Tag: rams draft

What is the Rams’ perfect prospect pair in Round 2?

A pair of Michigan prospects would be an ideal scenario for the Rams in the second round.

After trading Brandin Cooks to the Houston Texans, the Los Angeles Rams are in a great position to add two impact rookies in the draft. They own the 52nd and 57th overall picks, the latter of which they acquired in the Cooks trade.

With holes on the offensive line, at linebacker and possibly even running back, there are a number of ways the Rams can go in the second round. But what would be the ideal scenario for Los Angeles with its first two picks?

According to Chad Reuter of NFL.com, a double-dip of Michigan prospects would be the best-case scenario for the Rams. In this exercise where he and Lance Zierlein lay out the ideal situation for each team’s top two picks, Reuter went with center Cesar Ruiz and edge rusher Josh Uche at No. 52 and 57, respectively.

The Rams have not had a first-round pick since they selected quarterback Jared Goff No. 1 overall in 2016. But with two picks in the mid-second round this year, including the one recently gained from Houston for Brandin Cooks, GM Les Snead can make some hay. Fortifying the interior of the team’s offensive line is a must, so grabbing Ruiz (one of LSU’s starters, such as center Lloyd Cushenberry or guard Damien Lewis, would also work if Ruiz is gone) would be a smart plan with their first pick. Although they’ll miss out on the draft’s elite edge prospects, they could land players like Uche or Notre Dame’s Julian Okwara at 57th overall to help improve the team’s pass rush. As for one team grabbing two players from the same college in the same round? It happens more often than you might think. For example, the Saints selected two Ohio State players in the second round in 2016 — receiver Michael Thomas and safety Vonn Bell.

Both players have been projected to the Rams in several mock drafts, and for good reason. Ruiz is arguably the best center prospect in the draft, and Uche is a player who fits the mold of a 3-4 outside linebacker. It’s very likely that they’d both be Day 1 starters for Los Angeles, though Uche would have to beat out Samson Ebukam and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo first.

The Rams could also take a wide receiver with their first pick if someone like Denzel Mims, Jalen Reagor or Brandon Aiyuk fall to No. 52, or they may prepare for the future at left tackle in advance of Andrew Whitworth’s retirement.

The Rams will have options in the second round, but it’s hard to argue with Reuter’s picks of Ruiz and Uche as one of the best scenarios.

Rams 7-round mock: How a WR-first draft could play out for L.A.

What if the Rams target a wide receiver with their first pick in the draft?

Two years ago, the Los Angeles Rams acquired Brandin Cooks just before the 2018 NFL Draft. It removed wide receiver from their list of draft needs, boasting arguably the strongest depth at the position in the NFL.

This offseason, the exact opposite has happened. The Rams traded Cooks to the Texans last week, bringing wide receiver back to the forefront in the draft. And with this being an incredibly deep and talented wideout class, it seems highly likely that the Rams will take a pass-catcher at some point in the draft.

But what if they prioritize wide receiver and select one with their first pick at No. 52 overall? Regardless of how the first 51 picks play out, there should be a Day 1 starter available for the Rams in the second round.

In this mock draft using The Draft Network’s simulator, we prioritized wide receiver and took one with the 52nd overall pick rather than selecting an offensive lineman, a pass rusher or a linebacker.

It’s a worthwhile exercise and something the Rams are certainly going through themselves, too, because it shows they can still get quality players at other positions later on. Of course, there’s a case to be made that the wide receiver depth is good enough that a top player could be had in Round 3 and 4, instead, but it was hard to pass up the options at No. 52.

Here’s the final haul:

52. WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State

57. OLB Terrell Lewis, Alabama

84. LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State

104. OT Matthew Peart, UConn

126. G John Simpson, Clemson

199. RB Joshua Kelley, UCLA

234. CB A.J. Green, Oklahoma State

Aiyuk and Michael Pittman Jr. were the top wide receivers available at No. 52, as Denzel Mims, Jalen Reagor and Laviska Shenault Jr. were all off the board. Aiyuk is a dynamic playmaker, though, who fits well as an outside receiver in the Rams’ scheme. While not a blazer like Henry Ruggs or Reagor, Aiyuk is still great after the catch and can also contribute on special teams as a returner.

Had we gone with another position at No. 52, Justin Madabuike was available, but the Rams bolstered their defensive line in free agency. Jordyn Brooks was also in consideration, as was Josh Uche and Lewis, but Aiyuk was too good to pass up.

At No. 57, the pick acquired for Cooks, Lewis was the pick. While he has durability concerns, his ceiling is too high to ignore and worth taking a chance on. He has the potential to be a double-digit sack player early in his career.

