NFL draft tier rankings: McShay's 107 highest-graded prospects

Executives, coaches and scouts for all 32 NFL teams are closing in on their final boards ahead of the 2021 NFL draft. Likewise, I'm finishing up my tape evaluations and starting to rank my own board. The draft is less than a month away!

And as those rankings get some finishing touches, it's sometimes easier to compare players graded very close together by tiering them. Thanks to our Scouts Inc. draft grades, we can separate the top prospects into different groups to help predict where they will come off the board during the first three rounds of the draft. I have 107 players with at least a 70 grade, and I stacked them into six tiers.

This year's Tier 1 consists of only one player, and it won't surprise you who it is. But 28 other players earn a first-round grade with a 90-plus, and 78 more are designated as a Day 2-caliber prospect. Even though these tiers include only first-, second- and third-round talents, my full rankings currently include more than 300 prospects. I'll continue to update those rankings right up until the April 29 draft day. But for now, here are my draft tiers for 2021.

Tier 1: Lawrence all alone

Grades of 95 or higher. Elite prospects. Should be immediate NFL starters and project as perennial All-Pro players. Worthy of a top-five pick most years. I had just one player in this tier in 2020: Chase Young at 95.

1. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson (97)

Lawrence really is in a tier of his own, and he is my highest-graded prospect since running back Saquon Barkley in 2018 (97). The Clemson signal-caller is a once-in-a-decade kind of QB prospect, and I've likened him to Andrew Luck and his evaluations before Luck was drafted at No. 1 in 2012. In fact, Luck is the only quarterback to have a higher grade from me over the past 10 years (99). Lawrence is also expected to be a No. 1 pick this month. He has excellent touch and accuracy, he makes good decisions with the football, he can drive the ball vertically with velocity and he moves very well in the pocket. Simply put, he's the definition of a franchise quarterback.

Tier 2: 11 prospects

Grades between 92 and 94. A notch below the elite class but still considered a plug-and-play NFL starter with high-level potential. Worthy of a top-15 pick most years. I had 11 players in this tier in 2020.

2. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU (94)
3. Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon (94)
4. Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida (93)
5. Zach Wilson, QB, BYU (93)
6. Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern (93)
7. Micah Parsons, ILB, Penn State (93)
8. DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama (93)
9. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama (92)
10. Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama (92)
11. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, ILB, Notre Dame (92)
12. Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech (92)

What stands out about this group is the pass-catching talent. Each of the four offensive weapons with a 92-plus grade brings something a little different, too. Chase is elite in the way he adjusts to the ball in the air and is a physical presence. Pitts is a matchup nightmare, thanks to his size, speed, hands and ridiculous wingspan. Smith is a savvy route runner with soft hands and explosive acceleration. And Waddle is probably the most elusive player in the class when the ball is in his hands, burning defenders both vertically and after the catch.

I also have just one quarterback in this tier, which speaks to how I view the group. It's Lawrence all alone at the top, then a step down to this tier is Wilson, and then a drop to the next three Day 1-level QBs. Wilson excels when the play breaks down, extending with his legs, instinctively creating on second-reaction throws and adjusting his arm angle to hit windows. And his arm strength and accuracy are high-end skills. For context, I had two quarterbacks last year who met or exceeded Wilson's grade: Joe Burrow (94) and Tua Tagovailoa (93).

Tier 3: 17 prospects

Grades between 90 and 91. Good NFL starters and are considered strong values in the bottom half of Round 1 in any given draft class. I had 11 players in this tier in 2020.

13. Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State (91)
14. Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG, USC (91)
15. Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina (91)
16. Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU (91)
17. Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan (91)
18. Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State (90)
19. Mac Jones, QB, Alabama (90)
20. Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami (90)
21. Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida (90)
22. Najee Harris, RB, Alabama (90)
23. Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson (90)
24. Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami (90)
25. Zaven Collins, OLB, Tulsa (90)
26. Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia (90)
27. Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State (90)
28. Jamin Davis, ILB, Kentucky (90)
29. Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern (90)

The first thing we notice about this pack of prospects -- the last 17 whom I have a Round 1 grade on -- is the three QBs. Lance leads the trio, and I love his big-time arm, the way he reads the field and his ability to run for big chunks of yardage. Those are key areas in today's NFL offenses. Fields is accurate and can hit the deep ball really well, and I like the way the ball jumps out of his hand with zip. Jones doesn't have the same mobility traits as the four previously mentioned QBs, but he shows high-end touch, anticipation and ball placement. En route to a national title with Alabama, he led the nation in many statistical categories, including Total QBR and completion percentage. In all, this is an extremely good quarterback class.

The second thing that pops is the appearance -- finally -- of our first pass-rushers. A year after Chase Young topped our board with a 95, the first 2021 edge rusher checks in with a 91 at No. 17 (Paye). But he leads five defensive ends or outside linebackers with at least a 90 grade, which is actually a jump up from three in 2020 (and Isaiah Simmons was more of a hybrid prospect). Paye has explosive closing speed and a high ceiling, but the stat sheet hasn't caught up just yet for him. Following him are Miami's Rousseau, an opt-out who was productive in 2019 but needs technique refinement, and Phillips, who is versatile and powerful but has an injury history.

We also see our first two running backs. Harris is terrific between the tackles, has power and agility and is effective both catching passes out of the backfield and pass protecting. Etienne is explosive and has the second gear to break away for long touchdowns, and he'll be a very good pass-catching back in the NFL.

Grades between 85 and 89. Good future NFL starters. Second-round value. I had 23 players in this tier in 2020.

30. Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech (89)
31. Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU (89)
32. Nick Bolton, ILB, Missouri (89)
33. Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama (89)
34. Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina (88)
35. Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington (88)
36. Ronnie Perkins, DE, Oklahoma (88)
37. Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame (88)
38. Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss (88)
39. Joe Tryon, DE, Washington (88)
40. Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota (88)
41. Tutu Atwell, WR, Louisville (87)
42. Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan (87)
43. Jabril Cox, ILB, LSU (86)
44. Carlos Basham Jr., DE, Wake Forest (86)
45. Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State (86)
46. Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky (85)
47. Jayson Oweh, DE, Penn State (85)
48. Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State (85)

I like many of these prospects a lot and think they would be great gets at the beginning of Day 2 -- though a few will of course end up late-Round 1 selections. To name a few:

Marshall can separate with speed, but his 6-foot-4 size makes him a real problem in the red zone.

Bolton is a sideline-to-sideline tackling machine at inside linebacker.

Williams has great contact balance carrying the football through the hole.

Onwuzurike is sudden and uses his quickness to penetrate against the run.

Moore reads the coverage well and can find soft spots in coverage.

Bateman has good hands and will attack the middle of the field.

Samuel is quick, technically sound and instinctive in coverage.

Watch for a handful of the offensive linemen in this tier to slide into Round 1. I had 14 linemen in the first two rounds of my most recent mock draft, and five of them went on Day 1. Teams seek pass protectors in the first round, and guys such as Darrisaw, Eichenberg and Mayfield can be high-end starting tackles in the NFL.

Tier 5: 15 prospects

Grades between 80 and 84. Future solid to good NFL starters but might need to serve in substitution package/situational roles early in career. Mid- to late-second-round value. I had 12 players in this tier in 2020.

49. Elijah Molden, CB, Washington (84)
50. Chazz Surratt, ILB, North Carolina (84)
51. Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse (83)
52. Patrick Jones II, DE, Pittsburgh (83)
53. Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma (83)
54. Quinn Meinerz, OG, Wisconsin-Whitewater (83)
55. Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia (82)
56. Jevon Holland, S, Oregon (82)
57. Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas (82)
58. Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue (82)
59. Payton Turner, DE, Houston (81)
60. Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse (81)
61. Landon Dickerson, C, Alabama (81)
62. Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia (80)
63. Alex Leatherwood, OG, Alabama (80)

Four players with an 80-84 grade in 2020 ended up first-round picks, so there is plenty of reason to believe some of these prospects can rise before draft day. Here we see quite a few defensive backs, including a pair out of Syracuse and a pair out of Georgia. Melifonwu has the speed and size to excel in a press-heavy scheme, while Cisco is a rangy ball hawk on the back end. Campbell has fantastic speed, and Stokes has solid ball skills. But Washington's Molden is the highest rated of the group, and he's a nickelback who is terrific in zone coverage.

Also keep an eye on the pair of Alabama linemen. Dickerson has injury concerns -- he's currently rehabbing from a torn ACL -- but he's a powerful run blocker who takes good angles. And if Leatherwood locks on in pass protection, he rarely loses. Both could end up strong picks.

Tier 6: 44 prospects

Grades between 70 and 79. Project as future solid starters but need time to develop, have limited upside or come with baggage. Third-round value. I had 41 players in this tier in 2020.

