemson 6-1 223 4.6 81.66
154 TE Jordan Akins Central Florida 6-3 249 – –
155 CB Dane Cruikshank Arizona 6-1 209 4.4 87.36
156 CB JC Jackson Maryland 5-10 201 4.4 82.88
157 WR Deontay Burnett USC 6-0 186 4.7 –
158 RB Akrum Wadley Iowa 5-10 194 4.5 77.27
159 TE Dalton Schultz Stanford 6-5 244 4.7 84.48
160 CB Taron Johnson Weber St 5-11 192 4.5 77.91

161 WR Antonio Callaway Florida 5-11 200 4.4 77.19
162 LB Tegray Scales Indiana 6-0 230 4.7 –
163 LB Genard Avery Memphis 6-1 248 4.5 91.09
164 WR Keke Coutee Texas Tech 5-10 181 4.4 78.16
165 OT Joseph Noteboom TCU 6-5 309 4.9 85.60
166 OG Sam Jones Arizona St 6-5 305 5.3 84.08
167 TE Will Dissly Washington 6-4 262 4.8 82.66
168 CB DJ Reed Kansas St 5-9 188 4.5 80.68
169 CB Danny Johnson Southern A&M 5-9 181 4.4 78.66
170 RB John Kelly Tennessee 5-10 216 4.5 84.27

171 LB Oren Burks Vanderbilt 6-3 233 4.5 91.86
172 CB Dmontre Wade Murray St 5-11 206 4.5 82.95
173 LB Nick Deluca North Dakota St 6-3 251 4.8 82.28
174 RB Darrel Williams Lsu 6-0 225 4.7 81.17
175 OT Alex Cappa Humboldt St 6-6 305 5.3 83.58
176 LB Skai Moore South Carolina 6-2 226 4.7 85.34
177 CB Kameron Kelly San Diego St 6-2 204 4.6 79.28
178 TE Durham Smythe Notre Dame 6-5 253 4.8 84.13
179 DL Kentavius Street North Carolina St 6-2 280 4.8 –
180 P JK Scott Alabama 6-6 208 4.8 75.95

181 CB Levi Wallace Alabama 6-0 179 4.6 74.84
182 3rd QB Kurt Benkert Virginia 6-3 218 4.9 77.40
183 RB Chase Edmonds Fordham 5-9 205 4.5 81.27
184 ER Ade Aruna Tulane 6-5 262 4.6 95.10
185 DL James Looney California 6-3 287 4.8 94.42
186 OC Scott Quessenberry UCLA 6-4 310 5.0 94.23
187 LB Matthew Thomas Florida St 6-3 232 4.5 93.68
188 DL John Franklin-Myers Stephen F Austin 6-4 283 4.7 92.26
189 LB Jake Pugh Florida St 6-3 246 4.6 92.25
190 TE Jordan Thomas Mississippi St 6-5 265 4.7 92.13

191 DL Bilal Nichols Delaware 6-4 306 4.9 91.59
192 TE Tyler Conklin Central Michigan 6-3 254 4.8 91.30
193 OG Rod Taylor Mississippi 6-3 320 5.2 90.85
194 LB Leon Jacobs Wisconsin 6-1 246 4.4 90.24
195 DL Folorunso Fatukasi Connecticut 6-4 318 5.2 90.03
196 OG Skyler Phillips Idaho St 6-2 318 5.1 90.02
197 DL Kahlil Mckenzie Tennessee 6-3 314 5.1 89.87
198 WR Dylan Cantrell Texas Tech 6-3 226 4.5 89.59
199 S Troy Apke Penn St 6-1 200 4.3 89.05
200 WR Trey Quinn SMU 5-11 203 4.5 80.41
http://www.thehuddlereport.com/valueboard.shtml

MOCK DRAFT CHAMPIONS

2017 Joe Marino – NDT Scouting 46
2016 Forrest N. Long – Scout Fantasy, Matt Faulk – Draft Season (tied) 49
2015 Kevin Hanson – Eat Drink and Sleep Football 53
2014 Bryan Perez – FRG Scouting 43
2013 The Fantasy Typhoon – Fantasy Football 1on1 50

2012 Ben Standig – Fantasy Football Toolbox 51
2011 Rick Gosselin – Dallas Morning News 53
2010 Will Spencer & Rob Engle – Draft Breakdown 50
2009 Mike Band – Draft Ace 50
2008 Robby Esch – The Huddle Report, Ricky Dimon – FF Toolbox (tied) 45

2007 Clark Judge – CBS Sportsline 55
2006 Rick Gosselin – Dallas Morning News, Nolan Nawrocki – Pro Football Weekly (tied) 57
2005 Harry Away – NFL Talent Experts 56
2004 Scott Wright NFL Draft Countdown 52
2003 Rick Gosselin – Dallas Morning News 42
2002 The Red Zone 50

Mock Draft Scores 5 YEAR AVERAGE

1 Jason Boris – Times News PA 43.00
2 Forrest Long – The Huddle Report 42.80
3 Brad Clark – Fanspeak 40.80
4 Mike Mayock – NFL Network 40.80
5 Kevin Hanson – Eat Drink & Sleep Football 40.40
6 Brian Phlipot – The Football Hub 40.20
7 Ben Standig – CSN Mid-Atlantic 39.80

8 Ryan McCrystal – Draft Ace 39.80
9 Mike Loyko – NE Patriots Draft 39.40
10 Draft Team – NFLFans.com 39.40
11 Matthew Jones – Draft Examiner 39.00
12 Scott Wright – Draft Countdown 38.80
13 Peter Clarke – Pro Player Insiders 38.60
14 Walt Deptula – WCCP Radio 38.60
15 Jonathan Cook – The Huddle Report 38.20
http://www.thehuddlereport.com/mock.scores.shtml

TOP 100 BOARD CHAMPIONS 5 YEAR AVERAGE

1 DRAFT BOARD GURU 84.8
2 THE HUDDLE REPORT 83.4
3 DRAFT DAY DK 83.4
4 DRAFT ACE 83.2
5 NFL DRAFT LINE 83.0
6 BOB McGINN – Journal Sentinel 83.0
7 LANCE ZIERLEIN – NFL.com 82.8

