Tag: rams draft

Rams 7-round mock draft: Pre-combine offensive line makeover

The Rams need help on the offensive line, which comes in this mock draft.

The NFL combine gets underway next week in Indianapolis, which will give scouts, personnel evaluators and coaches another piece of data when it comes to building their draft boards. Prospects will rise and fall as a result of their work and weigh-ins at the combine, whether it’s fair or not.

The Rams will have a smaller contingent of coaches at the combine this year with their new coordinators staying back in L.A., as well as Sean McVay spending just one night in Indianapolis. But before the event begins, we put together a fresh seven-round mock draft for the Rams.

In this exercise using The Draft Network’s mock draft machine, the assumption is that Dante Fowler Jr. leaves in free agency, but Cory Littleton and Andrew Whitworth return. With that in mind, we rebuilt the interior of the offensive line after adding a starting-caliber edge rusher with Los Angeles’ first pick.

52. EDGE Julian Okwara, Notre Dame

In Round 2, the Rams take edge rusher Julian Okwara out of Notre Dame. He’s a perfect fit for a 3-4 defense, with good height (6-foot-4) and a solid build. His athleticism pops off the tape and getting him with defensive coordinator Brandon Taylor, who’s coached outside linebackers with the Broncos and Bears, would help extract Okwara’s potential early on.

84. C Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin

In the third round, the Rams select another Wisconsin offensive lineman, taking center Tyler Biadasz. He played with David Edwards in 2018 and was one of the best centers in college football two seasons ago. He regressed a bit in 2019, but he would be an upgrade over Brian Allen and Austin Blythe.

116. G Damien Lewis, LSU

At No. 116 in the fourth round, the Rams go back to the well of interior offensive lineman and select LSU guard Damien Lewis. He’s a powerful blocker who thrives in the running game, which is something the Rams sorely missed when Rodger Saffold left. Taking Lewis would give the Rams options, allowing Bobby Evans, Joseph Noteboom and even David Edwards to focus on playing tackle in the near future.

179. LB Mohamed Barry, Nebraska

The Rams are without a fifth-round pick after the trades involving Aqib Talib and Dante Fowler Jr., so in Round 6, they take a linebacker. Mohamed Barry out of Nebraska is the pick, bringing elite athleticism to the position next to Littleton. He might not be a hulking run defender with prototypical size, but he’s physical and fast – two traits that typically earn linebackers snaps in sub-packages.

211. DE Mike Panasiuk, Michigan State

Finally, the Rams address the defensive line by adding Mike Panasiuk out of Michigan State. He’d be a viable replacement for Michael Brockers, should he leave in free agency, providing immediate depth to a unit that needs it.

It might seem like overkill to double-dip on the interior of the offensive line and pass on a tackle, but passing on Biadasz and Lewis was too hard to do. There were no better tackles available at the time, either.

Keep in mind the Rams are in line for an additional compensatory pick in the fourth round, which will make addressing their needs easier.

Sean McVay is only spending 1 night at the NFL combine. Is it a big deal?

Sean McVay is skipping the bulk of the NFL combine, but this isn’t a huge deal for the Rams.

If you’ve ever watched the NFL combine broadcast, you’ve probably noticed how many coaches and general managers are sitting together in the seats at Lucas Oil Stadium. Just about every team’s head coach and top personnel evaluators spend the week evaluating the draft’s best prospects in Indianapolis as they go through on-field drills.

If you watch this year’s combine, though, you won’t see Sean McVay seated next to Les Snead as offensive linemen run the 40-yard dash – or as wide receivers snag deep passes from the quarterbacks in attendance. That’s because McVay is reportedly only spending one night in Indianapolis this year, fulfilling his media obligation before heading back to Los Angeles, according to NFL Media’s Mike Silver.

The reasoning? He wants to continue working with hew new coordinators, of which he has three.

Offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, defensive coordinator Brandon Staley and special teams coordinator John Bonamego will all stay back at the Rams’ headquarters, too, preparing for the upcoming season – their first in Los Angeles.

It was previously reported that McVay would only attend the opening days of the combine, but spending just one night in Indianapolis is certainly out of the ordinary for a head coach. It may seem like a big deal to some, but it says two things.

