The Los Angeles Rams won’t be able to replace Aaron Donald. Les Snead and Sean McVay both know that, having been around the future Hall of Famer during his illustrious career. They can’t simply draft a defensive tackle in the first round, plug him in as a starter and expect the same level of impact that Donald had.
That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try to add reinforcements to the defensive line, which they’re likely to do at some point in the draft, but it’ll take an army (and then some) to replace No. 99 in the middle.
In Pro Football Focus’ latest three-round mock draft, the Rams go heavy on the front seven. With their first two picks, Los Angeles selects two defensive tackles: Illinois’ Johnny Newton at No. 19 and Clemson’s Ruke Orhorhoro at No. 52 overall.
Here’s what PFF wrote about the selection of Newton.
Aaron Donald‘s retirement is disappointing for the Rams, but alas, he has chosen to ride off into the football sunset on the road to the Hall of Fame. The Rams know how important top-notch interior play is. That’s why I see Newton as being high on their board. He earned elite cumulative PFF grades in both pass rush and run defense over the past two seasons.
Newton is viewed as one of the two best defensive tackles in the draft, alongside Texas’ Byron Murphy II. In this mock, the Rams actually pass on Murphy to take Newton, causing Murphy to fall two spots to the Dolphins at No. 21 overall.
Orhorhoro is a versatile defensive lineman who would add even more depth to the front four, but it may be overkill to use two top-52 picks on the same position – even with the Rams only having five D-linemen under contract.
They’d be much better off selecting an edge rusher and a defensive lineman in the first two rounds to diversify their picks a bit, while still helping the pass rush in a big way.
Later on in PFF’s mock draft, the Rams select Ohio State inside linebacker Tommy Eichenberg at No. 99 overall, so they go all defense in the first three rounds.