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A Mid-January Mock is hard to do without a lot of tape on certain players available yet from last season. Also, the Senior bowl workouts haven’t started yet, which the Rams have always held in high value.
With the team over the Cap at this point, a couple of cuts and some restructures should give them enough room to sign some mid-level FA’s.
Three positions I am keying on are Edge, TE, and Defensive secondary.
Cuts:
Pre-June - C Brian Allen
Post-June 1st - TE Tyler Higbee
Restructure:
C Kupp
J Ramsey
L Floyd
Resign:
Baker Mayfield
Greg Gaines
Ty Nsekhe
Brandon Powell
The Special Teams Trio
Free Agency:
Edge – Obo Okoronkwo (Texans)
The Ex-Ram returns after a season with the Texans. He is still in his prime and showed improvement in his pass rush with a rating of 81 from PFF this past season. He is probably the best FA value of any Edge rusher under 10-mil per season. He can split time with the new draftee.
Center: Jake Brendel
Brendel has anchored the 49ers O-line the last 2 seasons and hasn’t missed a game over that span that I am aware of. His run blocking skills are similar to Allen in that he his mobile and agile to get to the second level and block in space in the wide zone scheme. And, he is a better pass blocker than Allen.
TE: Josh Oliver
Oliver’s purpose would be a blocking specialist. He was a very highly rated blocker for the Ravens. He’s coming off of hir Rookie contract so ana increase to 4-5 Mil per season should fit the Rams budget.
CB: Duke Shelly
Shelly played 2 seasons with the Bears, after being drafted in the 6th round(2019), before being released last Summer. The Vikings signed him to the practice squad and was called to the active roster in game #6 and played 11 consecutive games. He flourished with 8 passes defensed and 1 INT. He was one of the highest rayed CB’s per PFF in the 11 games he played. At 5’9” he can compete as a slot corner. He should come relatively cheap to sign considering his short resume and the Vikings being over the Cap, worse than the Rams, and their other starting CB’s are FA’s this year also.
Trades: Rams trade down near the top and back up near the end to get as many picks between #50 and #150 as possible
1)Rams trade 2:6
Browns trade 2:11, 4:9
2) Rams trade 3:6
Falcons trade 3:12, 5:10
3) Rams trade 5:10, 5:36
Jaguars trade 4:19
4) Rams trade 7:18, 7:36
Giants trade 6:40
(Rams end up with 9 total picks)
Draft:
Pick 2:11 Will McDonald IV - Edge - Iowa St
(1091) Will McDonald IV Iowa State Highlights - YouTube
McDonald is 6’3” ; 236 lbs and was played, IMO, out of position most of the time as 5-tech lineman. He generated 5 sacks at this position. He’s instinctive, flexible with good bend for turning the corner and has excellent length with a 7’ wingspan. IF he gets to show his skills from a traditional OLB spot at the Senior Bowl, his draft value may go up and may not be available at this spot. May be a better pass rusher in the NFL than Nolan Smith, who has been mocked to the Rams recently.
Pick 3:12 Dalton Kincaid - TE - Utah
(1091) Best TE in College Football Dalton Kincaid 2022 Utah Highlights - YouTube
Kincaid is 6’4” - 240 lbs, great speed and agility for a TE...is a converted WR. He really dominated this past season with 70 rec’s for 890 yards and 8 TD’s, averaged almost 13 yards per catch. For being split out most of the time in Utah’s scheme, he is a competent blocker. He will need work on getting stronger in order to be the prime TE in 11 personnel for the Rams.
Pick 4:9 Luke Wypler - Center – Ohio St
(1091) Luke Wypler Center Film - YouTube
Wypler stands 6’4” - 304 lbs... a 19 game starter for the Buckeyes. He has great feet and agility for blocking in space and on the move in a zone blocking scheme. He also has a wide enough base to anchor against the Bull rush. Wypler seems to have the best balance of Run & Pass blacking skills of anyone in the draft. ( Note: I really liked Ricky Stomberg here, but he does not move well enough to block in space.)
Pick 4:19 Riley Moss - CB/S - Iowa
(1091) Riley Moss 2021 Highlights | Iowa DB | 2023 NFL Draft Prospect - YouTube
Moss is 6’1” - 195, has prototypical build for a defensive back. He has good size, speed and agility for the next level. He is someone who could transition to Safety quite easily. It would be nice to have a Safety who has top coverage skills. He already is a good run defender and wrap-up tackler. And, he has the foot speed to cover crossing routes. He shall be the Rams Swiss Army knife of the DB’s.
(Note: credit to article by Venie Soares of SB Nation for this suggestion)
Pick 5:35 Karl Brooks - DE - Bowling Green
(1091) Karl Brooks Senior Season Highlights-BGSU DL-2022-2023 CFB Season - YouTube
At 6’4” - 300 lbs, Brooks is stout defender. He is long but with a powerful lower body. Most of his sacks come by a display of power. But, at the NFL level, he will need to improve the use of his hands and develop a counter move. He should do weel as rotational player to start in the Rams 3 man front.