64. Aaron Robinson, CB, Central Florida (79)
65. Wyatt Davis, OG, Ohio State (79)
66. Chris Rumph II, OLB, Duke (79)
67. Walker Little, OT, Stanford (79)
68. Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Minnesota (78)
69. Michael Carter, RB, North Carolina (78)
70. Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State (78)
71. Shakur Brown, CB, Michigan State (77)
72. Nico Collins, WR, Michigan (77)
73. Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford (76)
74. Jay Tufele, DT, USC (76)
75. Joseph Ossai, OLB, Texas (76)
76. D'Wayne Eskridge, WR, Western Michigan (76)
77. Marco Wilson, CB, Florida (75)
78. Rashad Weaver, DE, Pittsburgh (75)
79. Alim McNeill, DT, NC State (75)
80. Aaron Banks, OG, Notre Dame (75)
81. Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State (75)
82. Robert Rochell, CB, Central Arkansas (74)
83. Richard LeCounte, S, Georgia (74)
84. Jaylen Twyman, DT, Pittsburgh (74)
85. James Hudson, OT, Cincinnati (74)
86. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Oklahoma (74)
87. Trill Williams, S, Syracuse (73)
88. Osa Odighizuwa, DT, UCLA (73)
89. Kellen Mond, QB, Texas A&M (73)
90. Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Memphis (73)
91. Brevin Jordan, TE, Miami (73)
92. Shi Smith, WR, South Carolina (73)
93. DJ Daniel, CB, Georgia (72)
94. Richie Grant, S, Central Florida (72)
95. Cade Johnson, WR, South Dakota State (72)
96. Pete Werner, ILB, Ohio State (71)
97. Trey Smith, OG, Tennessee (71)
98. Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa (71)
99. Hunter Long, TE, Boston College (71)
100. Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina (71)
101. Hamsah Nasirildeen, S, Florida State (70)
102. Daviyon Nixon, DT, Iowa (70)
103. Josh Myers, C, Ohio State (70)
104. Tyler Shelvin, DT, LSU (70)
105. Baron Browning, OLB, Ohio State (70)
106. Kyle Trask, QB, Florida (70)
107. Sage Surratt, WR, Wake Forest (70)

Plenty of these players could become impact starters in the NFL, but they all come with some risks and a need to develop in some areas. Davis is an excellent pass protector who should earn a starting gig on the interior of an NFL line, and while Little has played very little football over the past two years, he is an effective run blocker. Adebo and LeCounte are ball hawks who can help NFL defenses generate turnovers. Ossai is disruptive and flies all over the field. Collins and Surratt are big targets in the pass game. And Nixon has a lot of agility for his size and is a strong tackler up the middle.

My sixth and seventh quarterbacks also fall here. Neither is a surefire starter in the NFL, but both can be capable backups who could become starters if developed in the right system. Mond definitely needs to work on his footwork and mechanics, though his arm is impressive. And Trask is very accurate but lacks arm strength and pocket mobility. The next QBs on my board fall below 70 grades, starting with Stanford's Davis Mills (69) and Georgia's Jamie Newman (65). Check out how all 300-plus prospects on my board stack up.

2021 NFL Draft: Lance Zierlein’s top 10 centers

Lance Zierlein has long been posting his draft evaluations over at NFL.com and he gives each a grade ranging from 5-8. There are many levels to each grade that range from “chance to be at an NFL training camp” to “The perfect prospect” and so with this system we can gather that there’s an order.

These are the 10 center prospects that Zierlein has graded in the 2021 NFL Draft and the order of their rating.

Landon Dickerson, Alabama, 6.42
Quinn Meinerz, Whitewater-Wisconsin, 6.31
Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma, 6.26
Josh Myers, Ohio State, 6.23
Michal Menet, Penn State, 6.16
Drew Dalman, Stanford, 5.88
Trey Hill, Georgia, 5.69
Drake Jackson, Kentucky, 5.68
Ryan McCollum, Texas A&M, 5.66
Jimmy Morrissey, Pitt, 5.5

As we can see, Zierlein doesn’t see any elite center prospects in this draft, but to be fair, only five players in the entire class have been given a grade above 7.0 at this point. Top-rated offensive lineman Penei Sewell has a 6.73. Dickerson lands in a tie with tackle Teven Jenkins and edge Azeez Ojulari and that may place him on the cusp of the first round as the top-graded center prospect for Zierlein.

But he’s also essentially saying that everyone below Meinerz is teetering between a future as a backup or a starter. Anything at or below a 6.0 would suggest “lots of development time needed” or “future as a reserve, special teamer.”

It doesn’t mean that Zierlein is correct, of course, it’s just one opinion for a guy who grades hundreds of players and literally doesn’t have the time to actually do a deep dive on all of them.

The Rams pick 57th and so far would still seem to need a center, or at least center competition.

The jets are apparently trading Darnold to the panthers for a 6th this year and 2nd and 4th next. The 9ers paid a shit ton more for the right to draft the 3rd best qb in this draft, this better work or Shanny looks like an idiot.

This QB class appears “solid”... But... do we really see 6 starters emerging from one draft?

If 6 go in the first round, those teams are expecting so.

Where does this class compare to past classes, if that strong?

NFL Draft quarterbacks 2021: Ranking the best QB prospects

There are as many as six quarterbacks who will generate first-round buzz in the 2021 NFL Draft, and with no true NFL combine this year, teams are going to have to rely on guts and game tape before anything of the other wonky stuff, like interviews and weird drills.

It's been decades since as many as six signal callers were taken in the first round, with the famed quarterback class of 1983 making history for the amount taken: John Elway, Todd Blackledge, Jim Kelly, Tony Eason, Dan Marino and Ken O'Brien all selected.

The 2021 NFL Draft could offer similar results as then, with Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Mac Jones and Kyle Trask all having varying degrees of first-round hype, from "generational" to fringe.

With no combine this year, franchises and GMs are going to be stuck in a tougher spot when it comes to measurables, interviews and the like when it comes to picking their guy. While Lawrence is the consensus No. 1 pick and is widely regarded as the best quarterback of the draft, where teams go after that is up in the air: Any one of Fields, Wilson or Lance could be up for the title of No. 2 QB taken in the draft, with guys like Jones and Trask making for intriguing prospects as well, despite having limited ceilings as next-gen quarterbacks.

Here's what you need to know about the sensational six QBs waiting to hear their names called come April:

1. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

2020 stats: 10 games, 3,153 yards, 24 touchdowns, five interceptions; 203 rushing yards, eight touchdowns.

The Clemson Tiger is this year's white whale in the NFL Draft.

It's pretty often that the term "generational" is thrown out there, but Lawrence probably lives up to that label, since he has everything a franchise would want in a quarterback: ideal size, plus mobility, great arm and all the football IQ to go with it. He's also a proven winner, earning a national championship as a freshman, making it to the natty in 2020 and appearing in the College Football Playoff once again in 2021.

What sets apart Lawrence from the other QBs in this draft, though, is his ability to read and process defenses pre- and post-snap. That pro-ready mindset is what makes him such a projectable prospect, and why he's labeled "generational" heading into the draft.

The Jaguars, who hold the No. 1 overall pick, outlasted the Jets in the Tank for Trevor sweepstakes this year, and first-time NFL head coach Urban Meyer is going to have quite the moldable prospect to play with come the 2021 season.

Strengths:

• Great size
• Mobility
• Strong arm
• Football IQ

Weaknesses

• Over-reliance on arm
• Can miss open/obvious reads

2. Justin Fields, Ohio State

2020 stats: Eight games, 2,100 yards, 22 touchdowns, six interceptions; 383 rushing yards, five touchdowns.

Once considered a lock to be the second QB off the board after Lawrence, Justin Fields' QB2 position in the draft has less to do with what he isn't and more what Zach Wilson turned into in 2020.

A great game in the College Football Playoff semifinal vs. Clemson was followed by a pretty mediocre game in the national championship vs. Alabama, leaving some speculation as to just how high Fields' ceiling is. That's where Fields' physical talents come in.

There's no denying Fields has elite physical traits that scouts drool onto their pillows at night about — plus arm, plus mobility, plus a great frame — but questions surrounding his ability to process the field quickly and go through progressions efficiently has knocked him down just a bit. He also has a pretty lengthy release. While those issues are overstated and coachable, they're still present. Fields can lean on his athleticism to make plays, but you'd still like to see him continue to progress as a passer at the next leve.

Fields is still a top-three talent in the 2021 draft, and it'd be a big surprise if he falls further than that.

Strengths:

• Big arm
• Great frame
• Plus mobility

Weaknesses:

• Lengthy release
• Needs to quicken reads

3. Zach Wilson, BYU

2020 stats: 12 games, 3,692 yards, 33 touchdowns, three interceptions, 73.5 completion percentage; 254 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns.

