2024: QB or LT in the First Round?

[Allen2McVay]

...

And if we traded for LT Orlando Brown from NE, I’d sacrifice and nut.

Think you mean Trent Brown. He's pretty good but not special in my opinion. However, he will be a free agent.

Orlando Brown is in Cincinnati on a long-term free agent contract. Unfortunately, the Rams ain't getting him

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

Without a great LT, no QB is going to succeed in McVay's offense.

 

[Merlin]

What's fucked up is looking at the Rams cornerstone positions overall...

LT: No.

QB: Iffy due to age/injury and OL but we're gonna need a new one soon.

Blindside Edge: No (Young will be strong side for us most likely and probably a good one though). Edge has always been helped by AD but he's getting long in the tooth.

Shutdown Corner: No. We have accessory unit cover corners. Maybe Durant gets to a high level (in coverage) but it's iffy at best.

 

[OnceARam]

J.J. McCarthy is my choice and that kills me because I detest Michigan. He can make all the throws a great leader, can extend plays with his legs plus, he is very smart. I have no issue drafting McCarthy in the first round and then getting the Left Tackle in round two.

I like McCarthy better then Drake May & others and IMO against Caleb Williams, it's close & McCarthy is taller and comes with less drama. FWIW I love Caleb Williams too, but McCarthy is my second choice over the others.

I like him too based on the one game ive seen him play.

 

[99Balloons]

Besides a LT, CB and Edge, the Rams need to draft a dominant Center (a la Kelce). Shelton or Allen is not cutting it.

 

[Tano]

How long have you been a Rams fan?

This is business as usual… that winning business is the aberration… ‘90s… terrible except for ‘99. 2006-2016… 11 years of being overall the worst team in football based on record and Cleveland went 1-31 in a two year period during that time…

I’m just hoping McVay stays and brings us back to being relevant. 2017-2021 were the longest stretch of sustained success we’ve had in a LOOOONG time

But yeah… also, it’s November…

And if we traded for LT Orlando Brown from NE, I’d sacrifice and nut.

Since 1972 and yes I am well aware of are history about talking about draft picks in October

But ....

With McVay - we had stopped doing that for 5 years but here we go again - sigh

 

[Tano]

I went with QB but I am of the opinion we need both in the top 15 of the first round

Do we trade Donald? That would absolutely kill me. But if we continue to tank, it might be best for Donald.

 

[snackdaddy]

Is there a possible cornerstone LT in the top ten? Because as bad as I think we can be, I just don't see us picking in the top 5. Unless they trade up. 3 OT's are projected to go in the top ten. Will we be in position to grab one? I'm not sure.

I think we'll be somewhere in the 10-15 range. By then the truly impact talents are usually gone. There are enough high end starters after 5 picks but instant impact guys come harder after the top 5.

With the holes we have throughout the roster I have to wonder if Snead won't drop further down the first round and pick up another day 2 pick. You can find some solid talent in round 2. And they come cheaper than first round guys. The only downside is no 5th year option for those guys.

 

[ljramsfan]

I'll also say that while I haven't dug into QB evaluations yet, there is the potential for this to be a really good QB draft class outside the first round. Right now, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye look to be clear first round picks. If they come out, J.J. McCarthy and Quinn Ewers will also be in consideration for a first round spot. That leaves guys like Michael Penix, Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, and Jordan Travis outside the first round (Penix might find his way into the first).

That's without getting into some other interesting guys like Jalon Daniels, Cameron Ward, Michael Pratt, Dillon Gabriel, and Spencer Rattler. I'd really like for us to get our hands on a QB who can use his legs as a weapon. That makes me very intrigued by Jayden Daniels, Jordan Travis, and Bo Nix. I haven't had a chance to evaluate them yet, though. I'll say that Jayden Daniels is the guy who has especially piqued my curiosity because of how dangerous of a runner he is and how much he has grown as a passer under Brian Kelly's tutelage.

We've had pocket passers for too long. Having a QB who can burn defenses with his legs could take McVay's system to the next level.

