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Billy_TParticipantThought I’d post one more for good luck. This one yields two starters at Edge, DJ Turner falls to them, and they get their Deebo with Mingo. Two eventual starters at guard in Bradford and Daniels, with the latter having strong potential at tackle as well. Reid is a high ceiling dart throw, with freakish athleticism for tackle. Pappoe brings them incredible speed at linebacker (4.39), and I got ’em two solid QB backups, with Thompson-Robinson having solid upside as eventual starter. Fastest velocity among all the tested QBs this year (62mph).
Cam Mitchell should be able to start next to Turner, and Durant can move to nickel.
Strong draft, IMO.
52
Felix Anudike-Uzomah
EDGE | Kansas State LogoKansas StateTRADE74
D.J. Turner
CB | Michigan LogoMichiganTRADE81
Jonathan Mingo
WR | Mississippi LogoMississippiTRADE135
Isaiah McGuire
EDGE | Missouri LogoMissouriTRADE142
Colby Wooden
DL | Auburn LogoAuburnTRADE147
Braeden Daniels
IOL | Utah LogoUtahTRADE151
DeWayne McBride
RB | UAB LogoUABTRADE152
Owen Pappoe
LB | Auburn LogoAuburnTRADE167
Anthony Bradford
IOL | LSU LogoLSU171
Cameron Mitchell
CB | Northwestern LogoNorthwestern177
Dorian Thompson-Robinson
QB | UCLA LogoUCLA182
Clayton Tune
QB | Houston LogoHouston189
Keaton Mitchell
RB | East Carolina LogoEast Carolina191
Terell Smith
CB | Minnesota LogoMinnesota198
Dontayvion Wicks
WR | Virginia LogoVirginiaTRADE223
Jerrod Clark
DL | Coastal Carolina LogoCoastal Carolina228
Payne Durham
TE | Purdue LogoPurdueTRADE234
Jason Taylor II
S | Oklahoma State LogoOklahoma State237
Trevor Reid
OT | Louisville LogoLouisvilleTRADE245
B.J. Thompson
EDGE | Stephen F. Austin LogoStephen F. AustinTRADEBilly_TParticipantSomething I noticed with the mocks simulators. Lotsa very good players available when the Rams get their first shot at #36. Even if they stick and don’t trade down, they should be able to find three high impact starters before that massive gap after #77. But there will be plenty of surprises even from #167 on, when they have picks again. They could find a coupla starters (instant or eventual) late, especially at guard, center, TE, a gadget running back like Keaton Mitchell, and/or a stout DT like Cameron Young.
Should be able to find at least one WR for their rotation late, too. Not so sure about finding good edges late. Doesn’t look likely.
I do think they should trade down early, though, because the talent is rich enough even in the 100s for them to land several other starters. But they’ll have to strategize carefully. Even with my absurd number of trades, I still couldn’t get all the positions filled I wanted. As in, couldn’t get starting DBs, safeties, edges, a DT, and a first rate running back all together. If I included a wideout early — my favorite being Jonathan Mingo — that took away from somewhere else, etc.
The Rams will likely end up with a bit more than half the picks I managed in my mocks . . . so they’ll have to play much better chess. We may well have to wait until 2024 for them to fill in quality starters via the Draft and FA.
Billy_TParticipant50
Rams Logo
Adetomiwa Adebawore
EDGE | Northwestern LogoNorthwesternTRADE77
Rams Logo
Gervon Dexter
DL | Florida LogoFlorida85
Rams Logo
Darius Rush
CB | South Carolina LogoSouth CarolinaTRADE135
Rams Logo
YaYa Diaby
EDGE | Louisville LogoLouisvilleTRADE140
Rams Logo
Kendre Miller
RB | TCU LogoTCUTRADE147
Rams Logo
Dorian Williams
LB | Tulane LogoTulaneTRADE149
Rams Logo
Wanya Morris
OT | Oklahoma LogoOklahomaTRADE152
Rams Logo
Terell Smith
CB | Minnesota LogoMinnesotaTRADE153
Rams Logo
Daniel Scott
S | California LogoCaliforniaTRADE156
Rams Logo
Emil Ekiyor Jr.