One, McVay is putting a big emphasis on the Rams’ scheme and preparation for the 2020 season. And two, it shows just how much trust Snead and McVay have in each other.

Here’s what Silver said about the decision, saying it shows a level of urgency by McVay and the Rams as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 2019 campaign.

“Sean McVay is only popping in for one night, as I understand. He’s going to show up, do his media obligation and head back to Southern California to grind it out with his coordinators,” Silver said. “I think this gives you an idea of how urgent Sean thinks this situation is. Obviously the 49ers have become the juggernaut in that division. We’ve talked already about Seattle and going and getting Greg Olsen and what they believe they have going there. Kyler Murray gives the Cardinals some juice, and the Rams – who were coming off a Super Bowl going into last season – are suddenly having to rev it up and figure out a way to compete in the NFC West.

“There are a lot of ideas being exchanged and the environment’s been really good – a lot of coaches speaking very freely of how they view things. But as far as the combine, when the rest of the NFL is stuck in Indianapolis in a cesspool of energy and conversation, the Rams are going to be hunkering down – Sean McVay, at least, and his two new coordinators.”

Seeing prospects live at the combine certainly helps the evaluation process. However, it’s not essential to be there to watch the 40-yard dash or to see a cornerback run the three-cone drill. McVay and the coordinators can watch all of that on TV back in Los Angeles without missing so much as a single drop by a running back on a wheel route.

What McVay will miss out on, though, is the all-important interview process. Meeting with prospects at the combine is one of the great benefits of being in Indianapolis, and McVay’s opportunities to sit down with some of the Rams’ top targets will be limited. Front office members, scouts and assistant coaches will presumably be handling the bulk of that work this year for L.A.

Of course, the Rams will still have the chance to meet with 30 prospects of their choice leading up to the draft – often called “top-30 visits.” That’s when coaches and personnel evaluators learn the most about a prospect, rather than the 18-minute interviews teams are allowed to hold with a maximum of 45 players at the combine.

So is it bizarre that McVay is essentially skipping the combine? Sure. But is it something to be concerned about? No, not really. He’ll still meet with prospects before the draft, he’ll still see them go through drills on the combine broadcast, and he’ll still share some insight on the Rams during his press conference in Indianapolis.

McVay just feels it’s more important to spend the week working with his new coordinators on developing a game plan for 2020, leaning on Snead and the rest of the team’s talent evaluators to handle the duties in Indianapolis.

4-round mock draft: Rams gamble on promising but risky OT prospect

The Rams need immediate help on the O-line, which this mock draft wouldn’t necessarily provide.

The Los Angeles Rams will have to play the waiting game in the draft once again this year, not having a pick until No. 52 overall. It’s the price they’re paying for acquiring Jalen Ramsey from the Jacksonville Jaguars, also being without a first-round pick in 2021, too.

As a result, the pickings will be much slimmer at 52 than at No. 20 overall, which is where they would’ve been picking had they not acquired Ramsey. Finding a Day 1 starter in the middle of the second round will be difficult, but it’s not impossible.

In the latest mock draft at Draft Wire, Luke Easterling has the Rams addressing the offensive line in Round 2, which comes as no surprise. He mocked Washingon left tackle Trey Adams to the Rams at No. 52, a high-risk, high-reward pick.

Adams had a solid 2019 season, but he played just three games combined in 2017 and 2018. He missed significant time due to ACL and back injuries, putting his status as a potential first-round pick in question.

Adams might just be the perfect prospect for the Rams, though. Andrew Whitworth seems poised to return for another season, which would give Adams the chance to sit and learn for a year before potentially taking over as the starting left tackle in 2021 – similar to the way the Rams handled Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen in 2018.

In the third round, Easterling has the Rams taking Missouri defensive lineman Jordan Elliott. He can play multiple positions up front, but at 6-foot-4, 315 pounds, he probably fits best as a defensive tackle. That role is currently occupied by Aaron Donald, which would push Elliott outside to defensive end. It’s not a terrible fit, but also not an ideal one given his lack of length.