Before the 2020 college season, Justin Fields was the clear-cut No. 2 quarterback on the draft board. Zach Wilson's fast rise up NFL draft boards is warranted and has landed him squarely in the QB2 discussion.

Wilson has a strong arm, a blazing release and generates effortless power on his throws. He also has good mobility and an innate ability to make off-schedule plays and off-platform throws. Really, watching any Wilson tape looks like a college football And1 mixtape.

Like all quarterbacks in the draft, though, there are some concerns with Wilson. Past injury history (labrum tear in his throwing shoulder) raises a red flag. He also dealt with a hand injury in 2020, but clearly it didn't affect him much. Wilson also has a propensity to trust his arm a bit too much, though it hasn't led to many turnovers in his college career.

Wilson has earned some nicknames — "Zach the Ripper," "Mormon Manziel" and "Mormon Mahomes" — and all three of those hold very, very different connotations. But the BYU Cougar will be calling himself "first-round pick" come April. Just a matter of where to sort out.

Strengths:

• Strong arm
• Very quick and compact release
• Uncanny ability to make off-platform throws

Weaknesses:

• Smaller frame (listed at 6-3, 210)
• Injury concerns
• Not always mechanically sound on throws

4. Trey Lance, North Dakota State

2020 stats: One game, 149 yards, 15-of-30 passing, two touchdowns, one interception; 143 rushing yards, two touchdowns

The wild card in the 2021 NFL Draft process, Trey Lance played a single showcase game in 2020 but had a dazzling 2019 season, tossing 28 touchdowns and no interceptions for 2,786 yards. He also had 1,100 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns that same year, making for one of college's best dual-threat QBs — which could translate at the next level.

Lance's thick, 6-4 frame is an ideal size for a quarterback, and his physical traits are, debatably, second to only Trevor Lawrence in this class. Some think he might be the most athletic player in the class, and he has a good case.

As a passer, Lance has some refinement to work on in his game: He has a tendency of not leading receivers with throws and typically doesn't challenge defenders and give his receivers opportunities in one-on-one opportunities. NFL draft expert Daniel Jeremiah has even likened him to Andrew Luck multiple times.

Teams and fans who are skeptical on drafting a kid out of North Dakota State have to look no further than Carson Wentz, who was selected out of NDSU in 2016. Take that for what you will. Lance will be a first-round QB in 2021, but there's a good chance he might not see the field until the following year.

Strengths:

• Big arm
• Physical runner
• Large frame

Weakness:

• 18-game career (and one showcase game) is a bit short on quality tape
• Needs to lead receivers better

5. Mac Jones, Alabama

2020 stats: 13 games, 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns, four interceptions, 77.4 completion percentage; 14 rush yards, one touchdown.

While Jones had a dramatically different look as a Bama QB than the team's last two passers, the redshirt junior filled in admirably following the injury of Tua Tagovailoa in 2019 and blossomed as a passer in 2020.

While the NFL is moving further and further away from pure pocket passers, that's the mold that Jones fits into: He won't be a threat to gain yards with his legs, but he is a polished thrower who throws with great anticipation and accuracy, making it easy on his receivers.

Jones can also chuck it deep with good placement, though that might be tested at the next level without the skill position players he had surrounding him at Alabama. Jones projects as a solid starter at the NFL level, but can limit what an NFL offense can do with his lack of true athleticism.

Strengths:

• Polished pocket passer
• Can manipulate the pocket well
• Able to throw with great anticipation

Weaknesses:

• Mobility is lacking
• Average arm strength

6. Kyle Trask, Florida

2020 stats: 12 games, 4,283 yards, 43 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 68.9 completion percentage; 50 yards, three touchdowns.

Trask's 2020 breakout was equal parts a product of solid offensive weaponry and legitimate talent, making him a very intriguing prospect. But there are a few red flags that knock him down anywhere from the late first round to the third round.

At 6-5, Trask has prototypical size for a passer, but his size doesn't necessarily represent his arm strength. Trask demonstrates good ball placement and anticipation on throws, but his distanced throws are a bit weaker than other QBs listed here, dying out when arriving at the target.

Trask's arm and mobility are a bit weaker than the other prospects. Like Jones, Trask's lack of true mobility is going to limit what NFL offenses are and can be.

Still, it's hard to deny Trask's production this year, a year after not many expected much from him as a quarterback altogether. He'll likely fall in the draft, though he could generate some first-round buzz with the way he balled out in 2020.

Strengths:

• Prototypical QB size
• Geat accuracy and ball placement

Weaknesses:

• Average arm
• Very limited mobility
• Long-ish release

Cameron DaSilva

April 3, 2021 11:00 am
No one will tell you the Los Angeles Rams got better in free agency this year. They suffered a bunch of key losses on both sides of the ball, watching John Johnson, Troy Hill and Morgan Fox leave to sign elsewhere.
But despite those departures, the Rams still look better on paper than they did last year for one reason: Matthew Stafford. The blockbuster January trade that sent Jared Goff to the Lions for Stafford has the Rams poised to make a deep postseason run in 2021, assuming the defense can replace those who left in free agency.
In power rankings throughout the offseason, the Rams have been on the rise. USA TODAY’s Nate Davis bumped Sean McVay’s team up one spot coming out of free agency, moving the Rams from No. 5 to 4.

4. Rams (5): Their top-ranked defense took a few hits in free agency. But can’t wait to see what the Matthew Stafford-Sean McVay marriage – not to mention the dimension speedy WR DeSean Jackson adds – means for an offense that ranked 22nd in points scored.

Click to expand...

It’s hard to expect the Rams to finish next season with the No. 1 defense again, given the departures of key players as well as coordinator Brandon Staley. They still have Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams and Leonard Floyd, but the defense didn’t improve at any position.
Players such as Terrell Lewis, Terrell Burgess, A’Shawn Robinson and David Long Jr. will need to step up as potential starters because there are a lot of shoes to fill.
As for the rest of the power rankings, the Bucs top the poll at No. 1, followed by the Chiefs, Packers, Rams and Bills to round out the top five. The 49ers jumped from 19th to ninth, the Seahawks are 10th, and Arizona is ranked 17th, dropping four spots despite adding J.J. Watt, Rodney Hudson and A.J. Green, among others.


List
Projecting Rams' defensive depth chart ahead of 2021 NFL draft
View 8

Rams trading away 101st pick could be costly

When the LA Rams and Detroit Lions sat down to discuss and leverage one another for a package that would pry quarterback Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions, there was a great deal of confusion as to which 2021 NFL Draft third-round pick was eventually included. How so?

Well, thanks to two rather valuable compensatory picks being awarded to the Rams this year in round three, the Rams had three picks to choose from. Well, rather, three picks to offer up. But truth be tole, I wished that the Rams had wriggled out of trading away a third-round pick in 2021, and had deflected the compensation to a fourth-round pick or later this year, and even added a day three pick in 2022

You see, there were many strategies that were lost at the moment that the Rams agreed to trade away a 2021 third-round pick. What strategies? Well, let’s talk this one through…

Round three for the Rams truly is the main entree of the 2021 NFL Draft for the team’s restocking the roster efforts. And with three picks in the round, the Rams had far more control over what will transpire in that round. You see, they had their first pick at 88 to choose one of the more talented prospects who could make an impact in 2021. With the 101st pick, the Rams could survey who was remaining on the board.

A trio of third-round picks was a good setup

If the team had a prospect drop to them at 101, then of course use that pick. But if the Rams had multiple players of value there, then they could listen to offers to trade back. And I can guarantee you, in this helter-skelter draft, the offers will be flying in constantly at each pick.

At 101, the draft begins to turn the corner. Consensus top talent begins to deplete, and now the value of prospects begins to fall to the eye of the beholder. Defensive backs and wide receivers begin to fill the draft board. And with just the San Francisco 49ers choosing at 102, the LA Rams can set themselves up very nicely for a nice value at both 101 and 103.

Imagine the Rams selecting at 101 with Quinn Meinerz, Creed Humprhey, and Josh Myers still on the board (it’s a scenario to prove the point). Normally, the Rams would be forced to select a center, because they would not have the chance again for two dozen or so picks.

The aftermath

But with three third-round picks in the vault, the Rams would have indeed been able to entertain the value of trading back to get more picks because they would know that one of the three centers that they value will still be there. And that would apply to any number of prospects and positions of need.

According to Tankathon.com, the Detroit Lions are not exactly swimming in draft picks, boasting just six picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, including the LA Rams compensatory pick in round three. But the Lions hold the seventh overall pick of the draft, and I would expect them to entertain offers to trade out of that pick in order to garner more draft picks in this draft. To the Lions, it’s about getting volume picks. A 2021 fourth-round pick and a 2022 sixth-round pick would have been just as valuable.

Yes, this is just another wudda cudda shudda article. But when the LA Rams are limited to just six NFL Draft picks at a time when the shopping list for roster needs is pretty long, maybe we should be talking about it more. The Rams need picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. Here’s hoping that they can pull another miracle draft out of this year’s rookie class.

