MemphisRams 3.0 Mock Draft (w/ trades)

DAY TWO

2.52 - Josh Uche, EDGE / ILB, Michigan 6012, 245
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjFebxD-Wl8


I'd take Claypool here, if available. But if not, chances someone like this kid or a RB is going to be the BPA. Uche has good speed and coverage skills. The Rams can play him at ILB on 1st & 2nd down and have him transition to EDGE rusher on obvious passing downs.

*****TRADE*****
Rams trade down with Packers

Snead trades the Rams 2nd rounder (2-57) acquired for Brandon Cooks to the Packers for their 2nd (2-62), 4th (4-136) & and 6th round (6-208) round selections. This allows the Packers to move ahead of their division rival Vikings.
*********************

2.62 - Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech 6000, 240 (from Packers)
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9QYzOIAMiU


I have NO interest in two down players like Reeder or Kiser in the starting lineup. Both are (or will be) liabilities in coverage and I WANT MORE SPEED on the field. Brooks provides this speed while being a good run defender with the upside to do well in coverage.

3.84 - Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas 5100, 200
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcPs1R4xxCA


Speed. Speed. And more Speed. Here, the Rams replace the speed provided by Brandin Cooks with someone who runs with a RBs mentality after the catch and can actually break tackles.

3-104 - Jonah Jackson, OG, Ohio State 6034, 306
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exq2Vv899Vk


OK Kromer. We've had college tackles and a center playing guard. How about simply going with a quality college guard and let him man one of the spots for the next 10 years. Jackson is excellent in pass protection while also proving to be very good on those combo blocks in the running game. Day one starter.

DAY THREE

4.126 Tyler Biadasz, C/G, Wisconsin 6035, 314
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWTi0P3bc3k&feature=emb_logo


Medical issues and a less than stellar final year in Wisconsin hurt Rams OL David Edwards draft stock last year and it appears the same will happen for Biadasz. Rams reap the benefits hoping he can turn things around.

********TRADE******
Rams trade the 4th round selection (4-136) acquired in earlier trade down from Packers to Jacksonville for RB Leonard Fournette.
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGKXO9vWrtc&feature=emb_rel_err


*******TRADE*******
The Rams trade OT Rob Havenstein to the Bengals for their 5th round selelction (5-147).

5.147 - Kenny Robinson Jr., S, XFL Battlehawks 6014, 205 (Bengals)
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNakXxNnJ6g


Dismissed from the West Virginia due to academic misconduct, here's a kid that went professional and made a name for himself in the XFL. Robinson could be a steal for the team as he provides the secondary the ballhawk they need.

6.200 - Parnell Motley, CB, Oklahoma 6000, 183
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToVLe35hYFg


A press-man CB, Motley ran a 4.5/40 at the Oklahoma Pro Day and spoke to the Rams. I read somewhere that he may have been the Oklahoma defender last year as he allowed only a 43.4% completion percentage against 53 targets following the opposing team's top WRs after a rocky first few seasons.

7.235 - Charlie Taumoepeau, H-Back/FB, 6022, 240 Portland State
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WqNeLGpCkI&feature=emb_logo

Receiving TE who impressed the NFL.COM's Lance Zierlein, "with his attitude and consistency of effort as a run blocker." Perhaps, this kid could be the Rams version of Kyle Juszczyk (49ers) while helping this team improve it's rushing attack.

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1252684831357632518?s=20


Next, Josh McDaniels will request to be released so he can work with Bruce Arians.

I am having trouble distinguishing the difference in intelligence between Cowherd and Skip Bayless....

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/TheHerd/status/1252660775862235137?s=20

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/MarkdominikNFL/status/1252623889286430722


If the college season is still in jeopardy this summer, there could be a lot of draft eligible players ready to jump to the NFL. Normally this draft is for players who have lost their eligibility (although Terrell Pryor provided the blueprint on how to get around that). I could see the NFL granting a lot of requests to enter the league.

If the 2020 college season is cancelled, the 2021 NFL draft could be one of the worst ever, between the 2020 supplemental draft losses and players sticking around for a 2021 season.

I wonder how the Rams would approach a supplemental draft filled with legitimate NFL prospects, not just guys who failed a drug test or were ruled academically ineligible.

For two years, Rams fans have anxiously awaited the arrival of Ogbonnia Okoronkwo as an impact pass rusher. His rookie year in 2018 was essentially lost to a foot injury, and last season, he was blocked on the depth chart by Dante Fowler Jr. and Clay Matthews.

Now, both of those veterans are gone and Okoronkwo has a clear path to a starting job. He’s ready to capitalize on that opportunity in 2020, potentially breaking out after two years of frustration.

He tweeted that he’s in the best shape of his life, which sounds like a cliché phrase said by most athletes during the offseason.



However, Okoronkwo actually looks like he’s in excellent shape, even during this difficult time when gyms and the team’s facility aren’t open. He’s been working out all spring, doing sand work and boxing training, too.

Here’s a look at a sand drill he went through a few weeks ago, helping build up his foot speed and quickness.



Okoronkwo also shared a handful of photos of himself working out, showing off his chiseled physique.



What’s helped Okoronkwo stay in such great shape is his transition to being a part-time vegetarian. Back in February, he told TheRams.com that he’s 245 pounds and not eating meat. Once the season picks back up, he’ll eat meat again, but he has 9% body fat and is still cut despite being a vegetarian.

“When the season picks up then I’ll definitely be back,” he said. “But I just feel good, a lot of energy. My body feels really clean. I feel like energized when I wake up, yeah. I’m loving it.”

According to Okoronkwo, one of the biggest misconceptions in the NFL is that every player is a body-builder. That’s not the case, because every position and role is so unique and specific to each player.

“Everybody thinks that we’re these chiseled body-builder types. But a lot of the time a lot of the guys don’t have that traditional body-builder look,” he said. “A lot of guys are very skilled, so they don’t have to be super strong or super fast, or they don’t have to look like a superhero to be really good at what they do. They’re intricate and very detailed in their skills. So that’s what makes them so much better than everybody else.”

Okoronkwo still needs to improve his technique and skill set if he wants to become a reliable starter, but he’s putting in the work to take that third-year leap in Los Angeles.ù

.

• TEVIN COLEMANRB, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
  
  SI's Albert Breer reports Tevin Coleman is a veteran who "came across my desk" as a name to watch on the trade market.
  Coleman signed a two-year deal with the Niners last offseason, so he's headed into the final year of his pact and due over $4.8 million in salary and bonuses. The Niners also have a glut of running backs, with Raheem Mostert's emergence as the lead dog along with Matt Breida, Jerick McKinnon coming back from injuries, and Jeff Wilson. There isn't room for everyone. Coleman averaged a career-worst 4.0 YPC last season and largely ghosted aside from a four-touchdown midseason outburst against the Panthers. The Niners would probably love to trade Coleman, but we doubt there's much of a market for him.
  SOURCE: Sports Illustrated
  Apr 20, 2020, 8:24 PM ET
  
  

.

Rams trade: Rd 2 #57 & Rd & 7 #234 (381pts) > Balt Rd 2 # 60, Rd 4 #129 & 134 (382pts)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rams old Draft Boad: 52, 57, 84, 104, 126, 199, 234

Rams new Draft Board:
Rd 2 #60
Rd 3 # 67, 84, 104
Rd 4 # 109, 126, 129, 134
Rd 6 # 199




#60: Matt Hennessy

Hennessy has played close to 2,500 snaps the last three seasons. Scouting Report:

• Very good athlete with very good balance and quickness.
• Very good competitive toughness, he’s a scrapper who will fight ‘til the whistle.
• Coaching staff awarded him single digit jersey, an honor for team leaders and tone setters.
• His core and lower body strength are promising. Squatty dude.
• Very good mental processing, he made line calls, anticipated and communicated opposing pressure packages, and constantly shows an ability to adjust to defenders post-snap.
• Good, quick hands with nice placement and an ability to lock down opponents.
• Brings the goods to be a center who can pull or factor into screen plays.
• Very good one zone concepts, he’s good at timing combo blocks and reaching opponents.
• The best second level blocker in this class, bar none.
• Good in pass protection, displays the anticipation, balance, and lateral mobility to be an asset here.
• According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed pressure on 1.25% of his true pass sets the last two seasons.
• Solid anchor, has the kind of base and technique to withstand power.
• 32” arms are in the 50th percentile for a center prospect.
• Adequate play strength may limit his wins to a lot of “boring” blocks.
• Adequate gap blocker who will not get significant drive at POA.
• College blocking scheme did not ask a lot from him in pass protection as slides made him responsible for one gap.

#67: Malik Harrison

Strengths
Harrison is very quick to fill the gap and get to the running back. He reads the flow very well and then uses his quickness to get downhill and plug the hole. When Harrison arrives, he brings the pop with him. He can close on his target quickly and good taking down runners one on one. Harrison also very good at backside pursuit.

His physicality isn’t just limited to his tackling, Harrison does a good job of shedding blockers in the run and pass game. His length allows him to keep blockers at bay while he tries to get loose and make the play. Does well to navigate through traffic when pursuing the runner.