Finally, with the Rams’ last pick in this mock draft, they select offensive lineman Darryl Williams. He can play either guard or center, but he’s a developmental prospect with very little starting potential in Year 1. The Rams need immediate help on the interior, which Williams wouldn’t help with much as a rookie.

Here’s how the final mock draft shook out.

  • 52. Trey Adams, OT, Washington
  • 84. Jordan Elliott, DL, Missouri
  • 116. Darryl Williams, OL, Mississippi State

Report: Rams not sending coordinators to NFL combine

Sean McVay is keeping his new coaches back as they won’t attend the 2020 combine.

Sean McVay has only been a head coach for three years, but he’s already established himself as someone who bucks the trend every now and then. Whether it’s by hiring a coaching staff full of guys in their 30s or sitting his starters for just about the entire preseason, McVay approaches things differently.

His plan for the 2020 NFL combine will be out of the ordinary, too. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Rams’ new coordinators – Brandon Staley and Kevin O’Connell – will not attend the combine in Indianapolis because the team “would rather have them in Los Angeles, implementing the team’s new offensive and defensive schemes.” The Broncos aren’t sending their assistants to Indy, either.

Additionally, McVay’s time at the combine will be limited, too. He will attend the first few days in Indianapolis to speak to the media, but he’ll then return to Los Angeles and continue working on “implementing his systems with his two new coordinators.”

The rest of the Rams’ coaching staff, as well as their scouts and personnel evaluators such as GM Les Snead, will be in attendance at the combine.

This is an interesting move by the Rams, but one that does make some sense. It’s the first time McVay will have a mostly new coaching staff, so there is a lot that needs to be done with regards to their scheme on both sides of the ball. And given the fact that they won’t be making personnel decisions in the draft, their attendance in Indianapolis isn’t exactly required.

Rams don’t have much capital to move up in 2020 NFL Draft

The Rams’ 2020 draft picks are the third-least valuable in the NFL.

Rams general manager Les Snead has never been afraid to wheel and deal in the NFL draft, whether it’s ahead of the big event (Brandin Cooks, Jalen Ramsey) or during it. The Rams have gone three straight years without a first-round pick as a result of trades made, and they won’t have won in 2020 or 2021, either.

This year, in particular, it’ll be difficult to make a significant move up the board. With their first pick coming at No. 52 overall, and not another until 84, the Rams don’t have much capital if they want to go up and get someone.

According to Tankathon, which uses Jimmy Johnson’s trade value chart, the Rams’ collection of picks is the third-least valuable in the NFL with a point total of 667. Only the Steelers (550.2) and Texans (512) have lower totals, holding one fewer pick than the Rams’ six.

Using Drafttek’s trade value chart, you can see just how difficult it’ll be for the Rams to move up. Here are a few potential scenarios for them going up from No. 52 overall.

  • Nos. 52 + 84 (550 points) for Lions’ 35th overall pick (550)
  • Nos. 52 + 123 + 234 (430) for Falcons’ 47th overall pick (430)
  • Nos. 52 + 137 + 234 (418.5) for Jets’ 48th overall pick (420)

Trading fourth-round picks to move up four or five spots in the second round wouldn’t be worthwhile for the Rams, unless there’s a player they absolutely must have and can’t risk being selected before them.

The Rams don’t have the flexibility of trading next year’s first-round pick, either, since that also went to the Jaguars in the deal for Jalen Ramsey. What they should have, though, is an extra fourth-round compensatory pick, which would come at the end of Round 4. The point value of that selection will be around 32-33 points.

Rams only projected to get one compensatory pick in 2020 NFL Draft

The Rams are expected to only get one pick at the end of the 4th round.

Last offseason, the Rams had three big-name players set to hit free agency: Lamarcus Joyner, Rodger Saffold and Ndamukong Suh. The first two signed early in the process, but Suh sat on the market for a while before signing with the Buccaneers in May.

The Rams weren’t very active on the market, only bringing in one qualified free agent, which was Clay Matthews. Eric Weddle was cut by the Ravens and signed before free agency began, so he didn’t count toward the compensatory formula.

Suh’s departure didn’t, either, since he signed after the window closed for signees to factor into the equation.

As such, the Rams are only projected to receive one compensatory pick in the 2020 draft for their losses last offseason. According to Over The Cap, that pick will come in the fourth round. Their other fourth-rounder was canceled out by the addition of Matthews.