Let’s talk defensive back 7 ?

I think the KEY to The RAMs defense is
RAMS HIGH PRICED FA
Leonard Floyd is a special player.He can be in the front 7 or the back 7

The Rams have a bunch of depth,but without Troy Hill & JJ43 it still adds a
big void.

If you watch a lot of Rams games you see all the different packages and player personnel. Making Jalen RAMsey
such a special player as well.

Can we please talk Rams Defensive Front 7 ? Seven

DL Darius Stills Meets with the Los Angeles Rams

Interior Defensive Lineman
6'1 285 lbs

West Virginia defensive lineman Darius Stills met virtually with the Los Angeles Rams
CHRISTOPHER HALL6 HOURS AGO

According to Justin Melo of the Draft Network, add the Los Angeles Rams to the list of teams West Virginia defensive lineman Darius Stills has met leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft.

Stills has now met with the Jets, 49ers, Texans, Chargers, Falcons, Bengals, Eagles, Washington, Buccaneers, and the Seahawks.

he Fairmont, WV native finished his senior campaign with 25 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, and an interception in an abbreviated 11 game season. He ended his career with 85 tackles, including 25.5 tackles for a loss, 21 of those came in the last two seasons, and 11.5 sacks.

Darius Stills 2020 Accolades

AP First-Team All-Big 12 Conference

Coaches First-Team All-Big 12 Conference

Big 12 Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year

Bleacher Report's 2020 College Football All-American

ESPN All-American

Sporting News First Team All-American

USA Today First-Team All-American

AP First-Team All-American

Coaches First-Team All-American

Second Team Walter Camp All-American

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the page's top righthand corner. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook & Twitter:
[www.si.com]

Darius Stills is a quick mover off of the snap. He uses his natural leverage to his advantage by remaining low, which helps him win quickly in a multitude of ways. Having overwhelming hand strength/power at the point of attack, he plays very aggressively and isn’t shy with using them quickly.

Few match his suddenness and play violence off of the line, which are the main culprits of how he experiences so much success. A consistent pressure generator, he can disrupt pockets with straight ahead rushing attacks or get home on twists/stunts as the looper.

A motor that constantly runs hot, even as an interior rusher, he has outside of the tackle box type of range in ball pursuit when chasing plays down. He is very undisciplined in his approach as a run defender.

He will do many outlandish moves in order to create penetration, but in turn it leaves his gap voided for gaping running lanes for ball-carriers. Stills is a true up-the-field penetrator that doesn’t yet understand the meaning/discipline behind run fits.

As a pass rusher, he’s developed the habit of winning so quickly that when faced with blockers who can match his intensity/strength, he lacks an effective counter move.

As a result, he often gets stuck and left experimenting with tactics to see which eventually become effective for him in that moment.

Ideal Role: Rotational 3-technique that could develop into a starter.

Scheme Fit: Used mostly as a penetrating 3-technique that’s able to create vertical push and disruption.
[thedraftnetwork.com]

The Top Five Rated Interior Defensive Lineman (SSI.com)

With the report cards for the 2020 NFL draft completed, NFLDraftScout is turning its attention to the class of 2021, offering a quick “First Take” with rankings and perspective of the relative strengths and weaknesses of each position group.

There is more proven talent at defensive tackle than at end but this is another positional group which has been picked apart by the NFL in recent years and therefore needs potential to start turning into production.

Only two defensive tackles were drafted in the first round a year ago, with the Carolina Panthers plucking Auburn’s Derrick Brown at 8 overall and the San Francisco 49ers using the 14 pick on South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw, a cheaper, younger version (or so GM John Lynch hopes) to traded standout DeForest Buckner.

Teams looking for a plug and play solution will like Florida State senior Marvin Wilson, who has the bulk and strength to remind many of former Seminoles (and current Chicago Bears) standout Eddie Goldman.

The prototypically-built Wilson is currently the only senior defensive tackle to have a first round grade.

He likely would have joined Brown and Kinlaw in the first round a year ago despite missing four games due to a hand injury. In nine starts last season, Wilson followed up a breakout sophomore campaign (41 tackles, including 4.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks) by setting career-highs in every category (44-8.5-5.0) while serving as a team captain.

Wilson turned heads earlier this week, accusing new Florida State head coach Mike Norvel of lying about interactions with the team, while the nation reels with racial turmoil. Wilson claimed that he and his teammates were “outraged” and would not be working out “until further notice.”

Fortunately, Wilson and Norvell have since met, and through admirable transparency and leadership on both sides, the Seminoles have agreed to three significant actions including getting every FSU player registered to vote.

Wilson’s combination of physical and character traits could earn him a spot in the top 10 a year from now, similar to the grade Brown received.

Teams in search of other run-stuffers have plenty of potential options available to them, including USC’s Jay Tufele, Alabama’s Phidarian Mathis, LSU’s Tyler Shelvin, Texas A&M’s Bobby Brown III and BYU’s Khyiris Tonga.

There are quick gap-splitters among this class, as well, including Pittsburgh’s Jaylen Twyman (10.5 sacks in 2019) and Colorado’s Mustafa Johnson (7.5 sacks in 2018) who could leap up draft boards this fall if they can build upon prior success rushing the quarterback.

Washington’s Levi Onwuzurike doesn’t have much national name recognition yet, but scouts like his consistency and reliability. He is a prime candidate to enjoy a breakout senior campaign, already generating interest from Jim Nagy and the Senior Bowl.

The Top Five
1. Marvin Wilson 6-4, 311 Florida State
2. Jay Tufele 6-2, 310 Southern Cal
3. Phidarian Mathis 6-3, 312 Alabama
4. Jaylen Twyman 6-2, 290 Pittsburgh
5. Levi Onwuzurike 6-2, 293 Washington

Best of the Rest
6. Nyles Pinckney 6-1, 295 Clemson

7. Tyler Shelvin 6-2, 346 LSU

8. Kyree Campbell 6-2 304 Florida

9. Mustafa Johnson 6-2, 290 Colorado

10. Darius Stills 6-1, 290 West Virginia

11. *Jordan Williams 6-3, 310 Clemson

12. *Bobby Brown III 6-3, 325 Texas A&M

13. Khyiris Tonga 6-3, 340 BYU

14. Brandon Pili 6-3 325 Southern Cal

15. Xavier Kelly 6-3, 305 Arkansas

16. *Aubrey Solomon 6-4 306 Tennessee

17. Tyrone Truesdell 6-2, 310 Auburn

18. Naquan Jones 6-3, 339 Michigan State

19. Lorenzo Neal 6-2 315 Purdue

20. Jordon Scott 6-1, 322 Oregon

[www.si.com]

Happy Easter to each of you and your families!



I was just looking at all of the draft/mocks seeing as I've barely had anytime to even follow anything this offseason. As we all are I'm very excited to see what our FO and coaching staff come together with this draft!!! I really feel this could be a special year for us depending if we nail this draft right.


Since FA and any major pickups has come and gone I'm thinking we go this route for the draft with Sneads normal moving around to adding value to our existing holdings.


Rams trade picks 57 & 252 for ClE 59 & 169
Rams trade picks 88 for TEN 100 & 126 & 215

Rams Picks 2021 Draft:
2nd Round Pick 59:
Dayvion Nixon DT Iowa
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You read the description about Dayvion Nixon and a very common description of him is "violent". Anybody remember when Brockers went down in the Falcon playoff game and they exploited that hole the rest of the game to lead us to an L? Yeah, I'm not risking it with this roster. Also, it looks like there is a damn good chance he'll be here at this pick for us. Solid against the run and pass and pairing him his AD and Robinson in the middle with our other DL rotating is a winning recipe for a #1 D again.

3rd Round Pick 100:
Quinn Meinerz IOL Wisconsin- WhiteWater
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I've seen everybody's love for Meinerz on here and I've gotten a man crush on him as well. I don't think he'll go early in the 2nd round tbh but I see probably in the third round. I've only seen 3-4 rd. projections for him so far. Either was I think he provides much needed toughness and a nasty streak we need in our interior OL. Looks like we've had 2 meetings with him so far which sounds promising. Dominated in Senior Bowl.

3rd Round Pick 103:
Demetric Felton RB/WR UCLA
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CB's can't cover him and dominated in the Sr. Bowl 1 on 1's. (what do you think will happen vs LB's?) Can return kickoffs and punt returners as we desperately need a dangerous guy. Perfect for our H.C.'s offense and will be a nightmare on 2nd and 3rd downs. Can't even imagine with Stafford tossing him the rock. Meet with him which is a good signal.

4th Round Pick 126:
Jimmy Morrissey C Pitts
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2020 Burlsworth Trophy winner. Highest graded Pitts. run blocker 2019 and no sack allowed in 2019. Morrissey is a very cerebral and technical blocker and can call a protection at the line with ease.