Malik does provide some pass rush and blitzing from the linebacker spot. Recorded four sacks as a senior for the Buckeyes. Not an every down rusher but situationally he can be very effective with his timing of shooting the gaps.

Weaknesses
His aggressive play style can get him burned at times. He will bite on play action fakes that will leave a vacated spot in the defense when he tries getting downhill too quickly. He doesn’t have the best instincts in coverage so getting him up to speed will be paramount for the defensive staff.

Not a real fluid athlete in space, does well for someone of his size. His recovery speed is average at best when he gets out of position. Deeper drops will cause him fits as he wasn’t asked to do this much for the Buckeyes. He is more of quarterback spy or playing closer to the line of scrimmage.

#84 Zack Moss RB

Strengths

• Good-looking build for the position with a strong lower and upper half
• He sees the field very well behind the line; he will hit obvious holes with burst as well as looking for obvious cutback lanes to find a seam
• His contact balance is unbelievable; PAC-12 football players consistently bounced off of him
• It takes the whole team to bring him down at times; he has a strong will to gain every last yard
• Has a spin move that is hard to anticipate that shakes defenders off of him
• Has some experience catching the ball with a limited route tree
• 4.5 40 speed pro day results

#104 Lynn Bowden Jr. WR

Strengths

• Well-built with above-average play strength
• Highly competitive
• Creative play-callers will love his versatility
• Has zone read, running back and jet sweep value
• Runs with excellent vision and toughness
• Slippery but strong with ball in his hands
• Very difficult for first tackler to get him down cleanly
• Has some vertical value from the slot
• Quick catch-and-tuck to get upfield after catch
• Hard to jar ball loose from him at catch-point
• Fearless, efficient and effective as kick returner

#109 Alton Robinson EDGE

ARMS
6' 3"
264 lbs
32 3/8”
HANDS
9 1/4”
4.69 > 40 speed

Strengths

• Possesses traits for NFL disruption
• Initial movements are sudden and threatening
• Anticipates snap and rockets upfield
• Speed, bend and agility to flatten to QB in a hurry
• Foot quickness for edge-to-edge rush mentality
• Seeks out strip-sack opportunities
• Has speed-to-power potential to unlock
• Elusive when allowed to play in gaps
• Can't leave him unblocked on backside
• Instant trigger to capture backs before they hit the hole
• Low pads and fluid lateral transitions for B-gap attack
• Reactive athleticism to stalk and tackle bouncing runners and cutbacks

#126 Devin Asiasi TE UCLA

HEIGHT
WEIGHT
ARMS
6' 3"
257 lbs
33 1/4”
HANDS
9 3/4”
4.7 > 40 speed
Strengths

• Early juice getting up the seam
• Fluid gait in space, reminiscent of enormous receiver
• Coverage finds it hard to close space on seam and over routes due to his speed
• Three-level potential with career average of 15.2 yards per catch
• Finds soft underbelly of the defense against zone
• Frame and toughness to bang between the hashes as a target
• Makes smooth adjustments to snare off-target throws without bogging down
• Safety blanket size and soft hands for third-down conversions
• Blocking technique needs work, but effort is solid
• Works at chopping feet through sustain phase as run blocker
• Has talent to stalk and connect in space

#129 JULIAN BLACKMON S

Strengths

• Has grown into man-sized frame
• Good combination of size and speed
• Plays with rugged demeanor when it's time
• Disciplined reading man cover keys against play-action
• Starting cornerback experience with ability to check tight ends
• Adequate pattern recognition underneath
• Has nine interceptions in three years
• Factors favorably when supporting versus quick game
• Plays through blockers in space
• Quick to close distance and aggressive hitter in run support
• Wipe-out talent when running the alleys

#134 Willie Gay LB


HEIGHT
WEIGHT
ARMS
6' 1"
243 lbs
32 5/8”
HANDS
10 1/2”
40 Time: 4.46

Strengths

• Frame and lower body thickness to hold up inside
• Reads quarterback's eyes and jumps the passing lane
• Weaves and closes with some juice as blitzer
• Flexed wide and helped smother receiver screens in 2018
• Plays with thud behind his pads
• Good strength to play through soft edges
• Short-area burst to close and pursue in space
• Finishes what he starts as a tackler
• Bodies, wraps and drags down runners with good efficiency

#199 Deejay Dallas RB-Returner From the U!

Strengths

• Played WR and RB at Miami
• Added bad weight in 2018, but slimmed down in 2019
• Instincts and feel for rush track improved during season
• Does a nice job of running tacklers into blocks
• Plus burst with decent getaway juice at his disposal
• Willing accelerator through contact for heavy forward finish
• Slippery to tackle and hard to get down
• Choppy feet and contact balance to keep runs going
• Potential to become a four-phase special-teamer with return talent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QB: Goff Bortles (I signed him after draft) Wolford
RB: Henderson Moss Brown Dallas
WR: Woods Kupp Reynolds Webster Bowden Jr
TE: Higbee Everett Asiasi Mundt
OL: Whitworth Corbett Hennessy Edwards Evans Havenstein Blythe Brewer Kolone

LDE: Brockers Fox
NT: Robinson SJD Gaines
DT: Donald Copeland
WILL: Ebukam Oko
OLB: Floyd Polite Robinson
ILB: Kiser Harrison Redder
ILB: Patrick Young Gay

LCB: Hill Williams
SS: Rapp Scott
FS: JJ3 Blackmon
Nickel: Long
RCB: Ramsey Deayon

K: Hajrullahu or MacGinnis
P: Hekker
LS: McQuaide

PR: Dallas
KR: Bowden Jr

Bold = new Starters

THOUGHTS???

Could draft “experts” be really wrong about how the first 3 rounds go?

The tagline for the reality series Big Brother is “Expect the unexpected.” Spoiler alert: eh, if you’re a Big Brother fan, you know that you can expect just about everything that happens on that show. Where would that tagline fit better? Probably the NFL draft.

And wouldn’t you know it, this year’s draft also happens with a bunch of people trapped in a house, just like Big Brother.

Typically when you write about something having to do with the draft, especially when it’s a mock draft or an evaluation of certain players in a certain range, you receive comments about how “Player A will never go past Pick B” and “Player C will obviously not go that high, you moronic Writer D.” Why? Because heaven bestowed only a few people in the world to have prophetic powers and those people are sports fans people expect what they expect.

The qualifications are usually that they read a mock draft. Hell, I would imagine they even read several! I’d even say that they read several mock drafts over the course of several months. Never mind the fact that over the course of those months, the mock drafts changed considerably and that comment about “Player A” in January looks downright silly in March and forget about it in April.

Or that a good mock draft gets maybe eight picks correct, batting .250.

Somehow when a team takes a player earlier than expected we ridicule the team for reaching instead of the mock drafters for being incorrect in their evaluations. Somehow when a team takes a player later than expected, we pat ourselves on the back for being so incorrect about the evaluation. Because regardless of how you feel about the prospect, you must admit that you were wrong about how the NFL viewed that prospect.

That’s like predicting that it’s going to be sunny tomorrow and then when it rains you blame the earth.

You made the error. Not the league. Not the teams. Not the players. You. The writers. The fans. Me. There’s another CBS reality series, Survivor, the best show on TV, and they do live the “expect the unexpected” lifestyle unlike its sister series. And one thing I love about Survivor is that the winner of the show is the winner. They did the show the best that season. It’s indisputable because the winner is simply the person who didn’t get voted until, made it to the end, and then got the votes to win. As long as they cheat, how can we say they’re not the winner?

You can say that a team “reached” — say last year when few expected the Raiders to pick Clelin Ferrellfourth overall — but what proof does anyone have that Ferrell would have been available to the Raiders at any spot later in the draft? How can you anticipate that he won’t be picked at five when you didn’t anticipate that he’d be picked at four? Therefore, Clelin Ferrell will always be the fourth overall pick of the 2019 draft. It’s indisputable. If you mocked Ferrell to four (as nobody did), you were right. If you didn’t ... you were wrong.

Anyways, about the 2020 NFL Draft that begins on Thursday. There’s been building speculation that the mock draft experts will be even more wrong this year than most previous years.

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/movethesticks/status/1250993769131855873?s=21


I know that for me the long-standing unpopular opinion I’ve held since January is that Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is not a top-10 pick. He may become a great quarterback at the next level, but given all the extenuating circumstances around him in regards to injury and inconsistencies against quality competition at the college level, I would simply not draft him anywhere near the top-5. I think he’d be a good option in round two, and that’s an even more unpopular opinion.

Why?

Well maybe it’s because a bunch of people have watched a lot of Tua and see him as being that much better on tape than most other QB prospects ever. And that’s perfectly okay, I’m not going to argue with you. But I’d say that in the case of most people, it would be because mock drafts don’t say anything like that and if I can’t get my information about draft value from mock drafts, then where can I get it?

Seriously, where do you get your draft values for each player? Do you make them up? Or do you read mock drafts and scouting reports with an expected round or overall pick value? I know that I don’t make my own. But in the case of unpopular opinions, like mine with Tua, you have to balance your own feelings with the general feeling.