IOL | Alabama LogoAlabamaTRADE167
Rams Logo
Anthony Bradford
IOL | LSU LogoLSU171
Rams Logo
Juice Scruggs
IOL | Penn State LogoPenn State177
Rams Logo
Dontayvion Wicks
WR | Virginia LogoVirginia182
Rams Logo
Marte Mapu
LB | Sacramento State LogoSacramento State189
Rams Logo
Davis Allen
TE | Clemson LogoClemson191
Rams Logo
Nick Hampton
EDGE | Appalachian State LogoAppalachian State196
Rams Logo
Jon Gaines
IOL | UCLA LogoUCLATRADE210
Rams Logo
Darrell Luter Jr.
CB | South Alabama LogoSouth AlabamaTRADE223
Rams Logo
Bryce Ford-Wheaton
WR | West Virginia LogoWest Virginia228
Rams Logo
Cameron Young
DL | Mississippi State LogoMississippi StateTRADE229
Rams Logo
Rakim Jarrett
WR | Maryland LogoMarylandTRADE234
Rams Logo
Chamarri Conner
S | Virginia Tech LogoVirginia Tech239
Rams Logo
Tre Tucker
WR | Cincinnati LogoCincinnatiTRADEBilly_TParticipantFinal mocks for me before the Draft. A couple. Thought I’d tweak my frequency of trades and their effects. Was being too generous to myself, even though it worked under the rules of the website’s software. Extended the gap between trade-downs, and took less compensation . . . in general, going from the early 100s to the mid-100s instead. The results are much less to my liking . . . but probably more “realistic,” if the Rams could find willing partners, of course.
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53
Rams Logo
Jack Campbell
LB | Iowa LogoIowaTRADE74
Rams Logo
Gervon Dexter
DL | Florida LogoFloridaTRADE82
Rams Logo
Tyrique Stevenson
CB | Miami (FL) LogoMiami (FL)TRADE133
Rams Logo
YaYa Diaby
EDGE | Louisville LogoLouisvilleTRADE140
Rams Logo
Kendre Miller
RB | TCU LogoTCUTRADE149
Rams Logo
Dorian Williams
LB | Tulane LogoTulaneTRADE150
Rams Logo
Nick Saldiveri
OT | Old Dominion LogoOld DominionTRADE153
Rams Logo
Kyu Blu Kelly
CB | Stanford LogoStanfordTRADE167
Rams Logo
Andrei Iosivas
WR | Princeton LogoPrinceton171
Rams Logo
Braeden Daniels
IOL | Utah LogoUtah177
Rams Logo
Brenton Strange
TE | Penn State LogoPenn State182
Rams Logo
Dorian Thompson-Robinson
QB | UCLA LogoUCLA189
Rams Logo
Cameron Mitchell
CB | Northwestern LogoNorthwestern191
Rams Logo
Jay Ward
S | LSU LogoLSU196
Rams Logo
Anthony Bradford
IOL | LSU LogoLSUTRADE207
Rams Logo
Dontayvion Wicks
WR | Virginia LogoVirginiaTRADE215
Rams Logo
Keaton Mitchell
RB | East Carolina LogoEast CarolinaTRADE218
Rams Logo
Nick Hampton
EDGE | Appalachian State LogoAppalachian StateTRADE223
Rams Logo
Keondre Coburn
DL | Texas LogoTexas232
Rams Logo
Carter Warren
OT | Pittsburgh LogoPittsburghTRADE234
Rams Logo
Bryce Baringer
P | Michigan State LogoMichigan StateApril 15, 2023 at 9:36 am in reply to: Do you guys make this trade? Kupp to the Giants for . . . #143480Billy_TParticipantSome context:
excerpt:
Detroit will acquire Goff, a 2021 third-round pick and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 in exchange for Stafford, per Pelissero.
Pelissero also reported that multiple teams offered first-round picks in this year’s draft, but this deal will ultimately give both sides what they desired.
The trade became official on Thursday, March 18.
The Rams will inherit the two years, $43 million remaining on Stafford’s contract, and the Lions will carry a $17.8 million dead cap hit in 2021, per Pelissero. The expectation is that Stafford’s contract won’t need to be changed and an extension or raise was not part of the deal, according to Rapoport.
In return, Detroit will inherit the four years and $106.6M remaining on Goff’s contract. L.A. will carry a $22.2 million dead cap hit in 2021.
The Lions had more than six offers, including a few worth more than a first-round pick, Rapoport added. Detroit’s decision to take on Goff’s large contract ended up costing L.A. more.
The Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers, clubs that are among a handful of teams with questions surrounding the position heading into next season, were among those who inquired as the Lions had several offers, Rapoport reported Sunday.