4th Round Pick 141:
Amari Rodgers WR Clemson
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Best Clemson WR for Trevor Lawrence? Well that was Amari Rodgers who is the son of Tee Martin (one of the best WR coaches and former Tenn. QB) and we know how our FO loves 2nd generation football players with IQ. Guy has crisp routes and dominated 1v1's in the Sr. Bowl. I'd love to see the mismatches he'd create being in there when Deshaun Jackson isn't in there, decent speed but isn't a burner. Had a torn acl before so has injury concerns.

5th Round Pick 169:
Cameron McGrone ILB/OLB Michigan
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Michigan player? Hell yeah!! He has sideline to sideline speed and can shut down the edge game in a blur! He's got great instincts inside in the run game and can get out blocks really well. He has a high IQ in filling in gaps and block schemes to exploit them. Very good value pick because of his injuries in 2020. I really see him as a dirt cheap player that is starting caliber. He also wears my former jersey number , even better.



6th Round Pick 209:
Thomas Graham Jr. CB Oregon
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TGJ reminds me so much of Nichol Robey-Coleman. He projects to be a pretty damned good slot CB which you can never have enough of on 3rd downs. Also, Rams have met with him which is a good hand tipper. Sure tackler and not afraid to set an edge.

6th Round Pick 215:
Chauncey Golston OLB Iowa

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Chauncey reminds me so much of Samson Ebu as far being a solid but not overwhelmingly decisive and effective DE. It would be nice to add him to our DE pool and rotation for a solid backup.













Cheers! Hope you guys enjoy and look forward to any thoughts on the picks.

Have a good one!

I'm 40 and his music was a part (huge influence) of my life. I can't recount how many times I listened to him on a regular basis and also saw him live twice. Fuck! Prayers to him and his entire family.

Rapper DMX (real name, Earl Simmons) who rose to fame following the release of his 1998 debut album, is reportedly in serious, life-threatening condition after experiencing an overdose of some kind on Friday evening.

According to TMZ, Simmons was rushed to a hospital in White Plains, NY on Friday night after suffering a heart attack caused by the overdose. Sources have told TMZ that Simmons has maintained “Some brain activity,” while he’s also in a “Vegetative state” in medical care.

DMX was scheduled to embark on the Gods of Rap Tour alongside Nas, Gang Starr, and The Lox with select dates in the U.K. last spring, but those dates were ultimately scrapped due to COVID-19. DMX also took part in one of the virtual Verzuz battles alongside Snoop Dogg last July, which drew a reported 500,000 viewers.

Top remaining NFL free agents at each position: James Conner, Larry Fitzgerald headline big names left
A look at all of the best players that are still unsigned
By Cody Benjamin

Almost all of this year's top NFL free agents have found new homes or re-signed to familiar ones, but most teams peruse the market all the way through summer and up to the start of the season.

Once the draft comes and goes, plenty of squads turn back to the pool of lingering veterans to fill remaining holes and gather competition for training camp.

With that in mind, here's a look at the top remaining free agents at each position (players' previous teams in parentheses):

QBs

• Alex Smith (Washington)
• Matt Barkley (Bills)
• Nick Mullens (49ers)
• Blake Bortles (Broncos)
• Nate Sudfeld (Eagles)

Others available: Blaine Gabbert (Buccaneers), Robert Griffin III (Ravens)

With former Giants backup Colt McCoy expected to join the Cardinals as Kyler Murray's No. 2, it's slim pickings at QB. Smith would be a fine mentor but offers little in terms of arm talent these days. Everyone else is a replacement-level No. 2, if not No. 3.

RBs

• James Conner (Steelers)
• Todd Gurley (Falcons)
• Duke Johnson (Texans)
• Adrian Peterson (Lions)
• Le'Veon Bell (Chiefs)

Others available: Jerick McKinnon (49ers), Wayne Gallman (Giants), Rex Burkhead (Patriots)

WRs

• Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)
• Antonio Brown (Buccaneers)
• Danny Amendola (Lions)
• Golden Tate (Giants)
• Cordarrelle Patterson (Bears)

Others available: Alshon Jeffery (Eagles), Damiere Byrd (Patriots), Dede Westbrook (Jaguars)

Still a few notable names left from a deep free-agent WR class. Both Brown and Fitzgerald could be high-floor No. 2s and are best suited for contenders. Tate probably has a little more in the tank than most realize. Otherwise, it's a crapshoot for reserve depth.

TEs

• Tyler Eifert (Jaguars)
• Trey Burton (Colts)
• Marcedes Lewis (Packers)
• Jordan Reed (49ers)
• Richard Rodgers (Eagles)

Others available: Ricky Seals-Jones (Chiefs), Luke Willson (Jaguars), Jeremy Sprinkle (Washington)

Don't come here looking for a starter. This is a bunch of old or oft-injured vets who, frankly, might stay unsigned into August. Burton is underrated when healthy, and Rodgers finished well in Philly, but there's a reason this crop is still unsigned.

OL

• Mitchell Schwartz (Chiefs)
• Eric Fisher (Chiefs)
• Alejandro Villanueva (Steelers)
• Rick Wagner (Packers)
• Austin Reiter (Chiefs)

Others available: Jason Peters (Eagles), James Carpenter (Falcons), Bobby Massie (Bears)

The elite blockers are all gone, but if you're desperate for short-term starting experience, you can do a whole lot worse. Schwartz, Fisher and Villanueva would make for decent Day One tackles. Plenty of mid-tier emergency options in this group.

DL

• Jurrell Casey (Broncos)
• Geno Atkins (Bengals)
• Corey Peters (Cardinals)
• Tyrone Crawford (Cowboys)
• DaQuan Jones (Titans)

Others available: Christian Covington (Bengals), Steve McLendon (Buccaneers), Danny Shelton (Lions)

Much like the other spots, we've got a lot of older or oft-injured vets here, albeit with plenty of starting experience. Teams won't want to dip in here until exhausting draft options, but guys like Casey, Peters and Jones can still be quality 4-3 DTs or 3-4 DEs.

EDGE

• Jadeveon Clowney (Titans)
• Melvin Ingram (Chargers)
• Justin Houston (Colts)
• Ryan Kerrigan (Washington)
• Olivier Vernon (Browns)

Others available: Aldon Smith (Cowboys), Everson Griffen (Lions), Trent Murphy (Bills)

This might be the strongest remaining group of any free-agent position. Clowney has not lived up to his name for a while, but everyone else here could easily be added as a starter in 2021. Vernon, in particular, probably isn't getting enough love for his return to form.

LBs

• K.J. Wright (Seahawks)
• Vince Williams (Steelers)
• Eric Wilson (Vikings)
• B.J. Goodson (Browns)
• De'Vondre Campbell (Cardinals)

Others available: Kwon Alexander (Saints), L.J. Fort (Ravens), Sean Lee (Cowboys)

The edge rushers offer more upside, but this group isn't bad, either. Wright and Williams are both short-term solutions at 31, but they can start pretty reliably. Younger options like Wilson and Campbell, meanwhile, should certainly be in starting lineups come fall.

CBs

• Richard Sherman (49ers)
• Bashaud Breeland (Chiefs)
• Casey Hayward Jr. (Chargers)
• Steven Nelson (Steelers)
• Brian Poole (Jets)

Others available: Quinton Dunbar (Seahawks), Gareon Conley (Texans)

If you need a quick fix on the outside, there are plenty of options here. Sherman is a risky bet because of his age and health, but the floor is high if he's healthy. Breeland and Nelson could easily be one-year flyers and give you 14-16 adequate starts.

Safeties

• Malik Hooker (Colts)
• Tre Boston (Panthers)
• Tashaun Gipson (Bears)
• Duron Harmon (Lions)
• Bradley McDougald (Jets)

Others available: Ricardo Allen (Falcons), Kenny Vaccaro (Titans), Sean Davis (Steelers)

Not a whole lot of certainty here. The best gamble would be Hooker, who has struggled mightily with injuries but flashed play-making ability earlier in his career. If you need an experienced No. 3 or something, this wouldn't be a bad group to pick from.

unsigned nfl free agents 2020 - Bing

Ha! I had no idea.

After ample preparation, Aaron Rodgers 'was ready to rock and roll' as 'Jeopardy!' guest host

It's what Green Bay Packers superstar quarterback and three-time AP NFL Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers has spent extensive time doing this offseason.

What is preparing to host Jeopardy!?

In the aftermath of his Packers falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship Game and amid uncertainty regarding his future in Titletown, Rodgers has been studying up for his hosting duties on the long-running game game show.

"I watched hours and hours and hours of episodes," Rodgers told ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "Luckily Netflix has a few seasons, and I went back to DVR. But I had to watch from a different perspective -- from [former host] Alex [Trebek]'s perspective. I couldn't watch it as a fan anymore.