My own feeling is that based on what top-5 quarterbacks have had on their resume prior to Tua, that he doesn’t quite line up in that area for me, in spite of his statistical dominance for much of his tenure at Alabama in the last two years. But if Tua goes in the top-five, I won’t be surprised. I simply have the bonus of not being surprised if he goes 20th.

If Jalen Hurts goes in the top-10 though, I will be surprised. We all get to be in that boat. Why? Mock drafts and Jalen Hurts evaluations don’t indicate anything like that happening. But what if they’re wrong? After all, did you know that there are actually four QB prospects in the same tier this year, not three? That’s not according to a mock draft writer.

That’s according to the GM of the defending Super Bowl champions.

On Monday, Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach said to “expect a lot of curveballs” (could be the new tag for Big Brother, or the next MLB season, or a remake of the movie Ed) based on their being “four quarterbacks” and “four premium tackles.” We know who the tackles are, but is Jordan Love the fourth quarterback who may be as good as Tua and Justin Herbert, at least?

That seems to be a purveying thought too.

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/jamespalmertv/status/1252346245323960321?s=21


Why not Jalen Hurts? He also went to Alabama. He’s got size. He’s got stats. He played at a high level for a college that has produced the last two number one picks. Why not Hurts? Well, it could be for all the reasons you expect and the scouts expect and it could make all the sense in the world. But really why not Jalen Hurts?

Because nobody has said so yet.

It seems more and more possible that there will be many surprises during Virtual Draft on Thursday and that could mean that the LA Rams have some more interesting names to work with on Virtual Friday, when they’ll be on the board at picks 52 and 57 in the second round. Could it be that some of the names we consider to be “unavailable” at pick 52 and 57 because we read a lot of mock drafts will actually be available?

Will it be an offensive lineman? A cornerback? A linebacker? A running back?

I unexpect that any of that could happen.

Who would you like to unexpect being available at 52?

This was when there was little thought about Los Angeles and the Rams had two 1st round picks. I remember when ESPN101 was good, Randy Karriker, D'Marco Farr, and the hockey guy on the Fast Lane had Tony Softli on to discuss the upcoming 2013 NFL Draft. Softli was a Patterson homer. He'd get excited talking about him and would comment that he he was a bigger player than Tavon Austin. Softli also said that Patterson as more raw of a WR and would be better as a returner.

It looked like Austin as the better pick that year, as the Vikings didn't seem to know what to do with Patterson. Tavon was a good returner, but then I noticed that Cordarrelle Patterson is on the All Decade Team, along with Aaron Donald. WTF?

The schedule is for the draft to start at
8pm eastern standard time
7pm central standard time
6pm mountain standard time
5pm pacific standard time

The countdown clock is showing the draft to start at
10pm eastern standard time
9pm central standard time
8pm mountain standard time
7pm pacific standard time

Any more questions?

I know they don’t. But... It sure seems like it.

Drop your phone... the whole way down... before it hits the ground.... you can count the rotations... you can sing every verse of Bohemian Rhapsody...

Why is that?

Any good stories dropping something, something worthwhile, and watching it fall in slo-mo?
Login to view embedded media View: https://media.giphy.com/media/ggoGCxI45alM1lSYQ1/giphy.gif

Yeah, this'll be my final mock barring some other huge move, so...yeah. Here it is:

Trades:

#52 overall, #104 overall, Rob Havenstein, and Sebastian Joseph-Day to the New York Giants for #36 overall.

(Yeah, I'm partially taking from the ideas of @Memphis Ram and @Merlin in that Havenstein is a trade chip for a specific team. This not only saves cap, but gives us a great player with the trade-up. Meanwhile, New York gets a solid lineman to block for Jones and Barkley, a good young depth lineman, and a couple of Day 2 picks to play with.)

#57 overall and Brian Allen to the Las Vegas Raiders for #80 overall, #81 overall, and #121 overall.

(We get a couple of third round picks and a fourth to pick up players, while Las Vegas trades up for a wideout and picks up a young interior lineman that they need.)

#84 overall, #199 overall, and #234 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles for #127 overall, #145 overall, #146 overall, and #168 overall.

(We get a few fourth round picks and a fifth, while Philly targets a wideout to help them, along with two late round picks.)

Troy Hill to the Kansas City Chiefs for #138 overall.

(K.C. gets a much-needed corner, while we have the depth to take the loss of Hill and add a draft pick.)

Kenny Young to Washington for #162 overall.

(Let's be honest: we're not going to keep all of our linebackers, even though they all have potential. We don't need Young after this draft, so let's just see what we can get for him. Washington is interested because they need linebacker help; they're starting the ancient Thomas Davis at middle linebacker, and the volatile Reuben Foster is his backup.)

Draft:

#36 overall - Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor. (6'3", 207 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Yes, Mims is the wide receiver that I'm hoping we get. I admit, I wasn't high on him at first; I thought he was definitely going to be a top prospect, and that in spite of the Rams' FaceTime chat with him, he wouldn't fall to our pick. That all changed with the Texans trading another second round pick for Cooks - and watching more of him as a result. Mims is a threat to take it deep any time he touches the ball. Beyond that, he has an impressive catch radius; if you throw it to him, he's likely going to come down with it with his vice grips for hands. His route running still needs work, but he has the potential to be dangerous in all areas of the field. He's also a solid blocker. He's a wide receiver that can compete for snaps aside from Reynolds, but needs to season for about a year before he can show what he can really do.)

#80 overall - Zack Baun, ILB, Wisconsin. (6'2", 238 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Yes, I think that diluted sample is going to really drop Baun because it's likely a PED. Look no further than guys like Justin Houston to see how that effects players. I say, other teams' losses, our gain. He doesn't have much length or mass, and he's had two foot injuries. Now for the good part: he's adept at rushing the passer, dropping into coverage, and doing it all on the field. He's created tons of splash plays in one year: almost twenty tackles for a loss, twelve-point-five sacks, two forced fumbles, and a beautiful interception. I can see him dominating at inside linebacker, much like @jrry32 does.)

#81 overall - Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Louisiana State. (5'7", 207 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(CEH is short. He's not the fastest. He needs work in pass-protection. But he's got a supreme blend of power, vision, and balance, to go along with good speed and elusiveness in the open field; he simply doesn't go down on the first tackle. All of that makes him a great goalline back. He's also a very good option in the passing game, and with Henderson providing the home run threat, CEH could be an excellent starter.)

#121 overall - Tyler Biadasz, OC, Wisconsin. (6'4", 314 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Biadasz has athletic limitations and has had injuries to his shoulder and hip. His 2019 tape wasn't as good as 2018. It's going to cause him to fall...and we'll get a steal if we select him. Biadasz is a strong man. Once he gets his hands on a defender, it's all over. And if that wasn't enough, he's a great technician; he understands leverage, hand placement, everything. He's a plug-and-play lineman who could easily start at a high level for years.)

#126 overall - Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota. (6'1", 206 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Johnson is someone I had to include in this draft. He's not the fastest, not the strongest, and his athletic limitations push him down this far. But he's the smoothest route runner in this class, combined with sticky hands, and the ability to simply separate from any corner - look no further than how he burned Noah Igbinoghene - a likely Day 2 pick - in the bowl game. He'll be a welcome addition to the Rams.)

#127 overall - Netane Muti, OG, Fresno State. (6'3", 315 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Yes, Muti has had numerous injury issues in his college career. He missed his true freshman year with an Achilles injury and reaggravated it in his sophomore year. He had a Lisfranc in his final college season. But the kid has amazing mobility and strength that you just can't teach. He played against Alabama's vaunted defensive line in his redshirt freshman year and stoned all of them. His potential is sky-high, and with one of the fourths, I'd be happy to get him.)

#138 overall - Leki Fotu, DT, Utah. (6'5", 330 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Fotu is sushi-raw. He needs to understand how to gain leverage; currently, it's his worst flaw. But my fate, his potential reaches outer space. He's a mountain of a man, has the strength to utterly stone offensive linemen, and he's surprisingly-quick for his size. He could end up taking A'Shawn Robinson's job in his second or third year and not relinquish it.)

#145 overall - Willie Gay Jr., ILB, Mississippi State. (6'1", 243 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Gay is a knucklehead, that's true. He's been suspended twice: once for academic issues and once for punching a teammate. He needs work with trusting his instincts and his football IQ also is lacking - although that might be because he hasn't started much. But as an athlete, he's the best linebacker in this class not named Isaiah Simmons. He brings the boom on every play, while wrapping up the ball carrier. He has the traits to excel in both man and zone and as a blitzer. He's not going to start immediately, but he has special teams potential while he learns, and he looks like he'll be an excellent starter once he learns the nuances of the game.)

#146 overall - Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech. (5'8", 187 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Robertson is short and will never be confused for an outside corner; his only spot is as a nickelback. He'll get overpowered by bigger wideouts, so that's another concern, and he's not the fastest corner. But he's got swagger, confidence, and the best ball skills in this class; he's had fourteen interceptions and thirty-four pass-breakups in his college career. He'll stick his nose in the running game as well; he's not afraid of contact. The only reason he'll fall here is because he's short, even for a nickelback. I say, take him.)