Davis-Gaither looks to be a rangy, fast linebacker at the next level and in the third round, he’s a great value. Logan Wilson and Troy Dye were also in consideration there. At No. 104, the Rams prepare for the future with Peart, who could be the successor to Andrew Whitworth at left tackle. He needs time to develop, which the Rams fortunately have.

Simpson is a mauler up front and would join a deep competition at guard, while Kelley in the sixth round gives the Rams more depth at running back. Green has prototypical size at cornerback, and with the Rams’ talent at the position already, he would just be a developmental player.

It might seem unnecessary to take a wide receiver with their first pick, considering the Rams already have Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and Josh Reynolds, but this haul shows it’s still possible for the Rams to come away with impact players at their other positions of need.

PFF lays out best-case scenario for the Rams in the draft

Cesar Ruiz would be a bargain for the Rams in the second round of the draft.

Les Snead is as unpredictable as NFL general managers come, so it’s difficult to know which direction he and the Los Angeles Rams will go in the second round of the upcoming draft. They clearly need help on the offensive line, but the defense could use some reinforcements at linebacker and at edge rusher.

In Pro Football Focus’ mind, the best-case scenario for the Rams involves one of the draft’s top centers being available at No. 52 in the second round. Cesar Ruiz out of Michigan is a fringe first-rounder but considering how much teams deprioritize centers, he could slip into the second round.

Here’s what PFF wrote about a situation where Ruiz falls to the Rams at 52.

The Rams desperately need help on the interior of the offensive line, especially at center where they combined to produce the third-lowest pass-block grade in the NFL. While they might not own a first-round pick, they may get lucky and have the best center available to them 52nd overall in Cesar Ruiz. At just 20 years old, Ruiz posted the second-highest pass-block grade among all FBS centers. His run-blocking isn’t polished, but there are few flaws in his pass-pro. Ruiz is precisely what the Rams need.

It’s hard to argue with the case PFF is making. Brian Allen looked overmatched at center last season and Austin Blythe may be needed at guard. Center is the Rams’ weakest position right now, especially with Allen coming off a significant knee injury.

Ruiz would be an immediate upgrade over both Allen and Blythe, and getting him in Round 2 would be a bargain for Los Angeles.

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Rams among teams showing most interest in Baylor WR Denzel Mims

The Rams are showing interest in one of the draft’s top wide receivers.

When looking at the Rams’ depth chart, you wouldn’t think they’d need any help at wide receiver. When healthy and on the field together, Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp make up arguably the best trio in the NFL.

But when you dig deeper, you see that Kupp and Josh Reynolds will be free agents after the 2020 season and the Rams have gotten calls about Cooks as a trade chip. All of that explains why the Rams are doing their work on one of the top receivers in the draft class, Baylor’s Denzel Mims.

According to Justin Melo of Draft Wire, the Rams had a pre-draft visit with Mims scheduled, which had to obviously be canceled due to the coronavirus. Instead, it’ll now take place over FaceTime.

Mims also told Matt Mosley of ESPN Radio that the Rams are among the teams he’s talked to the most, which is an indication of their interest in the Baylor product.

Mims opened a lot of eyes at the NFL combine when he ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at 6-foot-3, 207 pounds. He’s somewhat of a raw prospect, but there’s no doubt he has the athleticism and size to succeed in the NFL.

Where he’s at his best is in the red zone, using his bigger frame to come down with jump balls – the type of receiver the Rams lack right now. He’s not a perfect prospect, though, and doesn’t have great separation skills yet.

As for where Mims could be drafted, he might go as high as the middle of the first round. The more likely scenario is late-first to early second, which would keep him out of the Rams’ range. Still, their interest in him is certainly noteworthy, and the fact that he attended the Senior Bowl is checked box for the Rams, too.

Rams mailbag: Value of No. 52 pick? Plan at ILB?

Answering Rams fans’ questions with three weeks to go before the draft.

The 2020 NFL Draft is less than three weeks away and while the details of the event have not yet been determined, it’s scheduled to take place on time from April 23-25. The Rams are most likely finishing up their evaluation of the class’s top prospects, finalizing their draft board and making their last calls to players for FaceTime meetings.

They’re most likely done in free agency after making a few big signings – primarily Andrew Whitworth and Michael Brockers – but the roster-building is hardly finished.

This week’s mailbag focuses on the Rams’ free agency activity, as well as a few positions of need that still must be addressed. Now, let’s get to the questions, which were submitted on Twitter.

This wouldn’t be surprising at all. According to Drafttek’s trade value chart, the 52nd pick is worth 380 points. If the Rams move down to No. 63 with the Chiefs and pick up the 96th pick. Or, they could slide down just four spots and add Nos. 154 and 185.

There’s a lot of value in moving down, especially since the Rams don’t have a fifth-rounder. Getting that back by dropping a few spots could be worthwhile.