Pelissero highlighted the particulars of Goff’s current contract: He has $43 million in fully guaranteed money left — $25 million in base salary in 2021, a $2.5 million roster bonus due on the second day of the 2021 league year in March and another $15.5 million roster bonus due on the second day of the 2022 league year.
April 15, 2023 at 9:30 am in reply to: Do you guys make this trade? Kupp to the Giants for . . . #143479Billy_TParticipanti’d do it. i love coop, but the guy can’t stay healthy. he’s had two good seasons out of the six he’s been with the rams? the rest he’s been injured. and he’s gonna be 30 soon. problem is no team in their right mind would offer that for him. maybe a team that thought he’d get them to a superbowl?
Good point about the injuries. Wonder if it’s his running style? He tends to fight hard for extra yards. Doesn’t run out of bounds, typically. And he hits the turf a lot, head first, it seems. I worry about his future health with all of those concussions, known and unknown.
I agree that the proposed offer is too good to be true, which is why I’d definitely consider it. Not likely a team would give up that much draft capital, considering age and, as you remind us, injuries. But stranger things have happened in the NFL. Ironically, it’s usually the Rams on the other side of that, offering far too much (in my view) for this or that player.
I still think the Goff for Stafford trade was absurd on the compensation front. Great for the Rams in results, obviously. Can’t evah take that Super Bowl win away, and that season was one for the books. Excellent, exciting games, throughout, with very smart pickups like OBJ and Michel to boot. Loved pretty much every second of it.
But I just didn’t see that big a difference between Goff and Stafford. The latter has the better arm talent, of course, and McVay obviously had lost confidence in Goff. But two 1sts and a 3rd, plus Goff? At most, I would have thrown in that 3rd rounder, but even that seems high to me. Apparently, Detroit picking up Goff’s contract in full (4 years, 106 million) was a major factor in increasing the required draft capital, from Detroit’s POV. Then again, who forced the Rams to extend Goff early in the first place?
I think a part of being a Rams fan, for as long as I have, is grumbling about stuff, even if it works out great. They seem to bring that out of me. Still love the horns.
;>)
Billy_TParticipantOf further interest to me. A coupla articles by Bo Wulf on The Athletic about where the best players come from, per round and school. Mostly what you’d figure, but with some surprises. Round One yields the most best players per position, but not all of them. If I read his graph correctly, looks like running back and guard do best in rounds 2-3.
Safety, corner, DT, and Edge do better in rounds 4+ than in 2-3, but not as well as the 1st. But that’s with two extra rounds (4,5,6,7, and a lot of comps) — again, if I read the graph correctly. Center is a tie after the 1st.
Getting well into the weeds: I want to know if there’s a correlation between late round hits and pre-draft rankings. As in, players who were graded much higher, pre-draft, than their eventual selection. Is it the round, or the original assessment, etc. etc.? I’m guessing it’s a mix, but I’d bet a lot of those hits are players who fell, often dramatically, for this or that reason.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by
Billy_T.
Billy_TParticipantI know it sounds crazy for any draft, but I think there are more than a dozen immediate or future starters from the above haul.
Thanks for doing all this and communicating about it.
You’re welcome. Again, I’m kinda addicted to this stuff.
Some more notes and observations.
Am using The Athletic for a lot of my choices, especially Dane Brugler’s recent and seriously comprehensive guide, The Beast. He differs on a lot of players with the composite board at the nfldatabase site, which I use for my amateur GM mocks. If a player appears to be more athletic than a higher ranked guy, and/or Brugler has him higher, I tend to go with that. Height, weight, age are other factors. Good comments about their intangibles as well, which Brugler does here and there. Positional value is important, too, and I try to cover all the Rams’ bases.
Interesting changes on the composite board, regarding ups and downs. Israel Abanikanda is mostly rising now, after falling a bit — Scouts keep adjusting their boards all the way up to Draft Day, of course. He’s now averaging #108. Jonathan Mingo is no longer in sleeper terrain, slotting in on average at #88. When I first started doing these mocks, roughly a month ago, I could snag him in the 150-160 range.
Chandler Zavala is another ex-sleeper. Used to be able to nab him in the 6th or 7th round. He’s now often going well before his recent slotting, #131, and Brugler likes him even more. Gives him a 3rd round grade. Another large gap between Brugler and the composite board: Guard Anthony Bradford from LSU. He’s a 3rd to 4th rounder for Brugler, but waay down the composite board at #262. Massive guard/tackle, at 6’4″, 335, who tested exceptionally well at the Combine. Again, size/athleticism, and he’s just 22 later this month. I’d definitely give him a shot . . .