My concerns about Drake is that, yes, he can ball, BUT I question him in big games

 

[Merlin]

I don't think one of the OTs taken in last year's first round are starting at LT. It's tough to find those guys man. The one who went off first to the Cards has been at RT, maybe he ends up playing LT but if there's a guy they like they have to take him or go get him if possible.

When it comes to QBs NFL teams are more iffy I think. Good ones slide, like Levis last year. Teams overlook shit and fall in love due to workouts or overnuke them until they end up taking the wrong guy. I don't think that happens with tackles as much, generally.

Rams need to get back to being a dominant lines team. We're cobbled together still on offense and on defense it's very high energy with lesser talents. Fix the lines.

 

[TXRams86]

Assuming its this draft with our single first round pick, a top rated LT and QB both on the board when we pick - I've gotta go with LT. I think we have a year or two more with Stafford and I think we HAVE to build the line for both the sake of him and whoever replaces him in the near future.

I think much of a QB's success in the NFL is predicated on how well he's protected. QB's like Wilson, Dak, Hurts and even Mahomes who have the legs to scramble benefit a ton from a line that can block. Their ability to scramble ends up becoming another tool they can leverage when the protection they're used to getting starts to break down.

A guy like Stafford, Goff, Brady and Burrow are all deadly when given time. We've seen what Goff and Stafford look like behind lines that can't block for shit.

 

[Liberator]

I don’t think a quarterback makes a ton of sense early in the draft. Stafford is still one of the best in the league. I’d go LT edge or corner.

 

[Ram_Rally]

Another question. How far down the QB rankings are you willing to take a QB? If it's late or Williams I get it. But how do y'all feel about nix or McCarthy?

 

[Malibu]

I highly doubt we are picking top 5 more like #7 - #15. Chicago and AZ will take QBs so my guess we can get the #1 or #2 best LT. Stafford is too expensive to jettison so we should not take a QB but conversely it will be the same thing the next year and with all the money spent on FAs I assume we will be drafting even lower say the 20s. This maybe our only good chance to get a top prospect.

Unfortunately I always say there are 0 - 2 good QBs come out of every draft most likely in this draft coming up both will be taken with the top 2 or 3 picks so then we are in Mac Jones territory again drafting a QB that is the 3rd to 5th best and historically they don't ever pan out. Finding a Mahomes at #10 is lucky.

 

[Ram Ts]

You just want to make sure you are not forcing a top QB pick because of need. If the guy is there and you reallly believe in him, ok go for it. Otherwise no - get a top LT (edge or CB) and fill that spot hopefully for 10 years

I’d rather do that and get a QB in the 2-3rd round to slowly develop

 

[Zodi]

I guess if the question was posed as, Drake Maye and Joe Alt are both on the board when the Rams are on the clock, who you taking?

I'm glad I'm not a GM and my football decisions exist in hypothetical discussions, because that is such a difficult pick!

I guess Maye, and hope for a tackle in the 2nd.

 

[Londoner]

I guess if the question was posed as, Drake Maye and Joe Alt are both on the board when the Rams are on the clock, who you taking?

If you grade one player significantly higher than the other, you take him. If both players are rated roughly equally, you take the QB every time.

 

[Merlin]

I guess if the question was posed as, Drake Maye and Joe Alt are both on the board when the Rams are on the clock, who you taking?

Good question. I think Alt is a safe pick. But Maye has a higher upside and is a QB.

Think I'd take Alt. But not gonna complain if they take the QB. I just want this line fixed.

 

[fanotodd]

I just think the draft is such a crap shoot that it would set the team back more with a bust with a first round QB than an LT.

That’s certainly true, considering the QB is the most important position. You can’t afford to stink at QB.

That being said, right or wrong, the Rams should do whatever is necessary to get “their guy.” If that guy is a top 5 pick, trade up. If they they think he’s gonna fall, or be around in the 2nd, make sure you’re there to get him.

This is why I don’t know which position to draft first, but I’d make damn sure I got both this draft. They have the means.

 

[fanotodd]

Sigh - only October and we are already talking about the draft

Just like old times. Cheers!