According to Over The Cap, the Rams have only $2.91 million available. That doesn’t count Michael Brockers’ deal, nor Leonard Floyd’s. Depending on how those are structured, the Rams are likely to be right up against the cap, or possibly even over it. If they’re projected to be over it, they’ll need to make a move, such as restructuring Jared Goff’s deal.

The $2.91 million also doesn’t include Todd Gurley’s $5.5 million savings, which will be reflected on June 2. So in other words, the Rams have only pocket change left.

Because of the Rams’ limited cap space, I don’t expect any more notable moves to be made in free agency. They simply don’t have the money to bring in any surefire starters, especially after re-signing Brockers.

Instead, I think they’ll roll with their current group of linemen and maybe add a rookie or two to the mix. At linebacker, it’ll probably be a combination of Micah Kiser and either Kenny Young, Travin Howard or a draft pick.

A) Matt McCrane and Austin MacGinnis from the XFL should get a look, as could Stephen Gostkowski. If not them, potentially a rookie like Rodrigo Blankenship.

B) Floyd’s deal hasn’t been reflected yet, since it hasn’t been signed and as a result, we don’t know the details of it. See above for cap info.

C) If the Rams don’t sign a free-agent kicker, most likely, yes. With the way they’ve been looking into rookie running backs, they’ll probably draft one, too.

D) Gay is someone I’d consider in the third or fourth rounds. He’s an intriguing linebacker prospect with great athleticism who would fit nicely with the Rams.

E) The Rams like to get deals done right before the season, so it’s possible we’ll see one or two signed in July or August.

They’ve spoken highly of Kiser, who’s penciled in as one of the starters right now. However, as you pointed out, having too much trust in young and unproven players can backfire in a big way. They’d be wise to bring in an experienced veteran or two at some point to not only provide competition, but act as contingency plans.

Perhaps Littleton just didn’t want to go back to the Rams. It’s possible the allure of no state income tax played a role, too, even if the Rams offered more money.

In all likelihood, the Rams probably saw Littleton’s asking price as too high and focused their attention elsewhere. But to be clear, I’m surprised they let him walk for such little money, relatively speaking.

I think if Havenstein is on the roster, he has to be a starter. He’s making more than $8 million per year, and the Rams aren’t going to pay him to ride the pine at that cost.

He could still be traded, which would open the door for Evans and David Edwards to compete at right tackle. I just think with his contract, it’s hard to imagine Havenstein being a backup.

It’s also worth noting that Evans got a lot more help at right tackle than Havenstein did.

I think it’ll either be a pass rusher or an offensive lineman. However, the Rams often use a best-player-available approach, which causes them to not address needs, but take the top prospect at that spot.

I highly doubt they trade up, A) because it’s not something Les Snead usually does with his first pick, and B) they simply don’t have much draft capital in order to make a move up. They only have two picks in the top 100 and four in the first five rounds.

It will be better, but it still won’t be good. They’re projected to have a little more than $51 million in 2021, which is 10th-lowest in the NFL. And that’s with John Johnson, Cooper Kupp and Jalen Ramsey on the books, since all three will be free agents.

I don’t expect Cooks to be traded at this time, just because of the salary cap implications that will come from dealing him. It’ll cost the Rams $1 million more to trade Cooks than it will to keep him.

I do. The Rams have good depth at cornerback, but Hill has earned a starting job and none of the players below him on the depth chart are better at this time. It’s possible someone like David Long could beat him out this summer, but I’d write Hill’s name in ink at CB2.

The Rams have said they’re going to unveil their uniforms later this spring with that reportedly being after the draft. So if that’s the case, I don’t think they’ll coincide with the Chargers’ reveal.

They probably want to make this a public event, too, the way the Titans did, which isn’t possible in the current climate.

Sean McVay says Rams could hold draft war room at his house

Sean McVay said the Rams are working through their draft plans now, which includes hosting the war room at his house.

The NFL draft is going to look a lot different than it typically does this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The league has already canceled its festivities in Las Vegas and while the draft is still scheduled to take place on April 23-25, it remains to be seen how teams will handle the new format.

It could be a virtual selection process, or teams could be limited to the number of people in the war room during the draft. The Rams are still working through their potential plans, one of which is running the draft out of Sean McVay’s house.

McVay said on “The John Roa Show” that he might have some of the Rams’ front office members at his house during the draft rather than working from the team’s facilities.

“We’ve had some calls with the league, and as of right now, what we do know is we are going to have a draft. Exactly what the circumstances are – No. 1, you’re going to follow the protocol by our government and try to do everything we can to try to make sure [we’re] part of the solution,” McVay said. “It might be virtual, it might be a limitation on the amount of people you can have at your facility and you might even see – shoot, we might be doing it out of this damn house. We’ve got some availability and some setups, might have a couple of our other people in the front office come over to the house and we’ll be selecting players from here. We’re kind of honestly navigating through where that will take place and exactly what it looks like over the next couple of weeks.”