Billy_TParticipantThis is the site I’ve been using:
https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/mock-draft-simulator
Am now in the habit of doing the mocks while I rewatch episodes of Friday Night Lights. Sorta fits the mood.
Billy_TParticipantI know it sounds crazy for any draft, but I think there are more than a dozen immediate or future starters from the above haul.
Simpson, Tillman, Dexter, Martin, Zavala, Diaby, and Stromberg all have a good shot at starting right away. Mingo should play a lot as a rook (as the Rams’ Deebo), as will Moss, Abanikanda, and Strange. I think Saldiveri is a future starting tackle, Bradford a future starter at guard, and Scott at safety. Abdullah should be a part of the linebacker/edge rotation early. Same with Coburn at DT. Mitchell at corner, and the other Mitchell as a gadget guy/RB/slot receiver should also contribute early.
BJ Thompson is a freakish edge and may get some reps after some weight gain.
Overall, a very strong draft. Though I missed a few. Wanted Trevor Reid at OT, for example, and Korzak and Moody for punter and kicker, respectively. But ran out of picks, despite the huge numbers. I got greedy, I suppose.
;>)
Comments are welcome.
Billy_TParticipantLatest mock I’m happy with. As per usual, I know the number of trades here would never happen in the real world, but I did stick to “fair” for all of them, rejecting offers that were far too generous in my favor. All of them landed roughly in the middle of “not enough and too much” range, left to right, and garnered “accepted.”
My Selections
48
Rams Logo
Trenton Simpson
LB | Clemson LogoClemsonTRADE75
Rams Logo
Cedric Tillman
WR | Tennessee LogoTennesseeTRADE77
Rams Logo
Gervon Dexter
DL | Florida LogoFlorida112
Rams Logo
Jonathan Mingo
WR | Mississippi LogoMississippiTRADE116
Rams Logo
Jartavius Martin
S | Illinois LogoIllinoisTRADE135
Rams Logo
Riley Moss
CB | Iowa LogoIowaTRADE147
Rams Logo
Israel Abanikanda
RB | Pittsburgh LogoPittsburghTRADE152
Rams Logo
Chandler Zavala
IOL | NC State LogoNC StateTRADE159
Rams Logo
YaYa Diaby
EDGE | Louisville LogoLouisvilleTRADE167
Rams Logo
Brenton Strange
TE | Penn State LogoPenn State170
Rams Logo
Keaton Mitchell
RB | East Carolina LogoEast CarolinaTRADE171
Rams Logo
Nick Saldiveri
OT | Old Dominion LogoOld Dominion177
Rams Logo
Yasir Abdullah
LB | Louisville LogoLouisvilleTRADE182
Rams Logo
Ricky Stromberg
IOL | Arkansas LogoArkansas183
Rams Logo
Cameron Mitchell
CB | Northwestern LogoNorthwesternTRADE189
Rams Logo
Daniel Scott
S | California LogoCalifornia191
Rams Logo
Keondre Coburn
DL | Texas LogoTexas194
Rams Logo
Clayton Tune
QB | Houston LogoHoustonTRADE223
Rams Logo
Carter Warren
OT | Pittsburgh LogoPittsburgh224
Rams Logo
Dylan Horton
EDGE | TCU LogoTCUTRADE225
Rams Logo
B.J. Thompson
EDGE | Stephen F. Austin LogoStephen F. AustinTRADE251
Rams Logo
Anthony Bradford
IOL | LSU LogoLSUApril 13, 2023 at 10:00 am in reply to: Do you guys make this trade? Kupp to the Giants for . . . #143457Billy_TParticipantAgreeing with Zooey about Kupp’s likely production, if he’s healthy. But his window is closing. Again, I think he’s likely far more valuable to the Rams than to other teams. Combination of intangibles, locker room impact, and familiarity with the ecosystem. Woods was similar in that way, IMO. He was a legit #1 with the Rams. Not so sure the rest of the league saw him in that light.
Jourdan mentioned a coupla weeks ago that the time to do a rebuild was actually right after the Super Bowl win. Sounds kinda crazy, unless we consider that was the peak “value” time for core players, especially Stafford before his extension.
Right now, they’re beyond the wave, basically. Last year likely hurt the league-wide valuation of a lot of Rams players — unfair and short-sighted as that may be.
