The Los Angeles Rams took a different approach to the NFL combine this year, not sending any coordinators to Indianapolis with Sean McVay, who only spent one night at the big event. Les Snead and the Rams’ other talent evaluators were in charge of scouting the 330-plus prospects at Lucas Oil Stadium, vetting them in the interview room and watching them on the field in drills.
With the festivities in Indianapolis wrapped up, we put together a new mock draft using The Draft Network’s mock draft machine. Going seven rounds, we addressed the Rams’ biggest needs with their limited stockpile of picks; Los Angeles doesn’t have a first- or fifth-rounder.
Here’s who we came away with in this post-combine haul.
52. EDGE Joshua Uche, Michigan
84. OT Matthew Peart, UConn
116. LB Jacob Phillips, LSU
179. DE Raequan Williams, Michigan State
211. QB Cole McDonald, Hawaii
Analysis
It was a toss-up at No. 52 in this simulation. Ohio State guard Jonah Jackson, Auburn tackle Prince Tega Wanogho and Boise State edge rusher Curtis Weaver were all available – as was combine standout Justin Madubuike – but Uche fits the mold of what the Rams need the most. He fills a position of need at outside linebacker, bringing versatility and explosiveness off the edge. Uche didn’t do much at the combine, but his tape shows a promising edge rusher with good production at a big-time program.
In Round 3, Peart is the pick as a developmental left tackle prospect. With all indications pointing toward Andrew Whitworth coming back, Peart is a perfect fit. He can take the year to learn behind Whitworth, improving his technique and the mental aspect of the game to go along with his intriguing physical attributes. He performed well at the combine, running a 5.06 40-yard dash with 26 bench-press reps at 6-foot-7, 318 pounds.
Phillips is another player who shined in Indianapolis. He ran a 4.66 40-yard dash at 229 pounds, jumping out of the gym with a 39-inch vertical and 126-inch broad. His 4.33 short shuttle and 7.38 three-cone drill put him in the top half among linebackers and edge rushers, showing why he’s a rising prospect in this class. While he’s not a turnover machine like Cory Littleton, Phillips is a good run defender and could contribute right away.
In Round 6, Williams is the pick as a potential replacement for Michael Brockers. He ran a good 5.04 40-yard dash at 308 pounds and has the requisite length (33 3/8-inch arms) to play 5-technique in the Rams’ scheme. His 17 reps on the bench didn’t open any eyes, but his agility times were respectable for a Day 3 pick.
Finally, we address a position that doesn’t get talked about much as one the Rams need to look at. Blake Bortles is a free agent and John Wolford probably isn’t ready to back up Jared Goff. So, we took Cole McDonald out of Hawaii as a developmental quarterback. He’s a terrific athlete with enticing tools at the position, but he needs coaching in an NFL system. Still, the potential is there as a seventh-round pick, coming with very little risk but some reward if he turns into a QB2.
Passing on interior linemen in this mock will cause some uproar among fans, but with only five picks to work with and a lot of holes to fill, the opportunity simply wasn’t there to take one instead of a quality defender. The Rams will get a compensatory pick for the loss of Rodger Saffold or Lamarcus Joyner – like a third- or fourth-rounder – so that’ll help their cause, but that wasn’t reflected in this mock.