8 NFL ROUGH DRAFT 82.8
9 MIKE MAYOCK – NFL NETWORK 82.8
10 TODD McSHAY – SCOUTS INC 82.6
11 DRAFT COUNTDOWN 82.6
12 GREAT BLUE NORTH 82.0
13 NFL DRAFT SCOUT 82.0
14 DRAFT DADDY 81.8
15 WALT DEPTULA WCCP-FM 81.8
http://www.thehuddlereport.com/top100.scores.shtml

April 14, 2018 at 8:04 pm #85133

zn
Moderator

DTR Draft Chronicles: Day 2 EDGE Defenders

http://www.ramsondemand.com/threads/dtr-draft-chronicles-day-2-edge-defenders.54159/

There has been a lot of noise made by the Los Angeles Rams this off-season. It’s why this new series of Draft Chronicles is only geared at the day two and day three section of the draft. In this series, I will show you a spotlight on the position and every potential draft-able player that is a realistic option for the Rams in between their span of picks.

For the first piece in this mini-series, I bring you the EDGE defenders. The Rams right now have Samson Ebukam, Matt Longacre, Garrett Sickels, Carlos Thompson & Ejuan Price on the roster that can play outside linebacker. With that being said, it’s pretty obvious due to the fact the team has yet to re-sign Connor Barwin and the fact they traded away Robert Quinn, the team will be looking for EDGE help in this draft. Of the officially confirmed pre-draft visits for the Rams, five of them are EDGE guys. So here we go…

Potential Round 3 Targets
Players that are more late 2nd-round picks than 3rd-round.

Arden Key, LSU (6-foot-6, 238 pounds)

Someone that was once considered a pre-season top-five pick could possibly find himself falling into day two? Yeah, and part of that is due to some off-field issues but furthermore Key just didn’t put great stuff on his 2017 tape it’s that simple.

The Good

A physical freak, he has the ability to be a star someday in the NFL with the right coaching and as long as he’s able to keep a consistently positive attitude. Key shows consistently on his prior 2016 tape that he has no problem timing the snap and exploding off the edge. He shows quickness, decisiveness and short-area burst to gobble up the running back or even a scrambling QB. As you see in the clip above, Key has a high-energy and explosive way of how he plays the game. He practically hits the QB with a bulldog wrestling move on this sack here.

The Bad

Off-field issues, a poor 40-yard dash time at his pro day (which I don’t really even care about) and serious drop-off on film from his 2016 tape to his 2017 tape. The above clip is a nice representation of how Key looked in his 2016 season and unfortunately this one is a good representation of 2017.

Conclusion

Key absolutely makes sense for the Rams who do not have a first or second-round pick. Look, at the end of the day, a 40-yard time for an edge defender won’t truly help you. It’s no secret Key ran a slow 4.89-4.91 at his Pro Day but again, when will that matter? When chasing down a ball-carrier that gets through the second-level? Big deal. For a team that doesn’t pick until 87th-overall, Key would be a close-to-dream scenario for Wade Phillips as he completely finishes his transformation of the defense. Was his 2017 tape concerning? Absolutely. However, being out of the first and second rounds, these are types of players you are going to need to hit on.

Josh Sweat, Florida State (6-foot-4, 251 pounds)

An elite athletic profile is the name of the game for Josh Sweat. Looking for a player that should be a much better pro than he was a college player? Look no further than Josh Sweat.

The Good

Unbelievably athletic in every way. Offers ideal size, speed and strength for the position. Shows relentless pursuit (as shown in the clip above), moves as smooth as any player at his position in this class, sets the edge well and displays the awareness and the overall ability to drop into coverage and help his team. You can definitely add “scheme versatile” to his resume which makes him a fit anywhere in the National Football League.

The Bad

While Sweat is extremely athletic, he still has plenty of growth to do and plenty of mishaps. He’s a talented but raw prospect. As you can see in this clip here Sweat falls asleep on the line of scrimmage and by the time he breaks out of his stance the Alabama WR Calvin Ridley has already crossed the line of scrimmage. With Sweat, there are injury concerns for sure, he passed all his combine medical testing but it’s still worrisome that he tore his ACL and has dislocated his knee before. You can see Sweat will over-pursue at times and take himself out of the play. He’s not a natural pass rusher, does not have natural pass rusher bend and so he will need to learn how to use his body more.

Conclusion

Sweat is going to be a work in progress for the coaching staff, he’s going to have times that makes coaches want to rip their hair out but this is a similar type of player as Danielle Hunter and with everything in his arsenal and how large his potential meter is, it’s a no-brainer that if Josh Sweat is at 87th overall for the Rams they will have a tough decision to make if they even consider passing on him. Sweat can come in and immediately challenge for a starting job and it helps he would have Wade Phillips as his coordinator and a ton of talent around him.

Lorenzo Carter, Georgia (6-foot-6, 250 pounds)

The former elite high school recruit Lorenzo Carter never quite lived up to the hype at Georgia, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a talented player that is going to make noise in the NFL.

The Good

Lorenzo Carter’s strength to me is the way he’s able to set the edge. As you can see in the clip above, Carter sets the edge which forces the running QB Wimbush to have to take his run inside instead of bouncing outside. Carter initiates the contact with his blocker and is able to use his hands to gain leverage to crash back inside and make the play. Carter is extremely rangy and shows the awareness to make run defensive stops. Due to the fact he has incredible speed, he is able to win off the edge as a rusher with just pure speed.

The Bad

I do like what Carter brings to the table as a third-round selection but this could be a serious issue at the next level. He gets manhandled by bigger guys like this Kentucky RT in the clip above. Carter struggles evidently against bigger offensive lineman with a stable base. Since Carter doesn’t convert speed to power well, he is going to have to develop better methods of beating the bigger man. What you need to see at the next level is a Lorenzo Carter that is more active with his hands earlier in the engagement with his assignment and someone that learns to develop more than one speed pass rush move. He also does struggle with downhill tackling which might prevent him from making the position change to inside backer if needed.