ZN, I think you and I probably differ on the current talent level on the Rams, and whether or not they need major upgrades. But I also have a feeling that the Brass is probably in your corner on that issue, not mine.
Anyway, I’m hoping the Rams make several draft-day trades early to garner more picks (if they have partners), and then trade back up later. It’s a pretty deep draft in the areas the Rams need to address most: corners and pass-rushers. They also need safeties, and competition at center, both guards, both tackles. A mismatch TE would be great too, as would a size/speed wideout, a speedy running back, and a bulldozer RB as well. In my mocks, I try to get a coupla DTs too.
Billy_TParticipantQuick side note, Zooey. I noticed on your twitter feed — which is a good one, btw . . . that you had a run-in with someone spouting BS about Nader giving us Bush.
It was actually more than 300,000 registered Dems who voted directly for Bush in Florida in 2000. Can’t blame that on the Green Party. Nader may have pulled roughly just 24,000 potential Gore voters away from him, total. At most. Folks need to do the math.
Plus, as you know, our presidential elections never come down to just one state. Florida couldn’t have “decided” the election even if Nader had wanted that to happen. Gore ran a lousy campaign, the country had Clinton fatigue, and he lost his own home state, and 29 others. It didn’t come down to just Florida. That’s like saying a basketball game comes down to the last shot in a 115 to 114 loss. As if all the missed shot and turnovers and various other botched plays meant nothing leading up to that last shot, etc.
Far too many Americans are math and logic averse.
Billy_TParticipantYeah, I’m referring to the Twitter files. I don’t really know much about it because I don’t really care, but it doesn’t look good for Taibbi. My thing on the “doom” is that leftists just can’t get any traction anywhere in the machine. Elect someone, and they are brought to heel almost immediately. Get a platform in the media, some right wing carnivore buys the platform, and moves it to the right. Get an individual voice in the media, and they get paid to compromise on this one tiny issue, and their soul is for sale. Nobody wants to follow Assange or Donzinger. Meanwhile, Twitter is always abuzz with wars over Dore, Taibbi, Cenk, Daou, Ritter, you name it. My thing is always, “I don’t demand a purity test. These people aren’t my messiah. When I agree with them, I agree with them, and when I don’t, I don’t.” But it appears many people on the left get all “brand loyal” to various talking heads, and then we get civil wars. That’s where the “doom” comes from. We can’t get traction in the gov’t or in the media. We’re screwed.
I agree with all of that. We all should be free agents in our criticism. Truly independent. Joining teams and never deviating from those teams . . . . that’s the road to ruin.
Which takes me back to this: I perfectly understand (and agree with) intense anger at the Dems on a wide array of issues, including a sense of constant betrayal in general. But when some public figure on the left chooses to support the GOP in its various battles with the Dems? That’s not even remotely in line with leftist ideals or goals. Quite the opposite, in my view. On every issue under the sun, the GOP is worse, and it’s really not close. Two rotten, effed up choices, but one is a hell of a lot worse.
Blast both parties and what they do — or fail to do. But taking sides with the far worse of the two rotten choices, cuz it may somehow supposedly “help” take down part of the oligarchical establishment? That’s just stupid and beyond naive. Cuz the political right will always, always be the far worse part of that establishment, and they’re in the bag for the oligarchs too. It’s not as if Taibbi took sides with any champions of Labor, the Environment, universal health care, education, free speech, an end to mass incarceration, an end to wars, etc. etc. He took sides with the party that’s even worse on those issues than the Dems.
I will always support standing with true champions in the fight for universal human rights and protection of the planet . . . but that aint the GOP, obviously. So why the eff would Taibbi or anyone else help them in their fake ass battle against the Dems?
Billy_TParticipantI think there are more than ten immediate or eventual starters in the haul above, and several depth-players would beat out current depth-players. The Rams get bigger, faster, more athletic. Athleticism is a major key to my choices. Your comments are welcome, etc.
Who is Drew Sanders I will just pretend like I’m not a deeply and widely well-informed draft guru, and let you have the floor.
…Drew Sanders is a linebacker for Arkansas, 6’4″, 235, but the Rams could use him as Edge . . . and/or. Good size, excellent athlete. Sub-4.6 speed. Will turn 22 late in his rookie year. Still time to grow, etc. Usually the top linebacker in most mocks/boards, he slots in at #40 on average.