#162 overall - McTelvin "Sosa" Agim, DT, Arkansas. (6'3", 309 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Agim has little experience in the interior; he used to be a defensive end until his senior year where he moved to the defensive tackle position - thus, he's been considered a tweener of sorts, being too slow for an end and not strong enough for a tackle. He still needs tons of work with his anchor and overall strength, as well as developing pass-rush moves. But he's explosive, productive, and still has the potential to be a solid 3-tech behind AD.)

#168 overall - Josiah Deguara, TE/FB, Cincinnati. (6'2", 242 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Deguara is not an inspiring athlete. He doesn't have the speed to completely threaten safeties or linebackers. He's not going to wow you with leaping ability. But he's tough, has solid hands, and, most importantly, he can block like a fucking god. Seriously, he could be an amazing H-back and a threat out of the backfield, and he's made some clutch catches with the Bearcats in the tight end position. This draft pick, by himself, could completely change our running game in the way we thought that Sam Rogers would.)

Key UDFAs:

Reggie Corbin, RB, Illinois. (5'8", 199 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Corbin is never going to be an all-around back with his size. His blocking needs tons of work, mainly due to his size. He has little-to-no experience catching the ball, although he has potential there. What is he, then? He's a home run hitter with multiple 60+ yard-runs to his name, reaching over a thousand yards rushing and nine rushing touchdowns on only 128 carries. Corbin is like the lovechild between Darren Sproles and Tarik Cohen; he's an absolute human joystick who won't go down easily. I'm thinking he's a kickoff returner with his wheels and sheer elusiveness.)

Jared Mayden, SS, Alabama. (5'11", 201 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Mayden is a key UDFA I'm hoping to get. He only started one year at Alabama, and he gets by more on instincts than actual range. He's never going to wow you with athletic ability. But he's versatile enough to cover anywhere with both man and zone, and he can even go into the box, where his hard hitting will fit right at home. Even if he's not a starter, he'll be a valuable special teams player.

Shyheim Carter, FS, Alabama. (5'10", 194 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Carter is small and slow. That's why he won't get drafted. But the guy is, like Mayden, incredibly instinctive and is versatile enough to cover almost the whole field. He knows how to tackle as well; he rarely misses and is solid in wrapping up. He'll make a fine special teams player.)

Luqman Barcoo, CB, San Diego State. (6'0", 172 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Barcoo is rail-thin, and he doesn't have the frame to make you think he'll improve. He's not the fastest cornerback either; the East-West Shrine game exposed that, and those two reasons are why he won't get drafted. But he has incredible ball skills and instincts in coverage; there's a reason why he led the FBS in interceptions. He's solid in both man and zone, and he'll be a welcome special teams player.)

Roster:

Rookies: bold. Starters: Italic. Underline: Competition.

QB - Jared Goff, John Wolford.
RB - Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Darrell Henderson, Malcolm Brown, Reggie Corbin.
WR - Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Josh Reynolds, Denzel Mims, Tyler Johnson, Nsimba Webster, Greg Dortch.
TE - Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett, Josiah Deguara (FB), Johnny Mundt (until Noteboom returns, then cut.)
OL - Andrew Whitworth, Austin Corbett, Austin Blythe, David Edwards, Bobby Evans, Tyler Biadasz, Netane Muti, Chandler Brewer, Joseph Noteboom (PUP).
DL - Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, A'Shawn Robinson, Leki Fotu, Greg Gaines, McTelvin Agim.
LB - Leonard Floyd, Samson Ebukam, Zack Baun, Travin Howard, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Jachai Polite, Jeff Holland, Willie Gay Jr., Micah Kiser, Natrez Patrick.
DB - Jalen Ramsey, David Long, John Johnson III, Taylor Rapp, Darious Williams, Amik Robertson, Luqman Barcoo, Jared Mayden, Shyheim Carter.
ST - Austin MacGinnis/Lirim Hajrullahu (can't choose between them), Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide

Thoughts and comments are, as always, appreciated. I'm sorry for not answering any previous comments with previous drafts; I tend to get distracted with other things.

More I research AJ Dillon I really love this guy. I would draft him in the 4th and possibly late in 3rd.

He is an exact comparison to Derrick Henry who was drafted at #45 in 2017.

AJ Dillon - 6' 249
Ran a 4.53 23 bench, 41 Vert. 7.19 3 cone

Derrick Henry - 6'3" 247
Ran a 4.54 22 Bench, 37 Vert., 7.20 3 cone

College stats:

AJ Dillon - 845 rushes - 4382 total yards - in 35 games - marginal receiving yards

Derrick Henry - 602 rushes - 3591 total yards - in 39 games -marginal receiving yards

Analysis we all see the impact a massive back with superior skills can deliver. Derrick Henry is a man among boys.

AJ Dillon's stats are almost exactly the same as Henry. AJ has more mileage on his body but in 4 less games overall.

I would hope the Rams will take a serious look at him, because a huge back like that will wear teams down. He will be great in pass protection (very important fit in a Rams system) and a perfect compliment to Henderson.

Odd he is not rated higher. Feels like he could be a huge steal.

Being nearly 4 weeks into lockdown, no live sport to watch, and going a little stir crazy I thought I’d try and put some time after the last week or so to decent use and try and watch some videos and do my first real mock draft. Disclaimer upfront – besides watching one or two games we get live over here on a Saturday I hadn’t spent too much time watching potential draftees beforehand so started watching clips mainly based around players I’ve seen mentioned here and trying to draw my own conclusions. Searching those players then gave me tip-offs to check some others out. I've trade to make the trades realistic based on value and whether I think the other teams in the trade would genuinely consider them.

Trades
A couple of trades to start off with to get us an extra pick near the top of the 4th round and move us closer to the top of the third round to take advantage of the depth of the draft around this level:-

LA Rams trade Round 2 Pick #20
Denver Broncos trade Round 3 Pick #13 and Round 3 Pick #19
Perfect match on the trade value chart and allows Denver with 3 3rd round picks to gain a 3rd pick in the top 52 of the draft

LA Rams trade Round 3 Pick #40
Jacksonville Jaguars trade Round 4 Pick #10 and Round 5 Pick #19
Another match on the trade chart and allows Jacksonville with 8 picks in the last 4 rounds to move up to the bottom of the 3rd round

LA Rams trade Round 4 Pick #20 and Round 5 Pick #19
LA Chargers trade Round 4 Pick #6
A small trade back up in the 4th round to take a player who could contribute in year 1.

Based on the it becoming increasingly likely that the Jags will settle for anything, I’ve debated back and forth about giving up our 6th round pick or a direct trade for Gerald Everett – a move which would make one of my picks make even more sense – but I’ve decided against it. The above trades leave us with the following picks:-

LA Rams Picks
Round 2 Pick #25
Round 3 Pick #13
Round 3 Pick #19
Round 3 Pick #20
Round 4 Pick #6
Round 4 Pick #10
Round 6 Pick #20
Round 7 Pick #20

The selections
Round 2 Pick #25 – Lloyd Cushenberry - C – LSU
My number 1 Center in the draft ahead of Ruiz and I have a sneaky feeling that he will drop this far. Part of the best OL in the country and one of the reasons Burrow and Edwards-Helaire were able to have the years’ they did. Was the best in the drills at the Senior Bowl against Javon Kinlaw, excellent character and person to have around the locker room. We could play him from day 1, improve the OL, better protect Goff and be set at Center for the best part of the rest of this decade.

Round 3 Pick #13 – Chase Claypool – WR/TE – Notre Dame
He’s become my draft crush and can be used to create miss-matches against any Defense based on where we play him. I’m not sure if he’ll be an out-and-out WR or become a TE but can as a hybrid offensive threat would thrive in this offence and give us another big bodied target. Drafting him would make me more comfortable trading Everett as could see him being used in 12 personnel alongside Higbee combined with Kupp and Woods giving Defensive Co-ordinators headaches. Blocks well although a little too inconsistently for my liking at the minute and is intelligent. Would be a great addition to our Special Teams too. Still a lot of work to do, and all it needs is one other GM to want his combination of height, physicality and speed but would love us to draft him

Round 3 Pick #19 – Zack Moss – RB – Utah
A player I hadn’t see in any of the games on TV before watching highlights but I liked what I saw. A perfect addition to our offence as someone who can be a workhorse and pound the hard yards softening the defense up for Henderson or forcing more players to be added into the box which should create the opportunities for Woods and Kupp’s route running. Nervous about how much punishment his body will be able to take but you know he’s got heart and not going to back down from a battle. I like us to have a mixture of skill sets and abilities across the skill players and adding Moss and Claypool in addition to our existing roster would make us a more rounded threat.