"I took pages and pages and pages of notes. I wrote down every affirmative that he said to any type of clue. I wrote down how he would respond if they didn't get it right. I wrote down beat points of the show. I wrote down all the different ways he would take it to break. I wrote down the stuff that he said coming out of break."

A former celebrity contestant, Rodgers' role as guest host was announced in January as the show begins to find its way following the loss of Trebek, a television icon in his hosting role who died of cancer at the age of 80 in November of last year.

Rodgers' two-week run as host is set to air on Monday (Jeopardy! airs in syndication). The 16-year NFL veteran teased a memorable first act, telling Demovsky he anticipates a viral moment emerging from his first episode.

"Just wait until you see the first show and what the returning champion wrote, and then think about me standing at the podium watching -- and this will make sense when you see what he wrote -- and I'm watching him write this down," Rodgers said. "For about 25 seconds, I'm watching him write this, and he thinks about the answer and says 'F--- it, basically, I'm going to write this answer,' which probably one of the viral moments of my two weeks will be his response, which is taking a shot at something that happened to us late in the season.

"But it was unbelievable as the host, I'm watching him and going, 'I can't believe I'm watching him write this.' It was pretty amazing."

By his account, Rodgers was impressed with his performance and so too were those behind the scenes.

"I know they didn't expect what I was about to bring, but I was just so prepared," Rodgers said. "I was so ready. So we get into the first game, the first run-through, there's 30 questions in a Jeopardy round, and after the first 15 questions, we go to break. They say it in your earpiece, 'Take it to break.' So I take it to break, and there was a pause, and I think everyone was like, 'Whoa, OK, this guy kind of knows what he's doing here.'

"One of the head producers said as much. She was like, 'I'm just so appreciative of your approach.' And my whole thing was I felt like the best way to honor Alex's memory was to be so dialed in and so ready, and that's the approach I took. So I was ready to rock and roll."

While viewers can look forward to Rodgers handling myriad questions and answers in the coming weeks in his new role, answers have been non-existent and questions have lingered as it relates to his future with the Packers. The nine-time Pro Bowler offered no clarity as it relates to his Green Bay contract or what lies ahead.

"I don't know that I have any updates or anything," he said.

While Rodgers' days ahead in Green Bay remain in question, there's no wondering where he'll be seen in the coming days. And so, the quarterback who memorably replaced another legendary Packers quarterback in Brett Favre, will now look to temporarily replace the legendary Trebek. It's a role he certainly prepared for.

"Literally, I studied for this like no other," Rodgers said. "I wanted to absolutely just crush it."

Les Snead Always Double Downs On Eleven

Saturday night January 31st, a week before the Super Bowl, a shockwave went through the football world. Rams GM Les Snead pulled off what many deemed impossible and traded Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions along with two firsts and a third for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Stafford and Sean McVay were “conveniently” vacationing in Cabo at the same time and were surely just as shocked as every NFL writer who had to put up a post and or podcast in the dead of night.

Jared Goff’s contract, as well as a plateaued level of pay, gave him the Kelly Blue Book value of an old rental car and YET the Rams walked away with an upgrade at quarterback. That’s been the M.O. of Les Snead since he was hired in 2012. He’ll wheel and deal, Ric Flair style, picks, and the salary cap be damned.

He doesn’t get credit for it, but Les Snead is one of the best GMs in the NFL. Reckless, yes, but like Gregory House, he gets the job done. What’s fascinating is the way his gambling has evolved over the years.

When he was hired in 2012 he immediately made two big splashes, 1) he hires Jeff Fisher because the Rams needed a grown-up after going in on Steve Spagnuolo, and 2) he flipped the 2nd overall pick to Washington for three 1st rounders, and a 2nd round pick. This trade didn’t entirely work out for both parties as RGIII didn’t pan out and the Rams didn’t come away with any real blue-chip players outside of Michael Brockers. However, this trade would serve as a Rosetta Stone for his philosophy. Make a big move and if that move doesn’t work quickly pivot to make smaller moves.

It also taught him that 1st-round picks aren’t the end all be all of building a successful team. He’s much more content to flip those picks into a proven commodity like Brandin Cooks or Jalen Ramsey. Now, this strategy is dangerous and there were times where it felt like the Rams were frantically running around Los Angeles like he was Howard Ratner, but this is how Les wins.

In 2016, Les Snead would invert his 2012 splash and traded two 1st-round picks, two 2nd-round picks, and two 3rd-round picks to Tennesse for Jared Goff. At the time this seemed…desperate and looks that way in hindsight. Yes, they could’ve sucked an extra year, had the 5th overall pick and taken Patrick Mahomes, or Deshaun Watson. Or they could’ve used the 10th pick in 2016 on a blue-chip BPA and taken Dak Prescott in that draft and used the 5th overall pick the next year on a star but that’s not the Les Snead way.

For him, the action is the juice, but also it’s highly likely that went down because that was their first season in Los Angeles and they needed a star quarterback to boost ticket sales and Goff looked like he could fit the bill (more on him later). What supports Snead’s gambling habit is the fact that he’s a savvy drafter, especially in the later rounds, and he also has a great eye for off-the-field talent.

By hiring McVay, who in turn had a smart eye for talent himself, infrastructure was built that allowed Les to keep taking chances. McVay hasn’t had a 1st round pick his entire tenure in LA but that hasn’t mattered at all. McVay and his coaching staff developed Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods (a free agent signing but not a 1st-round pick), Cam Akers, Jordan Fuller, Tyler Higbee, Terrell Burgess, John Johnson, Josh Reynolds, etc., into quality starters.

The Rams have had coaches and executives get poached throughout the years despite the perception of TV/Twitter pundits thinking the Rams are a loser organization, and yet, the rest of the league has tried to pick the Rams clean, on, and off the field. Why? Because Les Snead has, through both skill and luck, incubated a lot of talent despite the Rams not winning a Super Bowl (yet).

The flip side to this though is the fact that Les always doubles down. One of the things that have forced him to go all California Split (RIP George Segal) every year is that the Rams are too quick to sign players to lucrative extensions. Yes, that falls on the feet of Tony Pastoors but Les is in charge of it all so it’s not as though he’s been blindsided.

The premature extensions created a lot of problems because not only did the players not live up to the contracts but it prevented them from making any upgrades or keeping other starters on the roster. The biggest example of course was Todd Gurley whom the Rams are still eating dead cap space. Ditto Brandin Cooks, and now Jared Goff.

The thing that’s kept Les from being buried under all that burnt money is his ability to pivot. When the Rams inexplicably signed Alec Ogletree and Robert Quinn (that was more defendable), Les traded them for picks that would bear fruit the following year. Yes, they carried a little dead-cap but getting young starters for little money balanced things out.

With the Gurley, Goff, and Cooks deals, however, this would seem beyond the pale and while some brutal sacrifices were made, Les figured out a way to replace Gurley with Cam Akers, and because Bill O’Brien was still in charge, managed to get a 2nd-round pick for Brandin Cooks and that pick turned out to be Van Jefferson.

Turning Goff into Stafford was the apex of this strategy. Again all of these scenarios are not ideal, but being nimble enough not to have to hock Aaron Donald or Cooper Kupp to get out of trouble is truly extraordinary. This is why he keeps hanging around, that and perhaps he’s got alligator blood in his veins.

Mordo would say the bill eventually comes due and he’d be right. At a certain point, all the restructures will have to be paid off and the blue-chip foundation Snead has built will become past their primes, the mid-round picks stop hitting, too many coaches and executives get plucked by other teams, and the dice rolls hit snake eyes. It happens eventually and perhaps in 2025, the HARD RESET will begin.

But if the Rams win a title before that happens it’ll all be worth it. A Super Bowl buys teams time and if that time is spent restocking the roster enough and balancing the cap sheet enough, once that hard reset happens the Rams won’t toil in obscurity as they did between the Greatest Show on Turf and when McVay was hired.

Les Snead lives in the neon claws of Gamblor and any one of his reckless moves would’ve gotten him fired a long time ago if he wasn’t an adept risk-taker. By hiring the right people, both on the field and in the office, he has the runway to give away 1st-round picks like they were candy to acquire top talent, take on mountains of dead money when an idiotic extension is signed, and take his mistakes and flip them for something better.

There’s the right way to build a team, the wrong way, and the way Les Snead builds a team. From the outside, it might seem baffling but he knows that the house always wins but once in a while, the perfect hand will come along, and then he can bet big and take the house. If he plays his cards right he’ll have more than respect left in the morning.

Let’s take nominations for the all time starting line-up for the Rams in Hades.

The only rule is the players must have started at least 16 total games for the Rams to qualify. I’ll start...

