speculating about the Rams draft

Lots of different possible topics. Here’s a start-off–I’ve heard it said that who the Rams draft high (rounds 1-3) this week could reflect on what they think of their 2018 rookies. (This thread is open to any and all ideas, these just happen to be mine today).

That’s a murky topic! But here goes.

Taking an ILB high might reflect on Kiser. But not necessarily taking one lower–that might reflect on depth issues since they let Hager go.

Taking OL does not reflect on Noteboom. Noteboom can play multiple positions and might be the future LOT when Whitworth leaves. Though if they take a center high, that would probably reflect on Allen.

On the DL it’s a little more complicated. Which means having to get into some detail.

If they take a DE and DT, they add that to a 90 man roster that includes Joseph-Day and Franklin-Myers. We don’t know what will happen with that group–would J-D, F-M, and the rookie DE and DT all be on the 53 man roster when the season starts? It’s possible.

But who if any of them would be a replacement for Suh? That is, they wouldn;t be Suh-caliber of course, but they would have to be considerably more than just a good rotation guy to replace him. If they want someone of that caliber, they will have to draft them. That is, adding someone special to the DL through the draft only says that J-D and F-M are not special players, although they could still be good ones.

Looking at DE. Brockers is set and will play DE or NT depending on who they draft.

Franklin-Myers is 6’4 285. We don’t know how good he is but on paper anyway he fits a profile. Here areWade’s DE’s in Denver:

Jared Crick (6’4 285, 4th round pick, FA in 2016, was picked by Hou with Wade there as DC, didn’t play much first 2 years but did under Wade in Houston in 2014)
Derek Wolfe (6’5 294, 2nd round pick, by the time Wade arrived he was a 4 year pick who had started as a rookie)
Malik Jackson (6’5 290, 5th round pick, by the time Wade arrived he was a 4 year vet who had not played much before 2015)

All 3 had good years under Wade. Wolfe and Jackson did little or nothing before Wade.

That’s a good DL but it was not a special DL. When Wade was there, his defense was special at OLB and in the secondary.

Rams seem to be shaping up to make their “specialness” be in their DL and secondary. It’s not a mirror of the Denver defense.

So maybe a F-M could play in Denver in 2015-2016, but he might not be what they need to build around in LA in 2019, with a defense that is replacing Suh.