Round 3 Pick #20 – Logan Wilson – ILB – Wyoming
We’ve got a glaring need at ILB and Wilson is the best at this position on the board at this time. Tackling machine, another plus for Special Teams, another with high character as a three-year captain at Wyoming, reasonable in coverage with 3 picks in his senior year and someone who can stay on the field for all three downs. I could see Wilson and Micah Kiser being our starting ILBs early in the season and him being another who can contribute early on.

Round 4 Pick #6 – Darnay Holmes – CB – UCLA
4.48 in the 40 at the Combine. Did well at the Senior Bowl. Another aggressive and physical player – an athlete - who can go out and make plays. There were too many plays last year where we totally missed his assignment and he’ll be a work in progress for Aubrey Pleasant but with his athletic ability and knack for picking off the QB I see him complementing the existing CBs well and being a potential replacement for Nickell Robey. Potentially a high upside pick if we can coach him well.

Round 4 Pick #10 – Leki Fotu – DL – Utah
The perfect player to groom to take over the NT position in 2021 and also add a bit of beef on running downs this year. A bit like the previous pick of Darnay Holmes he’s going to need a lot of coaching up and working on his technique to help put it all together….but if you can add technique to his strength and size then we would have a hell of a player on our hands at a low cost for the next few years.

Round 6 Pick #20 – Derreck Tuszka – Edge – North Dakota State
Only played in a 4-3 defense previously but a small school kid who has racked up 29.5 sacks in 3 years as a starter. Best 3-cone time among linemen at the Combine and showed up well at the East-West Shrine game. At this stage of the draft I guess it becomes even more luck than judgement but I’d rather take a chance on someone who has performed well but not necessarily have the same opportunities and exposure as someone at a larger school. You can only beat what is in front of you – which he consistently did – and could be a diamond in the rough

Round 7 Pick #20 – Kindle Vildor – CB – Georgia Southern
I’d never heard of Vildor until doing some work on Darnay Holmes and he popped up on some of the commentary. Performed much better in 2018 than he did in 2019 and following a theme for the draft is another excellent athlete who will need to develop his technique to progress at the next level. However he made 9 interceptions at Georgia Southern and his 4.44 time in the 40 and finishing with the 5th best athleticism scores on all CBs at the Combine would give us the basic tools to work with.

My biggest concern with this mock is that Cushenberry and Claypool don’t reach where I’ve drafted them – there really seems no consensus on where they go in the mocks. If Cushenberry isn’t there I’d still make the same trades but draft Edwards-Helaire in round 2, Hennessy (or Biadasz if Hennessy has gone too) in round 3 along with Van Jefferson.

Chiefs GM Brett Veach warns of ‘a lot of curveballs’ in NFL Draft

Judging by the comments from one NFL general manager, we may be in for some surprises Thursday during the first round of the NFL Draft.

Chiefs GM Brett Veach said he was expecting “a lot of curveballs” in the first round of the draft, including a lot of players who may be surprisingly available toward the end of the round.

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/jamespalmertv/status/1252346245323960321?s=21


This is obviously a very different draft. Teams didn’t get much hands-on time with prospects after the NFL Combine, and there’s much more uncertainty than usual. That uncertainty could lead to some surprising outcomes.

One possibility? One of the leading quarterback prospects in the draft falls far more than most experts anticipate he will.

View: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2887569-49ers-gm-john-lynch-posts-photo-of-at-home-war-room-for-2020-nfl-draft

49ers GM John Lynch Posts Photo of 'At-Home War Room' for 2020 NFL Draft

The virtual format of the 2020 NFL draft has forced executives to make a lot of changes, but San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynchappears prepared for Thursday's first round.

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/johnlynch49ers/status/1252272461548158976?s=21


Though it's not quite the team facility, his "at-home war room" features at least seven screens and three phones.

This is important because Lynch could be busy with two first-round picks. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the team is considering trades for both selections—No. 13 and No. 31 overall—to add more picks to help fill out the roster.

After nailing his first-round pick last year with Nick Bosa becoming the league's Defensive Rookie of the Year, Lynch is hoping to strike gold again in 2020.

Cooper Kupp can serve as example for Rams in virtual offseason

Each NFL team is being tasked with navigating their offseason programs virtually, which means players will not have the ability to practice with their teammates. So how does a team prepare to produce at a high level with a key part of that preparation absent?

Well, for the Rams, they can draw from their own roster for their answer.

Around this time a year ago, wide receiver Cooper Kupp was rehabbing a season-ending torn ACL from November 2018, preventing him from being able to be on the field with his teammates during organized team activities. The hard work paid off, though, in the form of his first 1,000-yard receiving season last season.

Although Kupp admitted he wouldn't choose to go about things that way if he had the option, he can serve as an example in these circumstances.

"I obviously wouldn't choose to go about doing things that way," Kupp said, reflecting on last year's offseason and applying it this year. "I would love to be able to get up there with the guys, be able to meet, go through this stuff together to collaborate offensively, especially. But there is an element that you can only do so much now together."

From Kupp's perspective, communication outside of the offense's virtual meetings becomes premium. It's also on each player to hold themselves accountable and responsible for their own improvement, so that when they do reconvene, there isn't a drop-off because someone is unprepared.

The former Eastern Washington standout accomplished both last year in two ways.

First, in a 2019 episode of Behind The Grind, he said within three weeks of the injury he asked Senior Director of Sports Medicine and Performance Reggie Scott if he could do high intensity interval training because he felt like the hormones that type of training released would help speed up his recovery.

Second, as he progressed, he came up with creative solutions to remain involved such as participating in 11-on-11 jog-thrus – team drills in which the players aren't going full speed – in June. In more typical procedures, he also worked with trainers off to the side and did individual drills with the quarterbacks.
Obviously, how players do their part in a virtual offseason will look different.

Essential medical personnel and players with rehab needs will still have access to the facility, but players are on their own when it comes to solving for ways to get the reps in that would otherwise be afforded through on-field work like jog-thrus.

"I played catch with my wife a little bit," Kupp said. "She's got a pretty good arm, but she's a lefty so the ball's spinning in the opposite direction. Working on getting a JUGS machine and figuring out what we can do there to supplement that side of things."

Kupp understands he doesn't know what things will look like a month from now. However, he goes back to a mindset that served him well last year as he came back from injury.

"I really try to take it one day at a time and continue to just handle what I can handle, control what I can control," Kupp said. "Really just trusting that things are going to come together."

Link
Fact or Fiction: Making Sense of Latest Buzz from 2020 NFL Draft's Lying Season

Lying season, smokescreen season—whatever moniker one might prefer, the NFL rumor mill throws it on thick in the week before the draft.

This year's final, exhausting march to draft day will undoubtedly feature whispers about all of the top passers, teams with extra assets looking to move up, teams with a lack of assets hoping to move down and quite a bit more.

It's a good time to step back and play a bit of "fact or fiction" with the top rumblings based on what we know when it comes to each team's goals, the prospect stock market and more.

These are the biggest buzz items about a week out, sorted into fact or fiction breakdowns.

Tune in to our 2020 NFL Draft Show for live, in-depth analysis on what each pick means for your team, with hosts Adam Lefkoe, Matt Miller and Connor Rogers. No fluff, no B.S. Download the B/R app and watch starting Thursday, April 23, at 8 p.m. ET.

Jets All Over WR Henry Ruggs III
Verdict: Fact

It's not much of a surprise that the New York Jets would covet the draft's top wideouts.

According to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, the Jets "love" Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III. That might sound odd considering Ruggs is in direct competition with CeeDee Lamb and Jerry Jeudy as the draft's top wideout.

But it isn't that surprising a team might like Ruggs more than the other two. He scored 24 touchdowns over three years at Alabama before checking in at 5'11" and 188 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine and blazing a 4.27-second time in the 40-yard dash.

Those Jets lost No. 1 wideout Robby Anderson in free agency and don't have much of note returning around quarterback Sam Darnold, which is problematic considering the offense didn't have a receiving target hit the 900-yard mark last year.

Schematically speaking, the Jets might like Ruggs' fit the best as a big-play wideout whose speed stretches the field and makes Darnold's life easier. Sitting 11th in the draft order, the Jets might find he's the only top wideout left anyway.

CeeDee Lamb over Jerry Jeudy Is the Consensus
Verdict: Fiction

The debate over the draft's top wideout won't reach a conclusion until the big night.

But new buzz around the league says Oklahoma's CeeDee Lamb ranks better than Jerry Jeudy of Alabama, according to a poll conducted by Bob McGinn of The Athletic.

That sort of sounds like what front offices in the top 25 would say if they'd like to see Jeudy fall to them.

While the measurables are similar and both figure to be excellent pros worthy of top-15 picks, Jeudy had to work in an Alabama offense oftentimes missing Tua Tagovailoa and going against SEC defenses. Lamb had the benefit of playing in the defense-lacking Big 12, so the fact that Jeudy is near or past him in most statistical areas says quite a bit.

And when Shannon Sharpe is taking Jeudy over Lamb because of route running, it's best to pay attention.

Falcons Hunting for a Trade Up
Verdict: Fact

On the list of teams that might want to trade up, the Atlanta Falcons stick out in boldface print.

