The Los Angeles Rams lost their second- and third-best pass rushers this offseason, watching Dante Fowler Jr. leave to join the Falcons, while Clay Matthews was cut by the team in a cap-saving move. That leaves a big hole at outside linebacker, which the Rams have begun to fill with the addition of Leonard Floyd.
The draft is rich with quality pass rushers that can be had into the second and third rounds, which could be the sweet spot for the Rams to find a future starter. In Luke Easterling’s latest mock draft for Draft Wire, though, he has them passing on edge rushers in favor of offensive tackle help.
Here are the Rams’ picks in the four-round mock.
52. Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn
84. Jordan Elliott, DL, Missouri
104. Zack Moss, RB, Utah
126. Darrell Taylor, EDGE, Tennessee
At 52, the Rams had a number of good options. While Justin Madabuike came off the board one pick before the Rams, Julian Okwara, Curtis Weaver and Zack Baun were all available at No. 52. Any of those three pass rushers would be great fits with the Rams, given the holes they have at outside linebacker even after adding Floyd.
Instead, Easterling has the Rams taking Wanogho, a raw offensive tackle who needs at least a year before he becomes a starter in the NFL. It wouldn’t be a bad pick for the Rams, especially after re-signing Andrew Whitworth, but those edge rushers would be hard to pass up.
In Round 3, they add some bulk to the defensive line with Elliott before selecting one of the most intriguing running backs in the class, Zack Moss. The Rams met with Moss at the combine and are clearly interested in him, with that meeting coming even before Todd Gurley was cut.
In the fourth round, the Rams land Taylor, who has great size for the position but needs refining as a pass rusher. His athleticism and size make him an enticing prospect, though, and someone worth taking a chance on in the fourth round.
This draft would solidify most of the Rams’ top needs, but it also doesn’t address guard or inside linebacker – two spots near the top of the team’s priority list.
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