Conclusion

Another option and a good one at that for the Rams. He’s going to be another work in progress but Lorenzo Carter has a lot to make you excited. Once again, it goes back to the coaching. If this was an inexperienced coaching staff coming off of a 0-16 season, I wouldn’t have faith that the said coaching staff could develop someone like Carter. He would likely start when the season began or shortly after the beginning of the season and that’s not a bad pick if that’s the case.

Dorance Armstrong Jr, Kansas (6-foot-4, 257 pounds)

The Kansas star pass rusher Dorance Armstrong saw his stock rise as the season started but a lot like previously mentioned Arden Key, Armstrong saw his stock start to slip after an inconsistent 2017 follow-up season to his impressive 2016 campaign.

The Good

Armstrong presents the ability to use multiple moves to get to the passer. In this clip, he displays his inside spin move that works to absolute perfection in sacking Baker Mayfield. Armstrong has a combination of quickness and power, he displays solid hand usage and an excellent motor. Despite Kansas continuous struggles and blowout losses, Armstrong never wavered and never quit. Teams will like what Armstrong brings to the table and have a chance to develop him into a 15 sack per season guy.

The Bad

Relentless pursuit here from Armstrong but as you see, effort is there but it’s not effective. Armstrong continues to pursue with a move that is simply not going to work in this scenario. In this situation Armstrong needs to disengage his bull rush move and try an outside spin move. This throw from Wil Grier ended up being intercepted but with that clean of a pocket, Armstrong’s lack of success with this bull rush could have been killer for the Jayhawks.

Conclusion

Sure, Armstrong Jr. dipped in production in 2017, he might not be the most polished player but he has loads of potential, he’s very crafty and has a motor that is going to make him a consistent force in the league as a pass rusher. Wade Phillips once coached for Kansas on the defensive line in 1975, I don’t know if that or having coached Kansas legends Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. will be enough of a connection to bring Armstrong to Los Angeles but regardless, he would be a stellar option for the Rams to develop and feature as their guy on the edge.

Likely Round 3 Targets
Players that will be there for the Rams or barely miss their pick

Uchenna Nwosu, USC (6-foot-3, 251 pounds)

The former USC Trojan captain has the versatility to play either inside backer or on the outside. The blue collar linebacker is going to be a problem at the next level.

The Good

Uchenna Nwosu is just a total workhorse. QB’s are going to hate him regardless of what league he plays in, just look at this clip above with Luke Falk having a pass batted six yards behind the line of scrimmage and picked off. Nwosu plays with a high motor but he’s very intelligent. He reads QB’s well and does know when to drop back and block a QB’s throwing lane. This is his forte and it’s something he does better than anyone in this draft. As a pass rusher, Nwosu is very solid but will need fine-tuning at the next level to ascend.

The Bad

The excellent get-off the line of scrimmage is not the issue obviously, it’s the fact that in this clip you see Nwosu’s aggression take himself out of the play here. It’s not to say if he doesn’t fall he ends up with the sack, but he had no chance as soon as he went down. Nwosu is guilty of losing his balance at times off the edge and is inconsistent with his counter moves against blockers. He has the moves to be an every-down pass rusher but it’s about using them consistently which is something he struggles with at this point in time.

Conclusion

Nwosu is a tighter hipped edge defender with a lack of bend but he has a lot of the things you look for. He had batted down 19 passes between his last two seasons and has continued to improve as a player. He does not have tons of football experience so he’s still learning the intricacies of the game. Nwosu was a captain at USC and showed off the ability to be a game-breaker when the team needed him to be one. The Rams want turnovers and they have a need on the edge, Wade Phillips would certainly love Nwosu and Samson Ebukam in the same lineup together. If he’s there it makes a lot of sense for the Rams to make Nwosu the new Trojan Ram.

Duke Ejiofor, Wake Forest (6-foot-4, 270 pounds)

One of the more polished pass rushers in this class has a lot to offer but is limited athletically and has had some recent injury problems.

The Good

Duke Ejiofor is likely one of the most NFL-ready rushers in this class. He has a plethora of pass rushing maneuvers as you can see here he’s quick and is able to explode right through his assignment’s left inside shoulder. Ejiofor is also a powerful tackler that has the ability to force turnovers just off his contact alone. He’s a smart football player that is instantly going to improve any team’s pass rush that spends their pick on him.

The Bad

Duke is not a fast player and you can see in this clip how his speed rush turns into a wasted effort. The only true issues with Ejiofor lie with his athletic ability and his injuries (mainly concussions). He’s been labeled as a 4-3 defensive end but I believe he still can play as an outside linebacker in a 3-4. The number of cons to Ejiofor’s game are slim but athletic ability might hinder his ceiling.
Conclusion

Ejiofor would be a valuable piece for the Rams if drafted. He visited the team recently so there is an evident interest but will the Rams pull the trigger on the less athletic guy? With the Rams needing pass rusher help after losing both edge starters Robert Quinn and likely Connor Barwin, the team might decide to go for the player with the highest floor and draft another with a high ceiling. Ejiofor would be perfect for any team that wants immediate value. This crafty pass rusher is certainly going to be a finalist to go to the Rams with their third-round pick.

Kemoko Turay, Rutgers (6-foot-5, 252 pounds)

The Rutgers Senior Bowl standout pass rusher had a nice week in mobile and his stock has been rising in the coming weeks of the draft.

The Good

In this clip, Kemoko Turay displays his ability as a natural mover as he re-adjusts to scan and find the open lane up the middle and he charges and almost gets the sack. Turay is able to drop into coverage and is a sound tackler in space. Turay is extremely fast for his position and shows great closing speed.

The Bad

The inconsistent usage of hands and lack of dip and bend for Kemoko Turay is his biggest weakness. He can get completely taken out of the play because he doesn’t have the arsenal of moves to get himself out of trouble. This is a speed rusher through and through that shows the potential to develop into an all-around dominant pass rusher but he will need to learn to get lower coming off the edge. His stiffness and how upright he is coming off the edge makes blocking him easier than it should be.