QB: Tony Banks

It's not often that an NFL quarterback gets away with completing two passes on one play, but that's what Tom Brady did to the Rams last season, and now the Rams are proposing a rule change to make sure no one else ever gets stuck in the situation that they found themselves in last November.

Under the Rams' proposed rule, teams will lose a down if they throw a second forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage or if they throw a pass from behind the line of scrimmage after the ball has already crossed the line of scrimmage. This might seem like a very specific rule, but the Rams are proposing it because of what happened with Brady back in Week 11.

On a third-and-10 play for the Buccaneers in the fourth quarter, a pass thrown by Brady was batted back to him and he responded by throwing another pass, which ended up being an 8-yard completion to Mike Evans.

The officials saw the second pass and threw a flag, but it left the Rams in a tough spot. If they accepted the penalty, it would only be for 5 yards, which means Brady and the Buccaneers offense would get to come back on the field for a third-and-15. If they declined the penalty, the second pass would COUNT and the Buccaneers would be facing a fourth-and-2.


From the Rams' point of view, there was nothing fair about this situation. Even though Brady committed an egregious penalty, the Buccaneers were either going to get another down (if penalty is accepted) or gain 8 yards (if penalty is declined). The Rams ended up declining the penalty and Brady got credited for an 8-yard pass (The Buccaneers also decided to punt on fourth-and-2 from their own 42 in a game they would lose 27-24).

When someone throws a forward pass from beyond the line of scrimmage, the penalty is 5 yards and a loss of down, and that's the same punishment the Rams want for anyone who throws two passes. If the Rams' proposal had been in place, they would have accepted the penalty on Brady and the Buccaneers would have faced a fourth-and-15.

If this rule gets voted through, we can go ahead and call it the "Tom Brady rule" because the Rams would have never proposed it if Brady hadn't done it against them. For a look at the 11 other rule changes that owners will be voting on in May, be sure to click here.

video of play in link

Been thinking about this and looking at draft prospects, and while I know a lot of people see ILB as a huge need and something we should target early, I don't see it the same way. Could we get better at ILB? Yes absolutely. At times last year was our ILB core a liability.. especially in pass coverage? Yes absolutely. But there are a few things to consider when looking at ILB-

1) This is hands down the least important position on our entire defense. With the trend of 11 personnel (3WR sets) sweeping through the NFL, more often than not we would rather have an extra CB or S on the field. Last year 28/32 NFL teams ran 11 personnel between 45%-70%, the highest mark in NFL history.

2) Our best ILB Travin Howard did not play at all last year. In the off-season last year our coaching staff was singing his praises as he was going to start at ILB.

3) Kaiser, Reeder, Young, and Hollins all received significant snaps in Howard's absence and should improve this year. They all were given a lot of plays which will allow them to develop and improve with a lot of film to study.


So looking at our ILBs, if we bring in zero new bodies it's still safe to assume this position group is better this year with Howard back and the improvement of the other guys. Will we be an elite run defense without more dominant ILBs? No we wont. BUT we finished as the #1 defense last year regardless, while playing Kaiser, Reeder, and Young playing significant snaps.

I think EDGE, and CB are much bigger priorities if we're looking at defense in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. And obliviously OL is the main priority on offense. We have to rush the passer well. We have to cover well on the backend. EDGE and CB are just significantly more important in todays NFL and especially in our scheme. So at 57, 88, and 103 I think we will go OL, EDGE, CB, and maybe DL before we address ILB. And to all the people worried about this position, I think we can logically expect improvement from that group next year if no new talent is added. With Raheem Morris at DC, will he covet a ILB high? It is possible but again we have a serious question mark across from Floyd at OLB, and also at nickel CB. I think we'll be focused on addressing these first, instead of selecting an ILB with a high pick that we might take off the field in passing situations.

Soak it all in | 10 things with Matthew Stafford

Each week, I interview a different Rams player to find out about their lives on the field as well as off it. This week, quarterback, Matthew Stafford talks about Sean McVay's energy, being a girl dad and playing in the same city as his buddy Clayton Kershaw.

1: One common goal
Sarina:What excites you most about joining the Rams?
Matthew: I think the opportunity to play with some of the great players that I've watched for a long time, both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. This is a really talented team that's had some great players as a part of it. I'm excited to get to work with those guys and try to achieve everybody's goal at the beginning of the season is to go out there and win the Super Bowl. And that's going to be ours as well, I'm sure.

2: Energy WOOOOOO
Sarina: One word to describe Sean McVay
Matthew: Energy. He's got a great contagious energy about himself. The way he both loves the game of football but loves life too. He's a guy that is always a good time to be around.

3: Reunited and it feels so good
Sarina: You and (Dodgers pitcher) Clayton Kershaw go way back. Do we have Clayton to thank when it comes to you becoming a Ram?
Matthew: HA! No, but I am excited to be in the same city as him and watch him, up close and personal, and do what he's been doing at a high level for such a long time.
4: Nine is mine
Sarina: How did you get number nine away from John Wolford?
Matthew: I obviously reached out to him. And he was receptive. I know he's played some games in that number, so he wasn't just going to give it to me, but at the same time, I'm just excited to get to work with him.

5: Extremely talented
Sarina: What do you think about the wide receiver group now with the addition of DeSean Jackson?
Matthew: It's extremely talented. I think it's a great blend of guys who are young in Van Jefferson, and a guy who's a little bit longer in the tooth, and that's DeSean, but can still really move. And then a couple guys that I think are right in the middle of their prime in Cooper and Robert, so I'm excited. I don't know everybody in and out yet, but I'm excited to get to work with these guys and see who can do what and develop that rapport with.

6: #99 is off the charts
Sarina: What impresses you most about Aaron Donald from afar?
Matthew: I think his physical traits jump off the screen to you. That's obvious. To see his ability to slash and get in between, block, defeat, one, two, three guys, whoever's blocking him. That stuff is a bit obvious. But you know, his mental aptitude for the game is off the charts and something that I don't know is talked about enough. He's the guy that recognizes blocks as quickly as anybody I've ever seen. I'm excited to get to have him on my team and be in a red jersey when I play him in practice and not live.

7: Girl dad
Sarina: What's being a dad to four daughters taught you?
Matthew: Patience. (Smiles) It's taught me a lot. People talk all the time; you're going to try for a boy and I'm so happy with the four girls that I have. It's the greatest part of my life, to be honest with you. It changed it in so many ways. As a parent, you'll never know, what that feeling is until you have kids and I've been lucky enough to have that four times. Four beautiful little daughters. I'm lucky in that regard.

8: Three icons go to dinner with Stafford
Sarina: Three icons you will want to sit down and have dinner with, dead or alive?
Matthew: I would want to sit down and have dinner with Michael Jordan. That would be awesome.
JFK and Tiger Woods.

9: Don't take the bait
Sarina: Richard Sherman says you'll throw for 5,000 yards this season. What do you think about that prediction?
Matthew: I think Richard baits me, like he always does on the damn field. (Laughs) I got a ton of respect for him. He's another guy that his IQ for the game of football is off the charts. He's obviously physically gifted. He's played this game at a high level for a long time. I appreciate those words. But I'm sure when, and if we play each other this year, he's not going to do anything to try and help me get those 5,000, so I'm going to have to earn them on him.

10: An apple a day…
Sarina: Apparently you don't like social media? So, what app do you find yourself using the most?
Matthew: I just get my news through probably Apple news. That would be how I get my news and stuff. That's probably the one I read the most, trying to keep up with what's going on in the world rather than, what people had for breakfast.

• The Athletic reports Matthew Stafford is recovering from "minor" surgery to his throwing thumb.
  Stafford reportedly underwent an "elective," "simple clean-up" procedure in the second week of March. He previously described the injury as a "partially torn UCL." Stafford's thumb was one of the many body parts bothering him down the stretch in 2020, though he did not miss any starts. According to The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue, Stafford will be "100 percent" for the team's offseason program.
  SOURCE: The Athletic
  Apr 1, 2021, 6:50 PM ET
  
  

The Rams have had 2 long snapper’s since 2002. Kind of hard to believe, but we have been automatic at long snaps for a very long time:

• Chris Massey 2002-2010 (702 of 703 clean snaps)
• Jake McQuaide 2011-2020

I searched like hell to find stats on McQuaide... couldn’t find any, but he’s been damn good as we know.

Right now we have a competition between Steve Wirtel and Colin Holba.

What do we know about these guys? Sort of a subtle part of the game we haven’t had to put effort toward in a while.

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Why Iowa State's long snapper could be the only Cyclones player drafted this spring

Steve Wirtel hasn’t needed a football field to get ready for the NFL Draft. Which is good, because Iowa State's facilities are shut down during the coronavirus pandemic.

All the former Iowa State long snapper has needed is 15 yards of grass. So, most days, that's meant going out to a random spot about 20 yards away from a row of corn in an area across the street from Jack Trice Stadium with current Cyclones long snapper Connor Guess.

