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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.
Billy_TParticipantTrade value chart:
Billy_TParticipantThe weakness of the above is probably the lack of O-line. Just a good center (Stromberg), who should start for the Rams. My other mocks usually go for at least three O-line guys. But it’s a lot tougher if I stick to the trade chart value. If the mock showers me with crazy good trade offers — which isn’t going to happen in real life — then I have an embarrassment of riches, etc.
I am one of those who thinks that they don’t need OL this draft though they will probably take 1 or 2. They have so many players coming back from injury on the OL, they are in a good position. Odds are you don’t have injury situations like last year that often–meaning that they can assume that the group will be relatively healthier. In that bunch they have a number of players who showed something even though they didn’t get than many games. I am not even sure they need a center. If Allen can’t go Shelton was fine and it’s no accident he’s one of the few players they re-signed.
I can see that view. But the O-line draft is really loaded this year, even late into the draft. The Rams have the opportunity to get more athletic there, and at least find better depth. But in the real world, they probably have other priorities, at least early.
I’d rather they get a couple of edges and two corners early, and go Defense. They need safeties too. But I’d be shocked if McSnead avoid the Offense. Likely a receiver or two. Abanikanda (RB), as mentioned (and Mitchell) would be great picks, IMO.
Billy_TParticipantThe second one is pure fantasy, primarily cuz the Rams would never get all of those trades, even if they wanted to make them. It’s a lot easier to make a huge number of them online. I’m guessing it’s extremely difficult to make volume trades happen as the draft progresses. But it’s a great draft, and would reset the entire team and make them instantly competitive.
I see at least 11 new starters, and nearly all the draftees with the potential for rookie snaps. I think Mingo will be good enough at receiver to allow the Rams to trade Jefferson, if they want to. Great size and athleticism. A bigger Deebo Samuels. Abanikanda makes Akers expendable. Bigger and much faster. So I’d start Israel, and use Luepke (FB) for short yardage, and Mitchell as the speedy change of pace back. Really hoping the Rams draft Mitchell. Extremely quick and fast, he’d be a dynamic home-run threat for McVay.
The O-line gets new starters, Stromberg, Daniels, and Bradford (or Richards). Juice gives them a solid backup at center.
Two new starters each at safety, corner, edge, punter. One new starter at DT and linebacker. Solid rotational edge, corner, and receiver.
Normally, if a team gets three or four starters, and keeps five or six players from a draft, it’s a good one. This one likely nails all but a couple.
Billy_TParticipantThis is a combination of me making fair trades, and accepting a few crazy trades offered to me:
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7 Round – 1 Team: Mock Draft
03/30/23Trade Recap
Los Angeles Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 44
2023: Round 3, Pick 75
2023: Round 4, Pick 110
2023: Round 5, Pick 159
2023: Round 7, Pick 225
Atlanta Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 36Los Angeles Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 46
2023: Round 6, Pick 184
2023: Round 7, Pick 245
New England Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 44Los Angeles Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 53
2023: Round 2, Pick 64
2023: Round 3, Pick 103
Chicago Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 46Los Angeles Receives:
2023: Round 4, Pick 111
2023: Round 5, Pick 140
2023: Round 7, Pick 229
Cleveland Receives:
2023: Round 3, Pick 103My Selections
53
Jack Campbell
LB | Iowa LogoIowaTRADE64
Tuli Tuipulotu
DL | USC LogoUSCTRADE69
D.J. Turner
CB | Michigan LogoMichigan75
Gervon Dexter
DL | Florida LogoFloridaTRADE77
Zach Harrison
EDGE | Ohio State LogoOhio State110
J.L. Skinner
S | Boise State LogoBoise StateTRADE111
Jartavius Martin
S | Illinois LogoIllinoisTRADE140
Israel Abanikanda
RB | Pittsburgh LogoPittsburghTRADE159
Jonathan Mingo
WR | Mississippi LogoMississippiTRADE167
Braeden Daniels
IOL | Utah LogoUtah171
Ricky Stromberg
IOL | Arkansas LogoArkansas177
Daniel Scott
S | California LogoCalifornia182
Keaton Mitchell
RB | East Carolina LogoEast Carolina184
Hunter Luepke
RB | North Dakota State LogoNorth Dakota StateTRADE189
Cory Trice
CB | Purdue LogoPurdue191
Bryce Ford-Wheaton
WR | West Virginia LogoWest Virginia223
Asim Richards
IOL | North Carolina LogoNorth Carolina225
Juice Scruggs
IOL | Penn State LogoPenn StateTRADE229
Anthony Bradford
IOL | LSU LogoLSUTRADE245
Yasir Abdullah
LB | Louisville LogoLouisvilleTRADE251
Bryce Baringer
P | Michigan State LogoMichigan StateBilly_TParticipantThe weakness of the above is probably the lack of O-line. Just a good center (Stromberg), who should start for the Rams. My other mocks usually go for at least three O-line guys. But it’s a lot tougher if I stick to the trade chart value. If the mock showers me with crazy good trade offers — which isn’t going to happen in real life — then I have an embarrassment of riches, etc.
