The Los Angeles Rams will go on the clock Friday night with their first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft coming at No. 52 overall. But as always, there’s a chance Les Snead and the Rams will make a bold move up to get a player they covet.
Snead said Thursday night that the team will consider trading up, but it’ll come down to “a simple math formula” of whether the team wants to sacrifice later picks to go get one player.
“We all know that every now and then there’s a player that’s definitely worth it,” he said. “So, we will certainly monitor it and try to determine whether it’s best to attack or sit back and wait and take who’s there.”
If the Rams do trade up in the second round, these four players should be targets early on Day 2.
OT Josh Jones, Houston
Jones slipping this far is one of the biggest surprises of the draft. He may need work with his technique, but Jones has all the makings of an elite left tackle. He’s long, athletic and has played a ton of snaps in his career.
Just take a look at these numbers from Pro Football Focus, which put his ability into perspective.
Josh Jones received a 92.1 Run blocking grade from PFF. That's the highest of the OTs.
Oh… His 89.2 pass protection grade is also the highest.
His Zone (2nd) and Gap (1st) run blocking are near the top also. Gap is far and away the best.
3 year starter with over 2,300 snaps.— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) April 24, 2020
The Rams don’t need immediate help at tackle with Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein on the roster, but Jones would help solidify the offensive line for years to come after Whitworth retires. Going up and getting Jones might just be worth it to secure the future at one of the most important positions.