Conclusion

Turay might be a little too rich for the Rams here in the third. I like him but there are limitations to his game that would push him into the fourth-round for me personally. The Rams would still love to get a player like him as he has great NFL size, speed and provides major disruption for the QB. He will need to work on building up a bigger arsenal of rush moves but he has a nice base to get teams excited.

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma (6-foot-1, 242 pounds)

Another Senior Bowl standout, Ogbo Okoronkwo is a bit undersized but shows the quickness and mental processing needed to play on the edge or even as a linebacker. He has a toolbox of pass rushing moves but he is short and didn’t run well at the combine.

The Good

Okoronkwo is quick and skilled off the edge. Here in this clip he beats the right tackle with an outside spin move and even while being held he’s able to complete is turn and sack the QB. Okoronkwo excels in coverage and even deep coverage at that as well as the fact his motor is always running. His versatility would allow him to play the edge position or slide inside as an inside linebacker in the NFL. His range and acceleration allow him to really help in the run game as well.

The Bad

Not only does Okoronkwo over-pursue here but he does an inside spin move which leaves no one on the outside to set the edge and avoid the giant run J.T. Barrett picks up on this play. Okoronkwo has to have controlled aggression, it’s okay to be aggressive and honestly, it’s encouraged. However, you have to stay in control and avoid this from happening. This was a 3rd and 6 play that goes for chunk yardage. The big-time offensive lineman will take advantage of his lack of frame.

Conclusion

Okoronkwo is a fun prospect and the Rams have met with him a couple of times already so they are interested. He displays the ability to become a monster pass rusher but due to his frame being so small he needs to work extra hard than the average player. Ogbo is going to need to be more controlled because in the NFL if he is a liability when setting the edge he will be reduced to just a sub-package and situational pass rusher type of player. You can see the fit but will the Rams make Okoronkwo their pick? He could possibly be there with their early fourth-round pick.

Chad Thomas, Miami (6-foot-6, 275 pounds)

Chad Thomas was a story of someone who was underachieving and so he stayed one more year and school and really helped his draft stock. The Miami Hurricane is a pass rusher that has tons of range to his game.

The Good

Chad Thomas has an NFL body, he has loose hips and he’s trouble off the edge. In this clip, just watch as Thomas gets around the right tackle with ease and then is able to chase down the escaping QB and force a turnover. Notice when Thomas first misses the QB he shows no hesitation recovering and charging to make the big hit on the QB. Thomas shows the ability in run support, he has the athleticism and range to drop into coverage when needed and he’s versatile in the fact he can play on the edge, linebacker or even lineup inside at times. Thomas has no issue converting his speed to power.

The Bad

Thomas really struggles with hand usage. There are times like this clip, where Thomas just lets himself lose the matchup and does not try to win or shift weight with hands. He recently ran a slow combine and did not test as the athlete many thought he was. He’s a bigger edge guy so he will absolutely need to refine his technique so he can overpower his opponents. The fact with Thomas is this, he had good college speed but he will need to become less predictable in the NFL if he wants to sustain a long career.

Conclusion

Chad Thomas is an intriguing prospect that would rank as my lowest on this list here. He might be a better fit for the 4-3. He does not have the pass rushing skillset of a Duke Ejiofor and because of that, he is going to need some serious coaching. All of these prospects have holes in their game which is why they aren’t all top 10 picks but Thomas’ holes won’t really stand out until the NFL. He did get by in college with his athleticism and will now need to do extra to have a successful career at the professional level.

April 14, 2018 at 8:12 pm #85134

JackPMiller
Participant

zn wrote:

Florida_Ram

The Huddle Report Ranks NFL Draft Experts

…

If you agree or not with the overall rankings, that is not the point of this Draft Post.

In 2017, The Huddle Report Listed their Top 100 Players and 88% were selected in the top 100.

In 2017, The Huddle Report Listed their Top 200 Players and 86% were selected in the top 200.

With that being said, I thought I would list their TOP 200 of 2018 as a reference guide and another resource to put in your draft toolbox.

THE HUDDLE REPORT TOP 200

1 QB Josh Allen Wyoming 6-5 237 4.7 84.76
2 QB Sam Darnold USC 6-3 221 4.8 74.17
3 RB Saquon Barkley Penn St 6-0 233 4.4 94.33
4 QB Josh Rosen UCLA 6-4 226 4.9 78.74
5 QB Baker Mayfield Oklahoma 6-1 215 4.8 75.65
6 ER Bradley Chubb North Carolina St 6-4 269 4.6 93.85
7 OG Quenton Nelson Notre Dame 6-5 325 5.2 87.64
8 CB Minkah Fitzpatrick Alabama 6-0 204 4.4 80.93
9 CB Denzel Ward Ohio St 5-11 183 4.3 83.82
10 S Derwin James Florida St 6-2 215 4.4 89.98

11 LB Roquan Smith Georgia 6-1 236 4.5 86.41
12 DL Vita Vea Washington 6-4 347 5.1 –
13 LB Tremaine Edmunds Virginia Tech 6-5 253 4.5 –
14 DL DaRon Payne Alabama 6-3 311 4.9 90.43
15 WR Calvin Ridley Alabama 6-1 189 4.4 76.14
16 QB Lamar Jackson Louisville 6-2 216 – –
17 OC James Daniels Iowa 6-3 306 5.2 88.65
18 DL Maurice Hurst Michigan 6-1 291 4.9 89.59
19 OT Connor Williams Texas 6-5 296 5.0 92.44
20 ER Harold Landry Boston College 6-2 252 4.6 90.82

21 CB Jaire Alexander Louisville 5-10 196 4.3 82.29
22 ER Marcus Davenport UTSA 6-6 264 4.5 91.50
23 DL Taven Bryan Florida 6-5 291 4.9 93.59
24 WR DJ Moore Maryland 6-0 210 4.4 88.55
25 OT Mike McGlinchey Notre Dame 6-8 309 5.2 87.12
26 LB Rashaan Evans Alabama 6-2 232 4.7 80.39
27 LB Leighton Vander Esch Boise St 6-4 256 4.6 95.03
28 OG Isaiah Wynn Georgia 6-3 313 – –
29 DL Harrison Phillips Stanford 6-3 307 5.2 90.30
30 CB Josh Jackson Iowa 6-0 196 4.5 83.64