That's something the Falcons like doing—remember the move up for Julio Jones in 2011? Sprinkle in some desperation this year, and things could get interesting.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Falcons might be considering such a move again.

It's not hard to see why. One could suggest Atlanta's window is closing. Since going to the Super Bowl in 2016, the Falcons have regressed every season and just went 7-9 for the second year in a row. Matt Ryan will be 35 years old in May. Ryan and Jones make up 20 percent of the team's cap hit in 2020.

With a value buy like Todd Gurley in free agency and presumably better health defensively, it's easy to think the Falcons could sacrifice longer-term assets like draft picks in a win-now move to get an impact defender like Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons.

Given the perceived championship window, an aggressive approach by the Falcons to guarantee themselves a prospect they really like could be one of the better moves of the first round.

Tua Set to Fall Out of Top 10
Verdict: Fiction

Some rumors seem like blatant leaks by teams that hope a prospect will fall.

Tua Tagovailoa has been the most obvious candidate for these whispers for months.

Tagovailoa dislocated his hip last season after previously suffering injuries to both ankles. While he's back in shape and ready to go, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that the injury history could push him out of the top 10.

"Teams don't want to accept the word of any doctors other than the doctors they employ, since there’s a chance those doctors will skew their assessments in the player's favor," Florio wrote.

But football fans know better by now—quarterback is too important a position for him to drop very far. This predraft process is stranger than most with in-person meetings canceled and facilities shuttered because of the coronavirus pandemic, but that won't stop a team from taking a risk for Tagovailoa.

He was the runaway favorite to go No. 1 before Joe Burrow's breakout season. He had a 69.3 completion percentage with 87 touchdowns against just 11 interceptions over three years, never mind the perfect mobility to fit today's game.

Health is a question mark with Tagovailoa, but it's not big enough to stop him from going in the top 10 in a top-heavy quarterback class.

Andrew Thomas Will Be First OT off Board
Verdict: Fact

Offensive tackle is arguably more confusing than wideout this year. Most would agree it's refreshingly a very strong class, though it's hard to nail down which name goes first.

But according to Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, numerous sources say Georgia's Andrew Thomas "could be the first OT off the board."

That would mean Thomas is drafted before Jedrick Wills, Tristan Wirfs and Mekhi Becton.

And it just makes sense.

Thomas doesn't have any questions around him. He's 6'5" and 315 pounds with clear-cut ability to start at left tackle as a rookie, which is where NFL.com's Lance Zierlein hints he could play:

"Three-year starter and current bellcow of a line that is a consistent front-runner for the Joe Moore Award. He's played both tackle spots but may get first crack at playing on the left side, due to the dearth of talent there. Thomas is a gritty player with above-average recovery talent to 'get the job done' when his process breaks down. He's a Day 1 starter who comes in well-coached and technically savvy, but occasional leaning, lunging and inconsistent knee bend in pass pro could be isolated and attacked by pass-rush wolves looking to feast if he doesn't get those areas cleaned up."

With other tackles in the class, questions persist about their future positions and whether they'll even play at an offensive tackle spot. After starting three years on the edges in the SEC, Thomas is ready to go now, which plays a big role in his likely going first among his positional group.

Cardinals Won't Rule Out WR in Top 10
Verdict: Fiction

The Arizona Cardinals, at least for now, have to be done at wideout after adding DeAndre Hopkins, right?

Maybe not.

General manager Steve Keim told reporters the team won't rule out drafting a receiver in the first round.

But there are a few problems with that idea. The Cardinals hold the eighth pick in a deep class for wideouts. They already spent big to get Nuk in town and will likely owe him a big-money extension. And schematically, Hopkins is an amazing target for Kyler Murray and opens things up for other offensive players like Kenyan Drake and Larry Fitzgerald.

That said, this sort of talk could get other teams to think the Cardinals won't take the top offensive tackle available after Murray suffered 48 sacks last year. Or maybe they wouldn't draft the top outright defender after allowing 120.1 yards per game on the ground.

There is a much better value for the Cardinals in grabbing a free-falling wideout on Day 2 or Day 3 and taking the best player available in the top 10 as opposed to adding a wideout at No. 8 after trading for a proven top-10 wideout.

Jalen Hurts Has Attention of Notable Teams
Verdict: Fact

The Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Chargers are putting in notable work on Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Which makes perfect sense.

Those Chargers have largely stood still at quarterback despite losing Philip Rivers during an offseason rich with opportunities at quarterbacks, instead working with the idea that veteran Tyrod Taylor will serve as the starter next season.

But at sixth in the draft order, the Chargers might not be in range for Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert. Taking a best-player-available approach before grabbing Hurts later and letting him develop might be a smart move.

As for the Packers, life beyond Aaron Rodgers has to enter the conversation. He seems far from falling off but is entering his age-37 season, so a backup and long-term developmental project like Hurts would make sense.

Hurts, while generally viewed as a Round 2 or 3 prospect in the top 100, is also getting Tim Tebow comparisons from Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. He's a work in progress when projected to the pros. Teams with established veterans capable of properly developing a passer, like the Chargers and Packers, mesh well with him in the framework of this year's draft.

O.J. Howard Available for Trade
Verdict: Fiction

When one thinks of possible draft-day movers via trade, Andy Dalton comes to mind, not Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard.

However, Michael Lombardi reported on the podcast The GM Shuffle (h/t Greg Auman of The Athletic) that the Buccaneers could throw in the towel and add him to the trade block.

While Howard hasn't been the most productive player and hasn't lived up to expectations as the 19th pick in 2017, it would be an odd time for the Bucs to give away that sort of potential after adding Tom Brady at quarterback.

It's not like Howard is costing the team big money over multiple years or blocking others on the depth chart. And if the Buccaneers are down on him, other teams probably understand it too and will wait things out.

Simply put, the return on a trade likely wouldn't be worth it. There's also a chance playing with Brady helps Howard rewrite the narrative of his career, which would mean investing massive money in Brady stands a better shot at being a successful move too.

You could switch the state around to your state if you want.

I used to drive 48 states and a couple of Canadian provinces and so I have tasted a few brews in the Great White North. (It' s beauty way to go! ~ CGI). I was able to get the #1 ale on my list in Detroit, but nowhere else. Of course you have your Lablatt's Blue and Moosehead and other common ones. My ale that I miss most is Sleeman's Cream Ale. I may be romanticizing it somewhat because I can't get it anymore and probably never will drink another one where I live. It is made In Ontario Province, not too far from Detroit.

So what's your favorite brew that you miss?

We have 2020 DRAFT wagers in SportsBook! Woo hoo!

2020 SportsBook....Our plan is this:

1. Due to the lack of sports... We will reset SportsBook again, late Summer. Date to be announced!
2. Between now and then, we will run whatever wagers we can muster up. GET IN AND GIVE IT A TRY! Nothing to lose.
3. Everyone has been sent $75,000 to wager with
4. We will likely send everyone more SportsBook cash when we get events to work with

So... consider this a window to PLAY with SportsBook if you are unfamiliar. Try it!

If you are an experienced SportsBook player, a chance to kick everyone’s ass in this wagering window!

We are likely to permanently move our annual “RESETS” (ROD credits and SportsBook Cash) to the Summer. This seems to better match ideal wagering windows for our annual contests. More on that this Summer.

AS A REMINDER: Sportsbooks are subject to Rules and wagering limits which are posted in the Event details section of any Sportsbook.

The full description of our ROD Credit and SportsBook games, found here:

Get in. Have fun!

Draft selections from Top 100 in McVay era: CB David Long Jr.

As part of theRams.com's coverage leading into this year's NFL Draft, we will be examining selections from the Top 100 of the NFL Draft in the Sean McVay era. The series continues with a look at cornerback David Long Jr.

Before joining the Rams...

Though he played on offense and defense in high school, David Long Jr. was destined to remain on the latter once he got to college. His four-star ranking as a recruit out of Loyola High School in Los Angeles was based on analysts' evaluation of him cornerback, after all.

Appearing in four games as a true freshman at the University of Michigan in 2016, Long showed coaches enough to a full-time starting role as a sophomore. He finished with 21 tackles, two interceptions and eight pass breakups while starting all 13 games in 2017.

Long finished with 17 tackles, one interception and nine pass breakups while starting all 13 games again as a junior in 2018, earning First Team All-Big Ten honors from conference coaches. Internally, Michigan named him its inaugural Defensive Skill Player of the Year.

Confident in what he put on tape across 30 career games as a Wolverine, Long opted to forgo his senior season and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft. Carefully managing his expectations, he received a pleasantly surprising phone call from his hometown Rams on Day 2, informing him they would be choosing him with their No. 79 overall pick in the third round.

NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein graded Long as a prospect who was a "good backup who could eventually become a starter."

Rams highlights

Long's rookie season mostly functioned as a redshirt year – he was inactive for eight of the Rams' 16 games – but he did get a couple of opportunities to show what he could do late in the season due to injuries at the cornerback position.

According to Pro Football Focus, Long's highest snap counts of the season came in Weeks 16 and 17, when he logged 26 against the 49ers and 52 against the Cardinals respectively. He made a season-high three tackles against the Cardinals, adding one pass breakup.