“For me to complain that I don’t have any space would be totally wrong and really dumb for me, because I can go snap on the concrete if I want to outside,” Wirtel said. “I just love any way to get better and really just kind of going out there and doing my thing.”

Nobody in college may be better at long snapping than Wirtel. He has such a strong and widely respected skillset that he could be one of the only long snappers to be selected during this week's NFL Draft, which takes place Thursday through Saturday.

“He’s my No. 1 (long snapper) guy,” said ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.

Wirtel has been an Iowa State mainstay the past four seasons, appearing in all 51 games. He handled all deep snaps, including punts, field goals and extra points. And he did it better than anyone else, earning first-team All-Big 12 Conference honors from Phil Steele in 2018 and 2019.

Wirtel was also named a finalist for the Mannelly Award, given to the nation’s top long snapper, last season. Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said NFL teams were showing interest in him two years ago.

“Obviously his athleticism and his ability to make some tackles on punts really showed up early," Campbell said.

Wirtel's athleticism showed up again at the most recent Senior Bowl and especially at the NFL Scouting Combine where he put up impressive numbers. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.76 seconds, setting an event record for a long snapper. Wirtel also bench-pressed 225 pounds 19 times, the fifth-best mark by a long-snapper since 2000.

NFL.com senior analyst and Pro Football Hall of Famer Gil Brandt said its those type of numbers and that type of athleticism that make Wirtel stand out at such a unique position.

"The long snapper is two things," Brandt said. "Not only is he getting the ball back correctly to the punter and to the placekicker, but he also has to be a coverage guy, and that's why I say this guy is an athlete. A lot of teams, we've got guys are self-made, deep snappers. This guy is an athlete and a true football player. And he gets the ball back real quick."

Kiper said he has Wirtel as the top long snapper available in the draft, followed closely behind by LSU's Drew Ferguson. That small gap could be the difference in getting drafted. One long snapper has been selected in the draft in each of the past five years.

If the streak continues with Wirtel, it marks an achievement for a player who first started thinking about a career as a long snapper midway through high school.

Wirtel, who honed his skills in the basement of his parents' house back in Illinois, was so good in high school that he got a scholarship to Iowa State. He took advantage of the opportunity, becoming a special teams starter for the Cyclones. Wirtel said he's heard from all 32 NFL teams and has been told he could go as early as the fifth round.

While he's waited for the draft to arrive, Wirtel has been lifting with former Iowa State teammates Bryce Meeker, Julian Good-Jones and Matt Leo at a makeshift gym about 40 minute from Ames. Wirtel has stayed sharp with his long snapping skills by working out with Guess. Wirtel told Campbell he'd prepare Guess to be his replacement.

"Kind of fulfill his dreams as well," Wirtel said.

Wirtel's dream of playing in the NFL is close. Even if he doesn't get drafted, Brandt said he expects Wirtel to become a mainstay.

"Eight or nine years from now, he'll still be in this league," Brandt said.

———

Steelers GM explains drafting long snapper Colin Holba

PITTSBURGH -- The "S" on the screen was not a "B." The Pittsburgh Steelers' sixth-round pick was not providing inside linebacker depth or adding edge-rushing ability.

But he had the same physical dimensions of a player who would, so Louisville long snapper Colin Holba becomes a Pittsburgh Steeler and the only long snapper selected in the 2017 NFL draft.

"Again, not many come along that are that size who are competent snappers," general manager Kevin Colbert said. "It's really a supply-and-demand issue."

Here's how else Colbert explained the most puzzling decision of the team's draft days and how that logic stacks up with reality.

The size issue

"In college football, most long snappers are walk-ons. And because of their rules – there are different rules as to how you can defend them or block them after the snap – they have a lot more liberties than we do in the NFL," Colbert said. "So a lot of the college snappers are these 6-1, 215-220-pound guys, which really would have a hard time snapping and blocking in our league."

Holba is 6-4 and weighs 248 pounds. He is the biggest and tallest of the top long snappers in this year's class. All six of the others in the top 7 in CBS Sports' draft prospect ranking are at least 6-1 and weigh no less than 230 pounds.

Wanting depth, competition

This was a theme that Colbert, Mike Tomlin and the other Steelers coaches touched on in explaining most of their selections. Holba was no exception as Colbert said he would compete with 12-year veteran Greg Warren.

"It's no secret, Greg is moving into what I believe will be Year 13," Colbert said. "You have to be able to back that up."

Warren did re-sign on another one-year contract this offseason. Colbert, when asked, said that Warren is healthy and reiterated that Holba is competition for him.

The general manager also noted that plenty of sixth- and seventh-round players don't make the final 53-man roster and in some cases get added to the practice squad. He said he didn't know if the Steelers would keep a long snapper on the practice squad, but that the same logic in getting a late-round pick who might not make the team applies.

Also, there's precedent for this working

For the Patriots, no less.

"Not many long snappers come along that we believe are draftable," Colbert said. "New England took a kid a few years back who is their starting long snapper. And when we see one, we want to add him in the mix, just like we would any other position."

It's true. The Patriots picked Navy long snapper Joe Cardona in the fifth round of the 2015 draft, 166th overall. Like Holba, he was the only long snapper selected that year. Holba was the 213th pick in this year's draft.

———

Stafford just turned 33. Maybe it’s too early... But, anyone imagine a scenario we draft a QB? Or we set with Wolford?

Maybe a later round development type? Me; I don’t. Not enough picks.

But, even if not the Rams... anyone have a dark horse QB that could surprise from this class? So much of the buzz is around the top 4-5.

Major NFL rule changes could be coming: 12 things to know about the league's latest proposals

The NFL's decision to expand the schedule to 17 games might not be the only major change we see in 2021 and that's because the league's 32 owners are soon going to be voting on a few rule proposals that would all go into effect this season if they were to pass.

The NFL announced on Thursday that there will be a total of 13 rule or bylaw proposals that the owners will be voting on.

Here's a summary of the key changes that have been proposed, along with who proposed the rule.

1. Eliminate overtime in the preseason (proposed by competition committee).
2. Expand the prohibition on blocking below the waist by offensive and defensive players on scrimmage downs when contact occurs beyond five yards on either side of the line of scrimmage and more than two yards outside of either offensive tackle (proposed by competition committee).
3. For one year only, a maximum of nine players could be in the setup zone. This rule mostly relates to kickoffs and would theoretically make it easier to recover onside kicks (proposed by competition committee).
4. Allow the replay official and designated members of the officiating department to provide certain objective information to the on-field officials. Basically, the replay official and people in the league's officiating department would be allowed to help correct a call before it actually goes to replay (proposed by Competition Committee, Coaches Subcommittee, and the Ravens).
5. Add a loss of down for a second forward pass from behind the line and for a pass thrown after the ball returns behind the line. The Rams almost got burnt on a two-pass play by Tom Brady during the 2020 season and they don't want to see it happen again. (proposed by Rams).
6. Ensure the enforcement of all accepted penalties committed by either team during successive extra point attempts. If a team gets penalized on an extra point, they can take the penalty at the 2-yard line OR 15-yard line. If they get penalized again, the penalty has to be enforced from wherever the first penalty was enforced, so if they had a false start on a 2-point conversion, they could have that enforced at the 2- or 15-yard line. If they had a second false start, they no longer get an option, it would be enforced from the spot of the first penalty (proposed by Bears).
7. Expand jersey number options for certain positions. If this passes, the rule would allow running backs, linebackers and defensive backs to wear No. 1-19 and wide receivers could wear No. 1-19 (along with their normal 80-89). This rule has been proposed by the Chiefs.
8. Implement a spot-and-choose overtime rule. Basically, one team would pick where the ball is spotted in overtime and then the second team would pick whether they want to play offense or defense. You can read more details on the rule by clicking here (proposed by Ravens).
9. Instead of an onside kick, this rule proposal would allow a team to try to convert a fourth-and-15 play to retain possession of the ball. You can read more details on the rule by clicking here (proposed by Eagles).
10. Playoff teams are not allowed to sign players who have been cut by teams that aren't in the playoffs (proposed by Competition Committee)
11. Teams would be required to report tryouts and visits to the league office throughout the year (proposed by Competition Committee).
12. To keep all teams and candidates on equal ground, interviews for head coaching or coordinator jobs can't be held until after the conference title games and you can't make any hirings until after the Super Bowl (proposed by Bills).

Rules that have been proposed by the competition committee generally have a better chance of passing, so it's almost a guarantee that a few of these will pass. The rule proposals will be discussed with coaches and general managers around the league in late April and then the owners will vote on any possible rule changes at their annual spring meeting in May.

Watch carefully Sub sailors so that you can appear to be an old Salt aboard real Navy ships...

Now go to the Bridge for instructions on how to lower the main mast to pass under the Coronado bridge....

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