31 RB Derrius Guice LSU 5-11 224 4.4 83.15
32 CB Mike Hughes Central Florida 5-10 189 4.5 79.86
33 OG Will Hernandez UTEP 6-2 327 5.1 86.46
34 OT Kolton Miller UCLA 6-9 309 4.9 93.10
35 WR Courtland Sutton SMU 6-3 218 4.5 85.14
36 S Ronnie Harrison Alabama 6-2 207 4.5 81.64
37 CB Carlton Davis Auburn 6-1 206 4.5 81.45
38 CB Isaiah Oliver Colorado 6-0 201 4.5 82.05
39 WR Christian Kirk Texas A&M 5-10 201 4.4 82.88
40 RB Sony Michel Georgia 5-11 214 4.5 –

41 ER Sam Hubbard Ohio St 6-5 270 4.9 90.08
42 S Justin Reid Stanford 6-1 207 4.4 84.99
43 TE Dallas Goedert South Dakota St 6-5 256 – –
44 OC Billy Price Ohio St 6-4 305 – –
45 OT Tyrell Crosby Oregon 6-5 309 5.2 88.62
46 WR James Washington Oklahoma St 5-11 213 4.5 83.23
47 TE Hayden Hurst South Carolina 6-5 250 4.6 85.97
48 ER Lorenzo Carter Georgia 6-5 250 4.5 91.45
49 CB Donte Jackson LSU 5-11 178 4.3 –
50 RB Ronald Jones USC 5-11 205 4.6 82.96

51 TE Mike Gesicki Penn St 6-6 247 4.5 96.41
52 ER Arden Key LSU 6-5 238 4.7 82.43
53 S Jessie Bates Wake Forest 6-1 200 4.5 81.86
54 OG Austin Corbett Nevada 6-4 306 5.1 87.09
55 DL Rasheem Green USC 6-4 275 4.7 90.37
56 WR DJ Chark LSU 6-3 199 4.3 87.86
57 QB Mason Rudolph Oklahoma St 6-5 235 4.9 75.24
58 RB Nick Chubb Georgia 5-11 227 4.5 89.77
59 LB Uchenna Nwosu USC 6-2 251 4.6 86.64
60 RB Rashaad Penny San Diego St 5-11 220 4.4 83.41

61 WR Anthony Miller Memphis 5-11 201 – –
62 OT Martinas Rankin Mississippi St 6-4 308 – –
63 OT Brian ONeill Pittsburgh 6-7 297 5.3 79.35
64 OT Chukwuma Okorafor Western Michigan 6-6 320 4.8 94.05
65 OC Frank Ragnow Arkansas 6-5 308 4.9 94.93
66 OT Orlando Brown Oklahoma 6-8 345 5.8 78.17
67 OG Braden Smith Auburn 6-6 315 5.2 93.06
68 LB Malik Jefferson Texas 6-2 236 4.5 88.91
69 S Kyzir White West Virginia 6-2 218 4.5 85.14
70 DL DaShawn Hand Alabama 6-4 297 4.8 92.13

71 ER Josh Sweat Florida St 6-5 251 4.5 95.14
72 LB Josey Jewell Iowa 6-1 234 4.8 82.89
73 DL BJ Hill North Carolina St 6-3 311 4.9 88.43
74 DL Nathan Shepherd Fort Hays St 6-4 315 5.0 92.55
75 WR Equanimeous St Brown Notre Dame 6-5 214 4.4 84.29
76 DL Tim Settle Virginia Tech 6-3 329 5.2 87.27
77 CB Anthony Averett Alabama 5-11 183 4.3 76.32
78 DL Derrick Nnadi Florida St 6-1 317 5.3 85.94
79 CB MJ Stewart North Carolina 5-11 200 4.5 81.36
80 WR Dante Pettis Washington 6-1 186 4.4 –

81 TE Mark Andrews Oklahoma 6-5 256 4.6 86.53
82 OT Jamarco Jones Ohio St 6-4 299 5.5 78.48
83 RB Kerryon Johnson Auburn 6-0 213 4.5 88.73
84 LB Jerome Baker Ohio St 6-1 229 4.5 88.14
85 ER Kemoko Turay Rutgers 6-5 253 4.6 –
86 ER Dorance Armstrong Kansas 6-4 257 4.8 83.81
87 ER Ogbonnia Okoronkwo Oklahoma 6-2 253 4.7 92.04
88 LB Darius Leonard South Carolina St 6-2 234 4.7 –
89 ER Duke Ejiofor Wake Forest 6-4 270 – –
90 OT Geron Christian Louisville 6-5 298 5.3 –

91 S Marcus Allen Penn St 6-2 215 4.5 86.09
92 TE Ian Thomas Indiana 6-4 259 4.7 82.09
93 CB Nick Nelson Wisconsin 5-11 200 4.5 82.86
94 CB Duke Dawson Florida 5-11 197 4.4 –
95 RB Royce Freeman Oregon 6-0 229 4.5 85.64
96 S Terrell Edmunds Virginia Tech 6-1 217 4.4 91.85
97 DL RJ McIntosh Miami 6-5 286 – –
98 WR Deon Cain Clemson 6-2 202 4.4 81.06
99 WR TreQuan Smith Central Florida 6-2 203 4.4 85.25
100 WR DaeSean Hamilton Penn St 6-1 203 4.4 82.25

101 OC Mason Cole Michigan 6-4 307 5.2 81.80
102 WR Michael Gallup Colorado St 6-1 205 4.5 83.27
103 DL Trenton Thompson Georgia 6-3 288 5.0 89.63
104 QB Luke Falk Washington St 6-4 215 4.8 73.15
105 CB Rashaan Gaulden Tennessee 6-1 197 4.6 75.04
106 CB Tony Brown Alabama 6-0 199 4.3 79.36
107 LB Micah Kiser Virginia 6-0 238 4.6 87.83
108 LB Shaquem Griffin Central Florida 6-0 227 4.3 –
109 DL Breeland Speaks Mississippi 6-3 283 4.8 90.74
110 S DeShon Elliott Texas 6-1 210 4.5 84.18