When he was announced as the Rams' 79th overall pick, it was said on the broadcast that he could potentially play the nickel or slot cornerback position. With cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman getting released and signing with the Eagles, it's possible that position could create an avenue for more playing time for Long in 2020.

Draft Memories: Nick Scott never got too high, too low

If you've ever met Nick Scott or watched him play, chances are you know his personality of never getting too high or too low. That's the case whether the current Rams defensive back is on or off the field.

However, he still experienced the same nerves every prospect had heading into the 2019 NFL Draft.

"Like every guy, unless you're someone who is projected a first-rounder, you've got a pretty good deal of stress and feeling of, 'it's make or break,'" Scott told theRams.com in a phone interview Thursday. "Nothing's really in your hands at this point in terms of picks. You can do everything you can from a performance standpoint and an interview standpoint, but at the end of the day, your fate is decided by somebody."

Scott was aware getting drafted was no guarantee – he was a prospect who graded out as a priority free agent, according to his NFL.com draft profile – and he managed his expectations accordingly.

The celebration to commemorate the start of his pro career was kept small. He watched the draft on TV with his parents and his aunt, who flew out from New York, but nobody else. And waited.

"There was a very real possibility that I might not get drafted," Scott said. "I was very hopeful that I would get drafted and I was confident that I would, but I also didn't want to have a whole party and then it be awkward with people just sitting there as all the rounds go by, and I'm just sitting there like, 'well, that was that, thanks for coming.' I chose to just keep it in the family."

Although he didn't have control of where he would get drafted, he was committed to working hard and making the 46-man roster, regardless of if an NFL team used one of their picks on him or signed him as a undrafted free agent.

"I wasn't necessarily really worried about draft stock or, or when I might get selected or anything like that," Scott said. "I just figured, you know, once that day comes, I'll figure it out. And then I just gotta grind even harder to make a 46-man roster."

Scott had to stay patient, but he was rewarded. The Rams took him with the 249th overall pick in the seventh round.

He said he was relieved when he got the phone call, he also said he would have been fine if he went unselected. Whatever route Scott took, it was going to be the realization of his professional football dreams.

"That's something we've been working for our entire life, so to see that work that we put in come to fruition is a great feeling," Scott said. "When you're doing things like running hills in the summer when other kids are just chilling at home, or meeting up and doing fun things but you're out there working, that feeling is what you did all of that for."

Scott's reaction was relief.

His parents and his aunt? Well...

"My parents, they went crazy," Scott said, laughing. "My aunt went crazy, she was like running around the house. My dad was yelling, and my mom was pretty excited too. I actually had to calm them down because I was getting on the phone with Coach McVay. I was just sitting on the couch with this huge smile on my face, talking to the coaches. Once I talked to Bones (former special teams coach John Fassel) and all them and hung up, my parents went back to going crazy and I just kind of sat and watched them celebrate."

Though he wasn't invited to the combine, Scott had help from a pair of former Penn State teammates in current Broncos wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton and current Redskins safety Troy Apke.

"Going into the draft process, both of those guys were guys who weren't necessarily top draft picks or projected to be," Scott said. "Troy really helped himself out when he ran his 4.3 40, which shot him up draft boards, but before that, he was projected pretty much the same way I was – fifth to sixth to undrafted."

When it comes to advice for this year's draft hopefuls, Scott offers this: "Relax, enjoy it."

"It's easier said than done, and I don't think anybody or any draft class as a whole is going to be able to master that," Scott said. "But once you get to where you wanted to be, you kind of look at it like, 'man, why was I stressing so much?' At this point, you established the fact that you have the ability and the character and the talent to be considered. So while you still want to work hard and grind and everything like that, in terms of peace of mind, you should just take a breather and let the process work itself out."

Does anyone have any updates on if the Rams are trying to re-sign Blake Bortles as their backup QB? If not, Can we expect them to stick with Wolford(sp?) or look for someone in Free Agency or the Draft? Personally, I would like to see them re-sign Bortles since he is a Veteran and already knows the Rams system (And, Who knows maybe he could be another reason Fournette would like to join the Rams)!

LA Rams Top 5 positional rankings: Offense edition

LA Rams 2020 NFL Draft Top 5 positional rankings: Offense edition

The 2020 NFL Draft is coming in a week’s time, and the LA Rams are in deep need in several crucial positions. After all, the team faced losing up to 18 players this off-season, distributed fairly evenly between offense and defense. Most of the impact players lost this off-season due to expired contracts were on the defense.

Still, the Rams forced the issue on offense. The team released running back Todd Gurley, followed by trading away speedy wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Offensively speaking, it seemed as though that the only need was improving the talent level at the offensive line.

But, changes came. And they can still come before the clock is running for the Rams during the draft. Of course, the team could always use insurance where they still need to secure some crucial players to an extension (i.e. Cooper Kupp).

Could a top prospect slide down and fall into LA’s lap? Or will Les Snead and Sean McVay make yet another draft trade to secure their top guy? For all we can say and wish, these are the top five players at each position; put your crosshairs at your favorite, because we are about to shoot!

LA Rams NFL Draft Board quarterback class of 2020

1.- Joe Burrow (LSU): The top prospect for many; a great leader and player, good traits that can make him day 1 starter. Burrow is everything you want from a quarterback. His intelligence, poise, and awareness are well above average. Has the arm strength to throw deep dimes and to zip the football in tight spots. Best prospect since Andrew Luck; Zac Taylor will be very happy to have him

2.- Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama): If not because of his injury history and the raise of Burrow, he would’ve been the top prospect. Let’s be honest, QB is the most coveted position in all of the NFL, and Tua is really good at it. Many teams will fight for the right to draft for him. His best pass came in the National Championship against Georgia in overtime, where he threw a complete dime to walk it off. He is relentless but brittle. Brittle because he has sustained many injuries (some severe) and that would be my only concern. His durability is a high concern for NFL teams as well. He could and should have success with an above-average offensive line and a good running game, but when pressured, he might just have to take the sack or get rid of it in order to protect himself, and that could come costly. Should avoid extending plays too much as he is used to.

3.- Jake Fromm (Georgia): He might not be as flashy as most of the top quarterbacks of this list, but he stands the second readiest and at the top of safest pick. Arm strength is average, but intelligence is above. His pre-snap work will get you going and might draw defensive players with his eyes. Excellent decision maker that could do well if plugged into a scheme that has a great coach but is just lacking a QB (ahem, Bill Belichik’s Patriots).

4.- Jordan Love (Utah State): The next Patrick Mahomes? Nah, don’t put that type of pressure on a kid. I see more flaws in his game than I did when Mahomes came out, to be honest, but he has that modern-day QB mobility and precision on the move that can wow you in a second. He had a down year, but let’s attribute some of that to the absence of 9 starters, and the change of Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator that he suffered in 2019. Still, he needs to cut back on those crunch time mistakes if he wants to be a starter in this league for a long time.

5.- James Morgan (FIU)/Justin Herbert (Oregon): A surprise by all means. Florida Atlantic University had a gem in the rough; James Morgan got a better look at the East-West Shrine Game where he absolutely dominated. He may need a couple of years to still develop, but the traits are all there, good footwork, feel and progression reading will have him barely cracking day 2, and with no immediate pressure, this could be the right bet.

Herbert had a great year, but he still needs to get a feel of an NFL type of playbook. With the right coach (i.e. Panthers Matt Rhule) that transition could be smooth. He still needs to develop some traits and would benefit for a year or two out, not as needy like James Morgan for development, but sure would be wise to do so.

LA Rams NFL Draft Board running back class of 2020

1.- Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin) A true bell-cow with enormous patience, Taylor is my top at the position, and for good reason. He basically had 2,000 yards each of his three seasons rushing as a Badger (1st was 1,977, but you get my point), finished 3rd, 1st and 3rd on total rushing yards each season respectively, and had a massive 6.7 yards-per-carry throughout his career. The only downside I could hold against him is his mileage (926 attempts in three years) and lack of receiving showcase (42 total receptions).

2.- Clyde Edwards-Helaire (LSU) We will be seeing a lot of LSU Tigers in most top 5’s and Big Boards, but don’t be fooled, CEH is the real deal. After taking the backseat to Derrius Guice (2017) and Nick Brossette (2018), Clyde took the job to never look back; he displayed great vision, patience, awareness, and added that little extra in the passing game showcasing great hands, and good blocking abilities. The team that gets him will have a special player.

3.- D’Andre Swift (Georgia): Oh, the Georgia Bulldogs running program, it feels like each and every year they contribute with yet another star to the NFL, and D’Andre Swift is no short of it. He displays an NFL veteran-like type of game and makes it even better with soft and polished hands; a true three-down back, with good vision and the right tempo to command most of the backfield touches. He has to improve his ball security abilities in order to do so.

4.- Cam Akers (Florida State): One of the lone bright spots in this Florida State team the past couple of years, Akers made the most out of his opportunities. Well balanced rusher, capable of handling blocking duties. He will not explode for big runs, but rather be more effective between the tackles type of runner. He can very well be an excellent complement to a running tandem.