You might be wondering how a sixth-round compensatory pick cancels out a fourth-rounder, which is a very valid question. It’s also one that no one really has the answer to. The NFL doesn’t make its compensatory pick formula public, which complicates things.

But the equation factors in things like contract value, playing time and post-season accolades. So by some secret calculation, the Rams will get a fourth-rounder for losing Saffold to the Titans.

Rams add running back in 4-round 2020 mock draft

Luke Easterling’s latest mock draft has the Rams taking a running back in the 4th round.

Looking at the depth chart, it would appear the Los Angeles Rams don’t need any help at running back. And in reality, they don’t. With Todd Gurley entrenched as the starter and both Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson Jr. backing him up, the Rams have both top-end talent and good depth at the position.

But when you look deeper at the situation, you could make the case that adding a running back in the 2020 draft would be reasonable. Gurley is coming off his worst season since 2016 and had his role reduced significantly, while Brown could be cut to save $1.1 million.

It’s possible the Rams trade Gurley this offseason to rid themselves of his massive contract and open the door for Henderson, the team’s third-round pick in 2019, to contribute more than he did this past season. More than likely, they’ll keep him, but in this new four-round mock draft by Luke Easterling of Draft Wire, the Rams add some insurance just in case.

Here’s how the four rounds broke down:

52. Josh Jones, OT, Houston

84. Leki Fotu, DL, Utah

116. Zack Moss, RB, Utah

Jones fills a potential need at left tackle with Andrew Whitworth’s contract expiring this offseason. He’d join a group of players vying for that job in 2020, including Joseph Noteboom, Bobby Evans and possibly even David Edwards.

Fotu wouldn’t be a Day 1 starter at nose tackle, given the Rams’ depth at the spot with Sebastian Joseph-Day and Greg Gaines. But at his size (6-5, 335 pounds) with his movement skills, Fotu would be tough to pass up in the third round.

Finally, there’s Moss, another Utah Ute selected by the Rams in this projection. He’s not a big back, standing at 5-foot-10, 222 pounds, but he is shifty and quick in the hole. He’s also a capable receiver and blocker, which are two things the Rams like in their backs.

However, how much value would he really add to the depth chart? Even if the Rams move on from Gurley, Henderson and Brown would be more than capable of handling the load, with John Kelly also mixing in.

Taylor Rapp rising the ranks as one of the NFL’s best rookies

Taylor Rapp has quickly emerged as one of the best rookies in the NFL.

After 50 picks were made in this year’s draft, the Los Angeles Rams finally joined the fun and made their first selection – after trading back three times. They wound up with Washington safety Taylor Rapp, who was viewed as one of the best prospects at his position in the class.

He wasn’t expected to be a full-time starter as a rookie with Eric Weddle and John Johnson already at safety, but with Johnson out, Rapp has become a key player on defense. He’s also turned out to be one of the top rookies in the league, regardless of position.

Pro Football Focus ranked the best rookies after 13 weeks and Rapp cracked the top 10. He was No. 8 on the list after breaking through with a huge performance against the Cardinals.

The start to his rookie campaign was a slow one, but Taylor Rapp is picking up steam as of late — his 82.5 overall grade since Week 7 is the fifth best among all qualifying safeties. In that timespan, Rapp has produced the third most defensive stops (20), fifth most combined pass breakups and interceptions (five) and has allowed just a 65.2 passer rating (seventh). Rapp has produced his best plays for the Rams when playing free safety — since Week 7, Rapp has played more snaps at that alignment then he had during the first six weeks and has had an 84.3 grade in that role, ranking behind only Tyrann Mathieu and Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Rapp has made the transition from rookie backup to full-time starter look easy, playing at a consistently high level in the secondary. He can play free and strong safety, but he’s best when lining up in the box and near the line of scrimmage.

His pick-six against Arizona showed exactly why the Rams liked him out of Washington, displaying great awareness and instincts by reading Kyler Murray’s eyes and getting in the throwing lane.

He’s only going to get better, too, which makes the idea of Rapp and Johnson starting at safety in 2020 all the more exciting.

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