111 ER Chad Thomas Miami 6-5 281 4.9 85.92
112 S Quin Blanding Virginia 6-2 207 4.6 78.32
113 OC Will Clapp LSU 6-4 311 5.3 87.01
114 WR Marcell Ateman Oklahoma St 6-5 216 4.6 81.42
115 RB Nyheim Hines North Carolina St 5-8 198 4.3 83.17
116 RB Kalen Ballage Arizona St 6-2 228 4.4 85.90
117 1st S Armani Watts Texas A&M 5-11 202 4.4 82.56
118 DL Andrew Brown Virginia 6-4 294 5.0 86.11
119 CB Tarvarus McFadden Florida St 6-2 204 4.6 84.78
120 CB Holton Hill Texas 6-2 196 4.4 77.45

121 DL Deadrin Senat South Florida 6-0 314 5.1 86.37
122 3rd QB Mike White Western Kentucky 6-5 224 5.0 73.65
123 DL Justin Jones North Carolina St 6-3 309 5.0 89.56
124 OG Wyatt Teller Virginia Tech 6-5 314 5.2 88.41
125 P Michael Dickson Texas 6-2 208 – –
126 OT Brandon Parker North Carolina AT 6-8 305 5.4 84.71
127 WR Simmie Cobbs Indiana 6-3 220 4.6 79.13
128 RB Bo Scarbrough Alabama 6-1 228 4.5 91.45
129 CB Kevin Toliver LSU 6-2 192 4.5 77.91
130 RB Josh Adams Notre Dame 6-2 215 4.4 83.98

131 LB Fred Warner BYU 6-3 236 4.6 90.48
132 WR Auden Tate Florida St 6-5 228 4.6 81.55
133 OT Desmond Harrison West Georgia 6-6 292 4.9 –
134 RB Jaylen Samuels North Carolina St 6-0 225 4.5 85.41
135 ER Jeff Holland Auburn 6-1 249 4.7 84.85
136 ER Tyquan Lewis Ohio St 6-4 265 4.6 92.63
137 ER Jalyn Holmes Ohio St 6-5 283 4.8 90.24
138 QB Kyle Lauletta Richmond 6-3 222 4.8 78.84
139 ER Hercules Mataafa Washington St 6-2 254 4.7 85.72
140 WR JMon Moore Missouri 6-3 207 4.6 84.82

141 WR Allen Lazard Iowa St 6-5 227 4.5 89.27
142 OT Will Richardson North Carolina St 6-6 306 5.2 89.65
143 CB Isaac Yiadom Boston College 6-1 190 4.5 79.05
144 WR Jordan Lasley Ucla 6-1 203 4.5 81.41
145 RB Mark Walton Miami 5-10 202 4.6 77.43
146 TE Troy Fumagalli Wisconsin 6-5 247 – –
147 S Jordan Whitehead Pittsburgh 5-10 198 4.5 80.00
148 CB Chris Campbell Penn St 6-1 195 4.5 86.45
149 CB Quenton Meeks Stanford 6-1 209 4.4 87.86
150 WR Cedrick Wilson Boise St 6-2 197 4.5 82.82

151 CB Michael Joseph Dubuque 6-1 187 4.5 78.00
152 S Godwin Igwebuike Northwestern 5-11 213 4.4 85.11
153 LB Dorian ODaniel Clemson 6-1 223 4.6 81.66
154 TE Jordan Akins Central Florida 6-3 249 – –
155 CB Dane Cruikshank Arizona 6-1 209 4.4 87.36
156 CB JC Jackson Maryland 5-10 201 4.4 82.88
157 WR Deontay Burnett USC 6-0 186 4.7 –
158 RB Akrum Wadley Iowa 5-10 194 4.5 77.27
159 TE Dalton Schultz Stanford 6-5 244 4.7 84.48
160 CB Taron Johnson Weber St 5-11 192 4.5 77.91

161 WR Antonio Callaway Florida 5-11 200 4.4 77.19
162 LB Tegray Scales Indiana 6-0 230 4.7 –
163 LB Genard Avery Memphis 6-1 248 4.5 91.09
164 WR Keke Coutee Texas Tech 5-10 181 4.4 78.16
165 OT Joseph Noteboom TCU 6-5 309 4.9 85.60
166 OG Sam Jones Arizona St 6-5 305 5.3 84.08
167 TE Will Dissly Washington 6-4 262 4.8 82.66
168 CB DJ Reed Kansas St 5-9 188 4.5 80.68
169 CB Danny Johnson Southern A&M 5-9 181 4.4 78.66
170 RB John Kelly Tennessee 5-10 216 4.5 84.27

171 LB Oren Burks Vanderbilt 6-3 233 4.5 91.86
172 CB Dmontre Wade Murray St 5-11 206 4.5 82.95
173 LB Nick Deluca North Dakota St 6-3 251 4.8 82.28
174 RB Darrel Williams Lsu 6-0 225 4.7 81.17
175 OT Alex Cappa Humboldt St 6-6 305 5.3 83.58
176 LB Skai Moore South Carolina 6-2 226 4.7 85.34
177 CB Kameron Kelly San Diego St 6-2 204 4.6 79.28
178 TE Durham Smythe Notre Dame 6-5 253 4.8 84.13
179 DL Kentavius Street North Carolina St 6-2 280 4.8 –
180 P JK Scott Alabama 6-6 208 4.8 75.95

181 CB Levi Wallace Alabama 6-0 179 4.6 74.84
182 3rd QB Kurt Benkert Virginia 6-3 218 4.9 77.40
183 RB Chase Edmonds Fordham 5-9 205 4.5 81.27
184 ER Ade Aruna Tulane 6-5 262 4.6 95.10
185 DL James Looney California 6-3 287 4.8 94.42
186 OC Scott Quessenberry UCLA 6-4 310 5.0 94.23
187 LB Matthew Thomas Florida St 6-3 232 4.5 93.68
188 DL John Franklin-Myers Stephen F Austin 6-4 283 4.7 92.26
189 LB Jake Pugh Florida St 6-3 246 4.6 92.25
190 TE Jordan Thomas Mississippi St 6-5 265 4.7 92.13

