Carson Wentz headlines Senior Bowl players for Rams to watch

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RamBill

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Carson Wentz headlines Senior Bowl players for Rams to watch
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...adlines-senior-bowl-players-for-rams-to-watch

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The NFL's offseason is underway for all but the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos as they head toward Super Bowl 50. That means the college All-Star circuit is in full swing with the jewel of those games coming this weekend at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

For the Los Angeles Rams, the Senior Bowl has long been an important piece of their scouting process. They've had a recent history of drafting players who went to Mobile and did well, including the likes of defensive tackle Aaron Donald, cornerback Janoris Jenkins and safety T.J. McDonald.

With that in mind, here's five players worth watching from a Rams perspective this week:

QB Carson Wentz, North Dakota State -- The early draft buzz had Wentz falling in somewhere behind Cal's Jared Goff and Memphis' Paxton Lynch when it comes to this year's crop of quarterbacks. But Wentz has been trending up as teams get a closer look at his size, mobility and arm strength. This week will be big for him, as he gets a chance to face better competition every day and prove that those physical traits can translate into production against at least some NFL-caliber talent. The Rams will be watching closely as they have a serious need for a franchise quarterback. If Wentz has a big week, it's also possible he could play his way beyond the Rams' reach, although the early read -- and it is early -- is that Wentz could be available when the Rams make their pick at No. 15 in April.

WR Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma -- There's no doubt that the Rams receiving corps has major needs, especially for a true No. 1 type of producer. The early read on this crop of wideouts in Mobile is that no such player will be in attendance. But that doesn't mean the Rams should ignore the group altogether. With Brian Quick and Wes Welker headed for free agency and Stedman Bailey recovering from two gunshots to the head, the Rams have room to add more than one receiver, meaning they could look to add a complementary piece like Shepard. While Shepard's size (5-foot-10) is not ideal, he was wildly productive for the Sooners and is the type of crisp route runner who could contribute right away as a middle-round pick.

C Austin Blythe, Iowa -- There was some disappointment when Alabama center Ryan Kelly decided not to participate in the Senior Bowl as he's widely regarded as the best center in the draft. But that could open the door for some intriguing guys who will be available later in the draft to make some noise. Michigan State’s Jack Allen is probably the most highly-rated center in Mobile but Blythe is the one who turned some heads last year for the Hawkeyes. The Rams could use an upgrade over Tim Barnes, who is set for free agency. Blythe, Allen and Missouri’s Evan Boehm are all participating this week and should get a long look from the Rams.

MLB Reggie Ragland, Alabama -- Whether this year is the year the Rams draft James Laurinaitis’ replacement remains to be seen, but such a move probably isn't too far off. And it might be more tempting to do it this year because this is a draft rich in talent at middle linebacker. Not all of that talent will be in Mobile but Ragland will. He was the heartbeat of the Crimson Tide's championship defense and has the instincts and ability to shed tackles that teams covet in a MIC 'backer. He's a likely first-round pick and many projections have him falling to somewhere in the range of the Rams' first pick. The Rams have other, greater needs, especially on offense, but Ragland is talented enough to draw some eyes this week.

DE Shawn Oakman, Baylor -- Given the free-agent status of ends William Hayes and Eugene Sims and the uncertain future for Chris Long, defensive end could quickly go from a position of strength to one of need for the Rams. And considering the Rams' affinity for drafting defensive linemen in the first round, it wouldn't be a surprise if they wanted to look that way this year. However, we're going to operate under the assumption that they'll bring back one or two of the guys mentioned above before the draft, which would allow them to look for potential future help here later than the opening rounds. That's where Oakman comes in. No player in the country cuts a more imposing figure, but his production didn't meet his look in 2015. He still had his moments and he could make a strong statement this week that he's got the good to bolster his draft stock. As for Rams' interest, well, they've demonstrated plenty of times that measurables and upside are high on their list of preferences in the draft.
 

RamBill

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North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz talks about playing at a 1-AA school, dealing with a wrist injury his senior year of college and what he hopes to prove at the Senior bowl.

Watch Wentz Interview