5.- Eno Benjamin (Arizona State): Undersized? For some. Did that stop him? Hell no! Benjamin can run and can disguise you whenever, wherever, inside or outside; great hesitation to provoke missed tackles and wait for the holes to open. He sometimes waits too long or tries unscheduled things that were not on the script, but he can certainly hit a home-run down the middle.

LA Rams NFL Draft Board-wide receiver class of 2020

1.- Justin Jefferson (LSU): I know some prospects will cause some cringing on this list, but after all, for me, Jefferson is the number one receiving target in this year’s draft.
Jefferson is big, with a nice catching ability, and an amazing radius that makes him a mismatch in most of the contested catches. Justin has been the most reliable WR for the Tigers the past few seasons, and that led him to be first in the nation in receptions (111), second in touchdown receptions (18) and third in yards (1,540). He has deceiving speed and is freaky fast for a WR with his size. Don’t sleep on him.

2.- Jerry Jeudy (Alabama)/Ceedee Lamb (Oklahoma): For most, the best in this year’s draft is Jerry Jeudy, and he doesn’t fall short of impressive. The former Bielitnikoff award winner was one of the most reliable receivers for QB star Tua Tagovailoa. Strong, super skilled, and with one of the best route running you will see this year, Jeudy is poised to command some attention at the top of the draft. He can run routes either from the X, the Y or the Z positions can be a deep threat or a possession receiver, he just can do it all.

Not so far from him stands CeeDee Lamb, maybe the most complete receiver in this year’s class. A clear threat in every level of the field, in every route spot, and in every catching point. with two-hand catches, body catches, one-handed, Lamb will not disappoint you. But maybe his most impressive feature in that sneaky second gear he has, and he uses it pretty well for both separation and generating a ridiculous amount of yards after the catch. A true number one that will go fast, the former Sooner is legit.

3.- Henry Ruggs III (Alabama): There are many definitions for a fast running player: fast, deceptively fast, in-game fast has blazing speed, etc. Well, Ruggs is the very definition of eating dust. He is faster than faster, his 5th gear is beyond blazing. Agree, Ruggs is not a possession kind of receiver, or at least that didn’t look to be the case, after playing alongside Jerry Jeudy and DeVonta Smith in one of the best wide receiver groups the NCAA has ever seen. But think of him as a Tyreek Hill kind of player, not a John Ross one; Ruggs has the wiggle and the cuts, to be special in the NFL.

4.- Chase Claypool (Notre Dame): I strongly considered pinning Claypool as my No.1 wide receiver, you just never see receivers his size do the things he does on a constant basis. Built like a tight end and with the speed of a deep threat, Claypool will take the league by storm; he is a pure hands catcher that knows how to use his big frame in his favor, runs the slot like a king and bullies corners with his strength, creating a match made in heaven for QB’s looking for an every-down receiver. Pin him inside or out, and you will have a mismatch either because of size or speed most of the time. And no, I won’t agree with the “scouts” suggesting he should play Tight End.

5.- Jalen Reagor (TCU): This one was close between Reagor and CeeDee Lamb but ultimately had to add the highest motor player in this draft. He always seems to be playing with that little extra, every play he goes for that extra yard. Many see him as a Z wide receiver, creating vertical contests and helping the offense push the ball down the field, but I actually see him as a complete receiver; he will lineup everywhere and run every route, he needs to polish his blocking sets, but other than that, he will be in a study, plug and play situation, wherever he lands.

LA Rams NFL Draft Board tight end class of 2020

1.- Thaddeus Moss (LSU): Most say he is a run-blocking tight end, which is actually not inaccurate. Moss displays great ability as an extra blocker or as a lead one, showing great awareness; but his ability to catch the ball is magnificent (let’s not forget he is the son of Hall of Fame WR Randy Moss); Thaddeus has a ridiculous catching radius, a big frame, which he uses to perfection to box out opposing defenders, and has amazing hands, and off-body catching ability. If they sleep, we win. Thad is the real deal.

2.- Brycen Hopkins (Purdue): Sneaky fast for his size, a fighter as a blocker. He might not be the best, and every other player can have something better than him, but he is built like an all-around tight end. If he improves his receiving abilities, he could be one heck of a pick-up.

3.- Cole Kmet (Notre Dame) Kmet will not get your RB a running lane but will give you a major threat down the middle. Kmet excels in the passing game; he has good hands and can beat his blockers with route cuts to have even more separation; great ability in fighting for extra yards.

4.- Hunter Bryant (Washington): His injury history is quite scary and might push some teams away from him, but when healthy, Bryant is one of those rare athletes. He does not have a good blocking ability but compares to an Evan Engram kind-of-player. Rare speed for a tight end that can create som mismatches every single game.

5.- Adam Trautman (Dayton): A sleeper in the making. Trautman displays a good athletic ability. Coming from Dayton might make his NFL transition a little slower, but he has grown each and every year. He needs to continue his learning curve on the blocking area, but can learn it, and has the size to do so. A good TE2 for any team, that could be a potential steal if well-coached.

LA Rams NFL Draft Board offensive tackle class of 2020

1.- Andrew Thomas(Georgia): What can’t you like about a 6-foot-5, 320-pound tackle with three years of experience at left tackle? Thomas is a mauler, excels at run blocking (he looks like a fast-moving refrigerator, the big type of them). In pass protection, he is solid and with experience in a pro-style scheme, so he should adapt faster than other prospects, and start growing and contributing since day 1. The former Georgia bulldog should go top-10.

2.- Jedrick Wills Jr. (Alabama): Wills is strictly a right tackle, that alone could push him down a few spots as some teams don’t value that spot as much as a left tackle (usually the blindside), but don’t be fooled, Jedrick Wills Jr. is an anchor at RT. He has almost every hand technique developed nicely, slides in protection as smooth as a 60’s song makes you feel driven by the Pacific Road Highway in a classic Mustang. His only downside might just be that he has 1 great year, a truly amazing one, but once he took the starting job, he never looked back.

3.- Mekhi Becton (Louisville): Now, this one is big (literally, he stands at an enormous 6’7″ and weighs in at 369 lbs) but his size will only make you look at him with sparkling eyes. Becton projects nicely as a left tackle, he is an amazing run blocker that can reach the second level with ease. Smooth feet in pass protection with a good bend for his size. He might have to get his hand technique better, but this kid is a bully.

4.- Josh Jones (Houston): A physical yet athletic prospect that is better fitted in a scheme that uses a mobile QB. Jones is raw but he is incredibly gifted and athletic, He will zone block the hell out of you. Has room to improve but he is considered (at least by me) a raw prospect with electric abilities. His tape show he can develop as the season unfolds, so he can start early in his career.

5.- Isaiah Wilson (Georgia): The second Bulldog on this list. Wilson projects strictly as a right tackle. He is inconsistent at times, but the level of learning and his athletic ability is just of the charts. Wilson will have to settle more into his blocks at times and will have to learn to be a better zone-blocker, but everything is teachable, and his ceiling is high.

LA Rams NFL Draft Board interior offensive lineman class of 2020

1.- Tyler Biadasz (Wisconsin): Maybe the most versatile player of this list. Biadasz played both defensive line and offensive line in high school. In college, he garnered individual awards such as the Remington in 2019 (best center in the nation) and first-team all-conference (2018), All-Big Ten (2019) and first-team for the Associated Press. He excels in both passing and running games, but he is best at run blocking. Could and should be a day-one starter.

2.- Cesar Ruiz (Michigan): Ruiz comes in almost tied for the best IOL this year, as he should, A solid, versatile and athletic player that can fit almost every scheme; he could play center or guard, as he is fitted for both. Has second-level blocking ability and polished techniques. Could use some more leverage against power-rushers. Day-one starter quality

3.- Lloyd Cushenberry III (LSU): There’s a reason Burrow and Edwards-Helaire are in this list aside from their talent, and that’s their offensive line, commanded by this guy. Cushenberry (or “Cush” as he is known) is a polished, solid center, with spectacular strength that can create driving lanes and bully opposing defensive linemen. Although not as versatile as Biadasz, he should excel at the NFL and could be a day-1 starter as well.

4.- Jonah Jackson (Ohio State): Lengthy, mobile, athletic and with good technique both on hands and feet. Jackson only played one season with the Buckeyes as a Rutgers transfer but shined in his lone year. He plays better as a pass-protection specialist and has swingman abilities along with the interior of the line. Could get better at anchoring himself and has room to get better, but as he stands, he has a solid chance to be a late 1st/mid-2nd round pick.

5.- Tristan Wirfs (Iowa): Wirfs was a right tackle at a college level, but projects better as an interior offensive lineman. He can block and plug the gaps as well as any of the names listed here but lacks athleticism for playing on the outside. Needs to polish come blocking sets, and he could benefit if he sits out a year in order to develop better. Wirfs could come handy as a swingman in year one, looking to secure a spot either mid-season or the next, but for sure, he is a talented player.