191 DL Bilal Nichols Delaware 6-4 306 4.9 91.59
192 TE Tyler Conklin Central Michigan 6-3 254 4.8 91.30
193 OG Rod Taylor Mississippi 6-3 320 5.2 90.85
194 LB Leon Jacobs Wisconsin 6-1 246 4.4 90.24
195 DL Folorunso Fatukasi Connecticut 6-4 318 5.2 90.03
196 OG Skyler Phillips Idaho St 6-2 318 5.1 90.02
197 DL Kahlil Mckenzie Tennessee 6-3 314 5.1 89.87
198 WR Dylan Cantrell Texas Tech 6-3 226 4.5 89.59
199 S Troy Apke Penn St 6-1 200 4.3 89.05
200 WR Trey Quinn SMU 5-11 203 4.5 80.41
http://www.thehuddlereport.com/valueboard.shtml

MOCK DRAFT CHAMPIONS

2017 Joe Marino – NDT Scouting 46
2016 Forrest N. Long – Scout Fantasy, Matt Faulk – Draft Season (tied) 49
2015 Kevin Hanson – Eat Drink and Sleep Football 53
2014 Bryan Perez – FRG Scouting 43
2013 The Fantasy Typhoon – Fantasy Football 1on1 50

2012 Ben Standig – Fantasy Football Toolbox 51
2011 Rick Gosselin – Dallas Morning News 53
2010 Will Spencer & Rob Engle – Draft Breakdown 50
2009 Mike Band – Draft Ace 50
2008 Robby Esch – The Huddle Report, Ricky Dimon – FF Toolbox (tied) 45

2007 Clark Judge – CBS Sportsline 55
2006 Rick Gosselin – Dallas Morning News, Nolan Nawrocki – Pro Football Weekly (tied) 57
2005 Harry Away – NFL Talent Experts 56
2004 Scott Wright NFL Draft Countdown 52
2003 Rick Gosselin – Dallas Morning News 42
2002 The Red Zone 50

Mock Draft Scores 5 YEAR AVERAGE

1 Jason Boris – Times News PA 43.00
2 Forrest Long – The Huddle Report 42.80
3 Brad Clark – Fanspeak 40.80
4 Mike Mayock – NFL Network 40.80
5 Kevin Hanson – Eat Drink & Sleep Football 40.40
6 Brian Phlipot – The Football Hub 40.20
7 Ben Standig – CSN Mid-Atlantic 39.80

8 Ryan McCrystal – Draft Ace 39.80
9 Mike Loyko – NE Patriots Draft 39.40
10 Draft Team – NFLFans.com 39.40
11 Matthew Jones – Draft Examiner 39.00
12 Scott Wright – Draft Countdown 38.80
13 Peter Clarke – Pro Player Insiders 38.60
14 Walt Deptula – WCCP Radio 38.60
15 Jonathan Cook – The Huddle Report 38.20
http://www.thehuddlereport.com/mock.scores.shtml

TOP 100 BOARD CHAMPIONS 5 YEAR AVERAGE

1 DRAFT BOARD GURU 84.8
2 THE HUDDLE REPORT 83.4
3 DRAFT DAY DK 83.4
4 DRAFT ACE 83.2
5 NFL DRAFT LINE 83.0
6 BOB McGINN – Journal Sentinel 83.0
7 LANCE ZIERLEIN – NFL.com 82.8

8 NFL ROUGH DRAFT 82.8
9 MIKE MAYOCK – NFL NETWORK 82.8
10 TODD McSHAY – SCOUTS INC 82.6
11 DRAFT COUNTDOWN 82.6
12 GREAT BLUE NORTH 82.0
13 NFL DRAFT SCOUT 82.0
14 DRAFT DADDY 81.8
15 WALT DEPTULA WCCP-FM 81.8
http://www.thehuddlereport.com/top100.scores.shtml

Where am I ranked when it comes to mock draft predilections? I should be highly ranked. Possibly top 5.

April 14, 2018 at 9:00 pm #85137

zn
Moderator

RamBill says

What do we mean when we talk about BPA?

When most people say BPA they are referring to a “universal” BPA that they think most everyone would agree on. A lot of fans believe in consensus ratings. They survey where all the “draft experts” have players rated and then determine whether they think that pick is BPA, or a steal or reach based on that.

The idea that you take the best talent when you pick?

That’s a draft theory that doesn’t really match the reality of what happens.

If you study each teams’ draft every year and compare it to a list of their needs for that draft, you’ll find that virtually every pick fills one of those needs. Need isn’t a dirty word. How else do you fill holes in your roster? It’s the draft, free agency, and trades. Picking for need only becomes a problem if teams are picking much lower rated players just to fill that need. That will get you fired.

Teams are always looking to blend picking their highest rated players at a need position. That’s the ideal situation and good teams are able to do that. Sometimes they have to move around to make that happen, but that’s not always possible.

With every pick a team makes there will be multiple players rated very closely on their board. I think a lot of fans think that you could rank all the players 1-300 and there would be a distinct difference between each one. We know that’s not true…. First of all, In the last few years it’s come out that most teams only have 100-150 players on their board…so we may often be talking about a player for the Rams that isn’t even on their board. Most importantly, at most points in the draft teams will have players rated in tiers and groupings of similar value. That’s how teams can fill needs while sticking true to their board. There’s rarely just one option at any particular pick….so when you have 2 or 3 players rated the same, you can go with your greatest need. So I don’t think the need aspect is overrated at all…it’s the reality.

April 15, 2018 at 2:48 pm #85151

zn
Moderator

Wildflecken sez:

Will Tyrell Crosby and Uchenna Nwosu be Rams first two picks?

1.) When the Rams 2017 season concluded I posted to go deeper into the playoffs in 2018 the Rams had to get tougher on defense and find Wade scheme fit talent to build a defense as dominant as his 2015 defense was.