Pick 6:5 Christian Braswell - CB - Rutgers
(1091) Rutgers DB Christian Braswell #6 /// Highlights of 2022 Season!!! - YouTube
Braswell is little undersized at 5’10” - 175 lbs, but has a balanced skillset of man/press and Zone coverage. He is fast & agile and closes on the ball. QB rating when he was targeted was only 60 ; very low number for a CB. He can compete for the nickel back or slot corner.
Pick 6:14 Byron Young - Edge - Tennessee
(1091) “TENNESSEE’S BEST KEPT SECRET” Byron Young Tennessee Highlights (Nonstop - Drake) - YouTube
More pass rush depth ; Young is 6’3” - 235 lbs with an 80” wingspan. He has quickness and flexibility to consistently to dip and bend around the edge. He is a bit light to set the edge in run game but makes up for it with quick diagnosis of where the ball is and gets to it before blockers can latch on.
Pick 6:34 Quinyon Mitchell - CB -- Toledo
(1091) he had 4 INTs in one game - YouTube
Mitchell is a stout CB, 6’0”, 200 lbs with average speed. He is an aggressive corner who has a strong punch at the LOS and the body strength to reroute receivers downfield. He also good instincts facing play while in zone coverage. He will need to improve his tackling and learn not be so grabby with receivers downfield. Mitchell's QB rating when targeted is also a very low 48.
Pick 6:40 Josh Whyle - TE - Cincinnati
(1091) Josh Whyle Cincinnati Highlights - YouTube
Whyle has NFL size at 6’6” - 250 lbs. He has typical receiving traits, excels in intermediate routes. But, what I like best are his blocking skills ; his blacking skills are rated as high as his receiving skills. He will probably fill a spot on the practice squad and fill in if Oliver goes down with injury.
Projected Starters:
QB: Matt Stafford
HB: Cam Akers
WR: Cooper Kupp
WR: Allen Robinson
WR: Van Jefferson
TE: Dalton Kincaid
LT: Joe Noteboom
LG: Aleric Jackson
C: Jake Brendel
LG: Logan Bruss
RT: Rob Havenstein
DE: Aaron Donald
NT: Greg Gaines
DE: Bobby Brown
OLB: Obo Okoronkwo
ILB: Bobby Wagner
ILB: Ernest Jones
OLB: Leonard Floyd
CB: Jalen Ramsey
CB: Cobie Durant
CB: Duke Shelly
SAF: Jordan Fuller
SAF: Quentin Lake/Riley Moss
K: Matt Gay
P: Riley Dixon
LS: Matt Orzech
RS: Brandon Powell
With the team over the Cap at this point, a couple of cuts and some restructures should give them enough room to sign some mid-level FA’s.
Three positions I am keying on are Edge, TE, and Defensive secondary.
Cuts:
Pre-June - C Brian Allen
Post-June 1st - TE Tyler Higbee
Restructure:
C Kupp
J Ramsey
L Floyd
Resign:
Baker Mayfield
Greg Gaines
Ty Nsekhe
Brandon Powell
The Special Teams Trio
Free Agency:
Edge – Obo Okoronkwo (Texans)
The Ex-Ram returns after a season with the Texans. He is still in his prime and showed improvement in his pass rush with a rating of 81 from PFF this past season. He is probably the best FA value of any Edge rusher under 10-mil per season. He can split time with the new draftee.
Center: Jake Brendel
Brendel has anchored the 49ers O-line the last 2 seasons and hasn’t missed a game over that span that I am aware of. His run blocking skills are similar to Allen in that he his mobile and agile to get to the second level and block in space in the wide zone scheme. And, he is a better pass blocker than Allen.
TE: Josh Oliver
Oliver’s purpose would be a blocking specialist. He was a very highly rated blocker for the Ravens. He’s coming off of hir Rookie contract so ana increase to 4-5 Mil per season should fit the Rams budget.
CB: Duke Shelly
Shelly played 2 seasons with the Bears, after being drafted in the 6th round(2019), before being released last Summer. The Vikings signed him to the practice squad and was called to the active roster in game #6 and played 11 consecutive games. He flourished with 8 passes defensed and 1 INT. He was one of the highest rayed CB’s per PFF in the 11 games he played. At 5’9” he can compete as a slot corner. He should come relatively cheap to sign considering his short resume and the Vikings being over the Cap, worse than the Rams, and their other starting CB’s are FA’s this year also.
Trades: Rams trade down near the top and back up near the end to get as many picks between #50 and #150 as possible
1)Rams trade 2:6
Browns trade 2:11, 4:9
2) Rams trade 3:6
Falcons trade 3:12, 5:10
3) Rams trade 5:10, 5:36
Jaguars trade 4:19
4) Rams trade 7:18, 7:36
Giants trade 6:40
(Rams end up with 9 total picks)
Draft:
Pick 2:11 Will McDonald IV - Edge - Iowa St
(1091) Will McDonald IV Iowa State Highlights - YouTube
McDonald is 6’3” ; 236 lbs and was played, IMO, out of position most of the time as 5-tech lineman. He generated 5 sacks at this position. He’s instinctive, flexible with good bend for turning the corner and has excellent length with a 7’ wingspan. IF he gets to show his skills from a traditional OLB spot at the Senior Bowl, his draft value may go up and may not be available at this spot. May be a better pass rusher in the NFL than Nolan Smith, who has been mocked to the Rams recently.