Good breakdown here:
As others have mentioned, this is a pretty good draft for guys who can play Edge. So the Rams could do as I did, trade down a few times, and still get someone like Sanders, Uzomah, McDonald, Adebawore, White, Simpson, Foskey, or Wall. Any one of them could fall to them, even after moving down in the 2nd. On a coupla of my mocks, I lucked into two Edges. Sanders and Foskey in one. Foskey and Wall in another. I’ve kinda lost track at this point. ;>)
A general feeling, though, about the edge position this year: I think guys who can play all three downs and have an impact will mostly be off the board by the early 70s. So there’s a limit to trading down, if the Rams want one. They also need corners, badly, so they’re probably going to have to use their first three picks for them. Might be pretty smart to draft two corners and an edge, or two edges and a corner, early. If they don’t garner extra picks, they’ve got a long wait for another chance.
Billy_TParticipantI responded, ZN. But the post didn’t go through. Probably didn’t like one of the links. Will check back tomorrow.
Billy_TParticipantI’d say this to Taibbi, if I could. In a nutshell: by all means blast the Dems when they deserve it. Question all authority, and go after any and all abusers of power. Go after the rich and the powerful, regardless of party, with ferocious intensity and the truth. Be fearless in the process. But never let the far worse of the two major parties use you to change the subject and play the victim, which is all Jim Jourdan (and Musk) and his despicable “weaponization of government” hearings do.
He’s not trying to reform the Intel community, the FBI, the CIA, etc. etc. He and the GOP have no record of actual concern for government overreach unless the political right and Republicans are the perceived victims. All they want to do is to make sure they’re never held to account, and they’ve decided the best way to do that is to claim eternal victimhood and persecution by “the left.” They hope that shuts down all further inquiries.
If Taibbi can’t see how he’s being used . . . or worse, just doesn’t care, eff him.
Billy_TParticipantI bumped into this after I posted the above:
Mehdi Hasan interviews Matt Taibbi:
Billy_TParticipantI think there are more than ten immediate or eventual starters in the haul above, and several depth-players would beat out current depth-players. The Rams get bigger, faster, more athletic. Athleticism is a major key to my choices.
Your comments are welcome, etc.
Billy_TParticipantAnother recent mock from me. Again, I know in the real world there aren’t going to be all of these trades . . . mostly cuz the Rams won’t find the trade partners they need, even if they wanted to make them. But I do hope they move down a few times early, in small increments, pick up extra picks, and then, perhaps, move back up later. There’s a ton of value to be had after the 1st round, and, unfortunately, in the part of the draft without any Rams’ picks. As it stands now, there’s a void between #77 and #167. I hope they fill it.
The other issue is . . . I’m guessing . . . the Rams might not be able to pay all the guys I draft. They might prefer UDFA contracts instead. But I do think it would be great if they could draft more than a dozen. No team has fewer players under contract right now, etc.
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48
Drew Sanders
LB | Arkansas LogoArkansasTRADE75
Gervon Dexter
DL | Florida LogoFloridaTRADE77
Julius Brents
CB | Kansas State LogoKansas State119
Jonathan Mingo
WR | Mississippi LogoMississippiTRADE135
Kendre Miller
RB | TCU LogoTCUTRADE147
Dontayvion Wicks
WR | Virginia LogoVirginiaTRADE152
Kobie Turner
DL | Wake Forest LogoWake ForestTRADE158
YaYa Diaby
EDGE | Louisville LogoLouisvilleTRADE167
Jon Gaines
IOL | UCLA LogoUCLA171
Brenton Strange
TE | Penn State LogoPenn State174
Riley Moss
CB | Iowa LogoIowaTRADE177
Israel Abanikanda
RB | Pittsburgh LogoPittsburgh182
Keaton Mitchell
RB | East Carolina LogoEast Carolina184
Jay Ward
S | LSU LogoLSUTRADE189
Chandler Zavala
IOL | NC State LogoNC State191
Braeden Daniels
IOL | Utah LogoUtah223
Carrington Valentine
CB | Kentucky LogoKentucky224
Yasir Abdullah
LB | Louisville LogoLouisvilleTRADE228
Andrei Iosivas
WR | Princeton LogoPrincetonTRADE231
Jason Taylor II
S | Oklahoma State LogoOklahoma StateTRADE245
Adam Korsak
P | Rutgers LogoRutgersTRADE251
Anfernee Orji
LB | Vanderbilt LogoVanderbiltBilly_TParticipantZooey,
Is that in reference to Taibbi being paid by Musk to lie to Americans about the non-existent corporate bias against conservatives — on Twitter and elsewhere? Or has he added something new to his shilling?