It’s not just draft weekend that has been impacted by the coronavirus. The pre-draft process has been hindered, too. Teams can’t bring in prospects for visits, they can’t watch them work out at pro days and they’re unable to do their own medical background checks during those visits.

McVay said the team is adapting but acknowledged that these limitations are impacting the evaluation process leading up to the draft.

“It’s one thing to continue to study these guys, but usually this time is when you’re going on the pro day circuits, you’re able to get that up-close-and-personal interaction,” he said. “Now those calls are FaceTime calls where you’re interviewing players and you don’t have the ability to bring them into your building. Even with free agency, there’s been some delays in being able to sign your guys because you can’t bring them in to pass the physical, to sign the contract. It’s unprecedented, but it certainly gives you a perspective on – you feel blessed, but we’re playing a football game and there’s a lot bigger issues at stake and I think we’re doing our best to adjust and be part of the solution.”

The Rams don’t have a pick until the second round at No. 52 overall, but they’ll be busy on Day 2 of the draft. They also have two picks in the third round, Nos. 84 and 104 overall.

Look: Rams’ 2020 draft hat features new L.A. logo

The Rams’ new logo is featured on the 2020 draft hats, but the ram head is not.

The 2020 NFL Draft won’t be held under the bright lights of Las Vegas, but that won’t stop New Era from releasing its annual line of hats to commemorate the big event. The hats hit retailers on Tuesday, popping up on New Era’s website and on the NFL’s shop.

Rams fans already caught a glimpse of their team’s draft hat when it leaked the new logo a few weeks back, but the official cap is better than the one that popped up on Twitter.

Here’s a look at the Rams’ draft hats for 2020, which come in a variety of styles and fits.

Here’s a closer look at the two different styles, one of which just has the L.A. logo while the other reads “Los Angeles Football” across the front panel.

It’s pretty clear which hat will be preferred by fans, though neither are expected to be flying off the shelves after seeing the response to the team’s new logo.

The hat on the left is certainly better than the one that leaked, and is a better representation of the logo. The blue glow around it actually looks pretty cool, too.

The hat on the right, though, misses the mark. It’s too crowded and the coloring does nothing for the logo. The lack of blue makes it look even more generic than it already is.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a hat that features the redesigned ram head, which most fans seem to prefer over the L.A. mark.

All of the Rams’ draft hats can be found on New Era’s site.

Rams pass on edge rushers for OL help at No. 52 in 4-round mock

Take a look at Luke Easterling’s latest mock draft, which has the Rams taking Prince Tega Wanogho in Round 2.

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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Rams had FaceTime meeting with Michigan State DL Raequan Williams

The Rams are still meeting with draft prospects, but only over the phone.

The NFL has prohibited teams from hosting draft prospects for visits due to the coronavirus outbreak, making the off-the-field evaluation process much more difficult for all 32 franchises. Typically, teams are allowed to host no more than 30 prospects at their facility each year, but they’ll now have to use virtual measures to meet with players before the draft.

The Rams have met with at least one prospect over FaceTime before the draft. According to Justin Melo of Draft Wire, Michigan State defensive lineman Raequan Williams had a call with the Rams, among other teams.

Williams would be a good fit at defensive end in the Rams’ scheme, standing at 6-foot-4, 308 pounds. He’s not viewed as an immediate starter, however. As a likely Day 3 pick, he’d have to make the Rams as a backup first before carving out a role on the defensive line.

Last season at Michigan State, he had 48 tackles, 5.0 sacks and one forced fumble, making 7.5 tackles for loss. If the Rams were to select him, though, it’d take some time for him to develop into a potential starter.

NFL draft still set for April 23-25, events in Las Vegas canceled

The NFL is making a change to the 2020 NFL Draft plan.

The NFL is following the lead of other leagues around the world in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The league announced on Monday that the 2020 NFL Draft will take place as scheduled on April 23-25, but the public events in Las Vegas have been canceled.

The NFL is “innovative options” for the draft process that weekend, but fans will not be able to attend. The selection process will be televised, however.

“This decision reflects our foremost priority — the health and safety of all fans and citizens,” Goodell said in a statement. “While this outcome is disappointing both to the NFL and to the Las Vegas community, we look forward to partnering with the Raiders, the City of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for a future NFL Draft as well as evaluating opportunities for other major NFL events in Las Vegas in the future, including the Super Bowl.”

The draft has become a spectacle and marquee event for the NFL, hosting hundreds of thousands of fans across the three days. But with how fast the virus is spreading, the NFL couldn’t afford to put more people at risk by holding it from April 23-25 as it was originally scheduled.