Pick 3:12 Dalton Kincaid - TE - Utah
(1091) Best TE in College Football Dalton Kincaid 2022 Utah Highlights - YouTube
Kincaid is 6’4” - 240 lbs, great speed and agility for a TE...is a converted WR. He really dominated this past season with 70 rec’s for 890 yards and 8 TD’s, averaged almost 13 yards per catch. For being split out most of the time in Utah’s scheme, he is a competent blocker. He will need work on getting stronger in order to be the prime TE in 11 personnel for the Rams.
Pick 4:9 Luke Wypler - Center – Ohio St
(1091) Luke Wypler Center Film - YouTube
Wypler stands 6’4” - 304 lbs... a 19 game starter for the Buckeyes. He has great feet and agility for blocking in space and on the move in a zone blocking scheme. He also has a wide enough base to anchor against the Bull rush. Wypler seems to have the best balance of Run & Pass blacking skills of anyone in the draft. ( Note: I really liked Ricky Stomberg here, but he does not move well enough to block in space.)
Pick 4:19 Riley Moss - CB/S - Iowa
(1091) Riley Moss 2021 Highlights | Iowa DB | 2023 NFL Draft Prospect - YouTube
Moss is 6’1” - 195, has prototypical build for a defensive back. He has good size, speed and agility for the next level. He is someone who could transition to Safety quite easily. It would be nice to have a Safety who has top coverage skills. He already is a good run defender and wrap-up tackler. And, he has the foot speed to cover crossing routes. He shall be the Rams Swiss Army knife of the DB’s.
(Note: credit to article by Venie Soares of SB Nation for this suggestion)
Pick 5:35 Karl Brooks - DE - Bowling Green
(1091) Karl Brooks Senior Season Highlights-BGSU DL-2022-2023 CFB Season - YouTube
At 6’4” - 300 lbs, Brooks is stout defender. He is long but with a powerful lower body. Most of his sacks come by a display of power. But, at the NFL level, he will need to improve the use of his hands and develop a counter move. He should do weel as rotational player to start in the Rams 3 man front.
Pick 6:5 Christian Braswell - CB - Rutgers
(1091) Rutgers DB Christian Braswell #6 /// Highlights of 2022 Season!!! - YouTube
Braswell is little undersized at 5’10” - 175 lbs, but has a balanced skillset of man/press and Zone coverage. He is fast & agile and closes on the ball. QB rating when he was targeted was only 60 ; very low number for a CB. He can compete for the nickel back or slot corner.
Pick 6:14 Byron Young - Edge - Tennessee
(1091) “TENNESSEE’S BEST KEPT SECRET” Byron Young Tennessee Highlights (Nonstop - Drake) - YouTube
More pass rush depth ; Young is 6’3” - 235 lbs with an 80” wingspan. He has quickness and flexibility to consistently to dip and bend around the edge. He is a bit light to set the edge in run game but makes up for it with quick diagnosis of where the ball is and gets to it before blockers can latch on.
Pick 6:34 Quinyon Mitchell - CB -- Toledo
(1091) he had 4 INTs in one game - YouTube
Mitchell is a stout CB, 6’0”, 200 lbs with average speed. He is an aggressive corner who has a strong punch at the LOS and the body strength to reroute receivers downfield. He also good instincts facing play while in zone coverage. He will need to improve his tackling and learn not be so grabby with receivers downfield. Mitchell's QB rating when targeted is also a very low 48.
Pick 6:40 Josh Whyle - TE - Cincinnati
(1091) Josh Whyle Cincinnati Highlights - YouTube
Whyle has NFL size at 6’6” - 250 lbs. He has typical receiving traits, excels in intermediate routes. But, what I like best are his blocking skills ; his blacking skills are rated as high as his receiving skills. He will probably fill a spot on the practice squad and fill in if Oliver goes down with injury.
Projected Starters:
QB: Matt Stafford
HB: Cam Akers
WR: Cooper Kupp
WR: Allen Robinson
WR: Van Jefferson
TE: Dalton Kincaid
LT: Joe Noteboom
LG: Aleric Jackson
C: Jake Brendel
LG: Logan Bruss
RT: Rob Havenstein
DE: Aaron Donald
NT: Greg Gaines
DE: Bobby Brown
OLB: Obo Okoronkwo
ILB: Bobby Wagner
ILB: Ernest Jones
OLB: Leonard Floyd
CB: Jalen Ramsey
CB: Cobie Durant
CB: Duke Shelly
SAF: Jordan Fuller
SAF: Quentin Lake/Riley Moss
K: Matt Gay
P: Riley Dixon
LS: Matt Orzech
RS: Brandon Powell