Personally, I don’t take his shilling and lies as any sign we’re doomed. It was to be expected, as far as I’m concerned. Far too many fake-leftists/progressives have shown their true colors since Trump hit the political scene in full force. Greenwald is another recent example.
(Basically, propertarians in sheep’s clothing. Just follow the money, etc.)
And even those who honestly think it makes sense to join forces with the alt-right to take down “corporate Dems” were always playing a fool’s game. At best, they must have figured “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” while forgetting the enormous difference in literal firepower and money behind the alt/far-right. As in, any leftist who thought a coalition of the real left and the far-right would eventually lead to a more progressive nation — because corporate Dems would supposedly be wiped out — truly doesn’t understand the power dynamics in America. It’s beyond obvious that the far-right is doing the using in this case, not those woefully naive leftists. As soon as the Dems are gone, the far-right will take out the real left next, entirely, and America will be completely fascist at that point.
Again, the most logical coalition for we leftists, currently, is with the Dems, as distasteful as that may be. There isn’t a single issue in which the GOP is preferable right now, and there is absolutely zero chance that the Republican Party is amenable to progressive, much less leftist persuasion. We all know they’re fighting each other to be the most Trumpian, the most far-right, and they demonize and despise us with every breath they take. They flat out hate us. Why on earth would any sane leftist think it’s logical to join forces with them?
Billy_TParticipantI also like Chase Brown, but he’s supposed to go before Israel. I’d rather have the latter.
Late in the draft, likely in the 170-192 range, hoping the Rams snag Keaton Mitchell. Gives them a speed back, good receiver, big play guy. Small. But that late in the Draft is where you should take that kind of chance. That’s where you draft a Tutu as well. Not in the 2nd round.
Hunter Luepke for a throwback fullback would help them too. Also in that range.
Billy_TParticipantOne way to stabilize a team that needs to restock its defense and also needs to fix its OL after injuries is to bolster the running game, and that would include drafting a back this year. And as it turns out, if you don’t have a first round pick, you draft a back in rounds 2 or 3. There’s a persistent belief that you can draft backs lower than that. But the numbers don’t bear that out. I will look at 10 years, ending in 2021 (far enough back to get a good picture) and starting in 2012. I will count as a “hit” anyone who was productive at RB for at least 2 years. Rounds 2 & 3. Backs drafted: 54. Hits: 22. Percent: 41% Rounds 4-7. Backs drafted: 158. Hits: 20. Percent: 12.6% You’re more than 3 times more likely to get a productive back drafting them in rounds 2 and 3.
As you can probably tell, I’m high on Israel Abanikanda. A 4.3 back with excellent size. Roughly 5’11”, 216. Probably can carry 225 and still be fast. Want the Rams to draft him. But it’s going to take some great chess from McSnead, IMO. Gotta make some really good trades. Trade down a few times and bank some extra picks, cuz they have to get a coupla edges and corners too.
Looks like the consensus has Bijan Robinson as the only first-round-worthy back, but that may not stop some teams from going for others early. Personally, I think the next group of runners are too small or too slow. Hoping the Rams go in another direction.
https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/big-boards/2023/consensus-big-board-2023?pos=RB
You mention Kendre Miller. He’s not “fast,” but has good size and good tape as a Junior. Just 21 for the season is another big plus.
Billy_TParticipantTurfShowTimes@TurfShowTimesJalen Ramsey assured Rams would get low return by forcing trade to Dolphins and saying he would make it costlier for any other team to acquire his servicesThat tells me, as GM, keep him. And, yeah, I understand contract demands and the cap were serious issues, then and now. But the Rams made their own bed there, and Ramsey no doubt knew it. He knew that the Rams reacted all too emotionally after the Super Bowl and threw a ton of money at a few stars — Ramsey not being one of them. He knew that the contract for Stafford, especially, was absurd, given his injury history and age.
I still would have kept Ramsey, if my return was just a 3rd and a mostly bench-sitting TE.
Ramsey should have netted at least a 1st. At least for 2024. I would have taken a 3rd this year if the trade included a 1st next year. Something like that. But I’m keeping a Top-Three corner if the return is what they ended up with.
Billy_TParticipantRecently read a very good novel, After Sappho, by Selby Wynn Schwartz .
https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/after-sappho
Innovative form. Basically, a series of interconnected vignettes, impressions, time capsules. Aside from its literary power, it’s a lesson in feminist and LGBTQ history, primarily focusing on late 19th century thru 1928.