I also stated McVay would need to lean heavier on the running attack in 2018 and to do so they would need to be able to install more of the power gap design McVay had at his disposal in WA.

2.) After an impressive offseason to date, most agree linebacker is Rams largest need defensively for the Rams to complete the retooling of the defense with Wade Phillips scheme fit talent.

I believe the target is Uchenna Nwosu from USC. Most projections have him coming off the board in round 3, a few round 4.

3.) Rewind to OTA’s and training camp in 2017 and you will remember the Rams moving Brown to ROT and Hav to ROG. Enter Tyrell Crosby, the Rams new ROT with Hav kicking inside to ROG in 2018 and becoming our version of Zach Martin/Brandon Scherff.

Crosby is today’s prototypical ROT and a true earth mover in the running attack, even more of a road grader than Hav who is exceptional in the run game in his own right. (Hav could remain outside at ROT while Crosby begins his career inside at ROG but no matter the final alignment prior to game 1, the combination of Both Hav and Crosby will allow McVay do dedicate more carries to Malcolm Brown. Brown’s size, physical nature and 4yds and a cloud of dust running style will only soften the opposing defense further while Gurley is taking a breather)

Combining these two on the right side of the line will allow Kromer and McVay to install a true power gap in the 2018 run design.

In a perfect world, the draft will fall in a manner in which Crosby is on the board for Rams in round 3 and Nwosu on the board with Rams first pick in round 4. However it may not. But I trust Snead will maneuver the draft to ensure these are the Rams first two picks, if indeed they are the targets.

April 16, 2018 at 11:24 am #85178

zn
Moderator

EVAN SILVA
DRAFT ANALYSIS

NFL Draft Needs: Rams

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/79311/71/nfl-draft-needs-rams?sf187043751=1

Evan Silva (@EvanSilva) is the Senior Football Editor for Rotoworld’s NFL Page, and Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) leads Rotoworld’s college football and NFL draft coverage. Together, they’re breaking down every team’s biggest needs and offering potential draft-day solutions.

Silva’s Analysis

Rams Team Need No. 1: Outside Linebacker

Having traded away Robert Quinn and apparently moved on from free agent Connor Barwin, the Rams would start contract-year OLB Matt Longacre and 2017 fourth-round pick Samson Ebukam on the edges if the season began today.

Editor’s Note: Fantasy Baseball season is here! Compete in a live fantasy baseball snake draft right now! Drafts take as little as 2 minutes to complete and last just one night. For a limited time, DRAFT is giving Rotoworld readers a FREE entry into a real money draft and a Money-Back Guarantee up to $100! Here’s the link

Rams Team Need No. 2: Inside Linebacker

Mark Barron is locked in as one of the Rams’ starting inside linebackers, but the Alec Ogletree trade left Cory Littleton, Bryce Hager and Ramik Wilson as Los Angeles’ top candidates to start next to Barron.

Rams Team Need No. 3: Depth on Both Lines

Trying to capitalize on Jared Goff’s rookie-contract window, the Rams have been very aggressive signing free agents and trading draft picks for proven players. The strategy has left Los Angeles with few team needs, but depth could become an issue. On the offensive line, the Rams’ biggest need is interior depth. Up front on defense, the Rams have a bunch of guys on one-year deals.

Norris’ Mock Draft

Round 3 (87): EDGE Kemoko Turay, Rutgers – The Rams have brought in so many edge rushers. Okoronkwo, Lawler, etc. I love Turay’s game, as his flexibility to turn the corner once creating separation definitely fits Wade Phillips’ mentality. He can come in and contribute immediately, which is what the Rams need out of this pick.

Round 4 (111): DB Dane Cruikshank, Arizona – A prospect the Rams have shown interest in. I know they brought in Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, but as of now Peters is on a one-year deal and Talib is on the wrong side of 30. Lacking corner depth really hurt the Rams down the stretch. Plus, Lamarcus Joyner is on the franchise tag. I’m sure they want to re-sign him, but not everyone will be able to stay. Cruikshank has played multiple spots.

Round 4 (135): LB Christian Sam, Arizona State – The more I watch Sam, the more I like. Another prospect the Rams have displayed interest in. He’s aggressive and makes the most of his athleticism by attacking up the field or anticipating outside runs at the line of scrimmage.

Round 4 (136): OL Cole Madison, Washington State – I wonder if the Rams will package a number of these picks to aggressively move up for a specific target. Madison is a prospect with tackle experience who might move inside as well. He has more experience on the right side

Round 6 (176): OL Jamil Demby, Maine – Demby continues to draw considerable interest from teams in the form of visits, including the Rams. A priority for the Rams might be to find their left tackle of the future, and Demby has plenty of experience at that position. If anything, he might offer utility skills.

Round 6 (183): EDGE Peter Kalambayi, Stanford – Edge depth. Not necessarily a pure pass rusher, Kalambayi is more of a consistent presence against the run who soundly holds the edge.

Round 6 (194): RB Mike Boone, Cincinnati – Late round running back help via one of the more athletic ball carriers in this class.

Round 6 (195): LB Russell Williams Jr., Hawaii – I know I’ve repeated positions here multiple times, but these are the real needs on the Rams’ roster.

April 16, 2018 at 12:07 pm #85182

zn
Moderator

Todd McShay has the Rams taking Iowa ILB Josey Jewell in the third round ($). … https://t.co/jLvPC1IYqv

— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) April 13, 2018

April 18, 2018 at 8:25 pm #85223

InvaderRam
Moderator

JackPMiller wrote:

85 ER Kemoko Turay Rutgers 6-5 253 4.6 –
86 ER Dorance Armstrong Kansas 6-4 257 4.8 83.81
87 ER Ogbonnia Okoronkwo Oklahoma 6-2 253 4.7 92.04
88 LB Darius Leonard South Carolina St 6-2 234 4.7 –
89 ER Duke Ejiofor Wake Forest 6-4 270 – –
90 OT Geron Christian Louisville 6-5 298 5.3 –

91 S Marcus Allen Penn St 6-2 215 4.5 86.09
92 TE Ian Thomas Indiana 6-4 259 4.7 82.09

right around where the rams pick first (#87).
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