Billy_TParticipanthttps://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/team-mock-drafts/2023
This is one where I refrained from the crazy good trade offers and made my own instead, going by the trade chart. Of course, I’m not really sure if NFL GMs actually use that anymore.
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Trade Recap
Los Angeles Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 43
2023: Round 4, Pick 112
New York Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 36Los Angeles Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 46
2023: Round 4, Pick 135
2023: Round 6, Pick 210
New England Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 43 2023:
Round 6, Pick 191Los Angeles Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 50
2023: Round 5, Pick 153
2023: Round 6, Pick 196
Tampa Bay Receives:
2023: Round 2, Pick 46___
My Selections
50
Drew Sanders
LB | Arkansas LogoArkansasTRADE69
Zach Harrison
EDGE | Ohio State LogoOhio State77
D.J. Turner
CB | Michigan LogoMichigan112
Colby Wooden
DL | Auburn LogoAuburnTRADE135
Israel Abanikanda
RB | Pittsburgh LogoPittsburghTRADE153
Jonathan Mingo
WR | Mississippi LogoMississippiTRADE167
Jakorian Bennett
CB | Maryland LogoMaryland171
Ricky Stromberg
IOL | Arkansas LogoArkansas177
Davis Allen
TE | Clemson LogoClemson182
Keaton Mitchell
RB | East Carolina LogoEast Carolina189
Andrei Iosivas
WR | Princeton LogoPrinceton196
Brandon Hill
S | Pittsburgh LogoPittsburghTRADE210
Chamarri Conner
S | Virginia Tech LogoVirginia TechTRADE223
Rejzohn Wright
CB | Oregon State LogoOregon State251
Lonnie Phelps
EDGE | Kansas LogoKansas(I’m guessing DJ Turner won’t be there at 77. Other than that, I think it’s realistic too, except for the volume of trades.)
Billy_TParticipantThat’s a pretty good mock for the Rams. Big fan, especially, of the DJ Turner and Israel Abanikanda picks. Though after the latter’s recent Pro Day, I highly doubt he’ll last until 167. They both make the Rams a great deal faster and more athletic.
Rams met with Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda before outstanding pro day performance
Ryan Fowler
@_RyanFowler_
Pitt RB Izzy Abanikanda met with the 49ers, Rams, and Cardinals yesterday evening, per source.Fresh off an outstanding Pro Day this morning where he jumped 41″ in the vert, 10’8″ in the broad, and ran mid 4.3s(u) in the 40, he’s had himself an excellent 24 hours.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah should be a good Edge as well. Solid draft.Have been having fun with NFL mock draft simulators. Almost addicted at this point. :>) I like www profootballnetwork dot com and www nflmockdatabase dot com. PFF’s is now subscription only, so I don’t bother with that one anymore.Whenever possible, I pick DJ Turner and Israel, and that was before his Pro Day.
The first on the list is much tougher on trades for the home team, but I still make them. As in, the algorithm is set to “decline” trades even if they meet the standards of the value chart. The second site, however, is much too generous to the home team, so I’ve been trying to force trades closer to the value chart — to be fair and all.
My recent mocks involve a ton of trades, far more than the norm. But since it’s all just fantasy stuff, why not? I’ve had a few that, in my not so humble opinion, would set the Rams up for a dynasty!;>)Billy_TParticipantThe Rams may be just clearing enough cap space to sign Chris Massey.
I was hoping for Madison “Hedgehog” Hedgecock.
This may be yet another McVay revolution. Strip the team of 99% of the roster, and then field three players on offense and defense. It would confuse the opposing coach so much they’d throw up their hands, walk off the field in a Sam Huff, and, essentially, forfeit. So the Rams would go 17 and 0, and cruise through the playoffs and win the Super Bowl via forfeit too.
This will only work for one season, though, of course. Eventually the Data crunchers will figure it all out, and use their ChatGen7.0 to rewrite the rules. But the Rams will win one more for the Flipper.
Billy_TParticipantAnother quick point. I’m gonna try to ask Jourdan in a comments section:
The Rams really count on their comp picks. Those are essential building blocks for their team-building model. But when you release players, you’re not eligible for any comps. So why do it? Or, at the very least, why pre-negotiate against yourself, and announce publicly that “If we can’t trade X, we’ll release him”?
(Seems obvious that most teams will just wait until they’re released, etc.)
Doesn’t strike me as smart chess.
Billy_TParticipantAgreed, WV.
And good points, ZN. Had forgotten about her take on Goff. I can see the “access” problem there. But, as you both mention, on balance? She’s the best the Rams have had, at least in my lifetime. We’d likely need a Waterfield to help us out with the old LA beat writers back in the day. Don’t know how good they were . . .
Most of us here are nomads, I’m guessing. I started as an East Coast fan back in 1966, and without the Internet in existence, didn’t see LA Times journalism — or St Louis — until the 1990s. Basically missed roughly 30 years of it. Relied primarily on Sports Illustrated, Sports Magazine, Washington Post, and a few other outlets here and there. Always bought those NFL magazines that previewed the new season, like Athlons, too. Really looked forward to those. Plus, the occasional TV games, etc. etc.
But at least from the Internet era onward, yeah, she’s the best. And she’s humble. I like that about her.
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