I learned a ton.
Billy_TParticipantAdetomiwa Adebawore’s numbers are truly freakish.4.49Seconds10-Yard Split1.61SecondsVertical Jump37.5’’Broad Jump10’ 5’’3-Cone Drill—20-Yd Shuttle—Bench Press27Rep_____Jonathan Mingo’s numbers are crazy, too. Much better than Deebo’s. He’s 6’2″, 225:40-Yard Dash4.46Seconds10-Yard Split1.54SecondsVertical Jump39.5’’Broad Jump10’ 9’’3-Cone Drill—20-Yd Shuttle—Bench Press22Billy_TParticipantQuick sidenote: I’ve seen some reports that the Rams are high on Calijah Kancey, at DT.
Personally, I’d much rather wait and take Gervon Dexter instead. Most boards have the latter going a round or two later than Kancey. Much bigger, taller, and has more upside, IMO. I think they should grab the best edge first, IMO — unless Deonte Banks falls to them at 36.
It’s also interesting to me that Adetomiwa Adebawore, an edge, is basically the same size as Kancey, roughly 6’1″, 280, but far more athletic, quicker, faster. Strong, too. Put up 27 for the bench. Makes sense to me to move him to DT. Get him to add a bit of good weight, and you have your Donald clone.
Billy_TParticipantI did my best to make every trade comply with the standard trade value chart. Again, on that particular mock simulator, unlike most of them, you get flooded with amazing offers that tend to be far too generous. Even later in the process, all kinds of offers for 2024 early round swaps for late 2023 picks, which I’d jump on if I were GM.
I ignored all of those and made my own trades.
The above draft makes the Rams faster, far more athletic, and fills most of their needs. The only spot I probably missed is the TE position, which I thought I could deal with later. Davis Allen is often still there late but wasn’t this time. So I picked Elijah Higgins instead . . . a really big wideout who probably should convert to a smallish move TE. He’d be the Rams’ Gerald Everett, etc.
Also, I think most of the picks are possible for their timing, except for DJ Turner. He’s likely gone in the 2nd round. Mingo is another one who may go earlier. Big receiver, with speed, toughness, and athleticism. He could be the Rams’ Deebo.
Billy_TParticipantHere’s another of my mock drafts, from . . .
https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/
Trade Recap
Los Angeles Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 43
2023: Round 4, Pick 112
New York Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 36
Los Angeles Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 45
2023: Round 5, Pick 170
Green Bay Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 43
Los Angeles Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 49
2023: Round 4, Pick 120
Pittsburgh Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 45
Los Angeles Receives:
2023: Round 4, Pick 128
2023: Round 5, Pick 172
2023: Round 7, Pick 240
2023: Round 7, Pick 243
2023: Round 7, Pick 254
New York Receives:
2023: Round 4, Pick 120
2023: Round 6, Pick 189My Selections
49
Trenton Simpson
LB | Clemson LogoClemsonTRADE69
Gervon Dexter
DL | Florida LogoFlorida77
D.J. Turner
CB | Michigan LogoMichigan112
Blake Freeland
OT | BYU LogoBYUTRADE128
Israel Abanikanda
RB | Pittsburgh LogoPittsburghTRADE167
Jonathan Mingo
WR | Mississippi LogoMississippi170
Braeden Daniels
IOL | Utah LogoUtahTRADE171
Jon Gaines
IOL | UCLA LogoUCLA172
Carrington Valentine
CB | Kentucky LogoKentuckyTRADE177
Jason Taylor II
S | Oklahoma State LogoOklahoma State182
Keaton Mitchell
RB | East Carolina LogoEast Carolina191
YaYa Diaby
EDGE | Louisville LogoLouisville223
Brandon Hill
S | Pittsburgh LogoPittsburgh240
Elijah Higgins
WR | Stanford LogoStanfordTRADE243
Yasir Abdullah
LB | Louisville LogoLouisvilleTRADE251
Rejzohn Wright
CB | Oregon State LogoOregon State254
Bryce Baringer
P | Michigan State LogoMichigan StateTRADEBilly_TParticipantApologies for flooding the zone here, but multiple links per post will likely trigger the software.
Wanted to post an aggregate site for the Big Boards. There’s never consensus among the scouts for all players, of course, and the differences grow the further down the list of players you get. All over the map sometimes. Wildly different, etc.
https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/big-boards/2023/consensus-big-board-2023
Click on the individual players and you get an extensive breakdown of those differences from the major draft sites.
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