8to12 Post FA Mock (3.0)

[8to12]

Preface: As of this time, we know all of the FA losses and resignings. With restructures done and possible restructure or extension for Matt Stafford, could leave the Rams with approx. 12-Mil in Cap space for a couple mid to lower tier FA’s. In this scenario, the Rams do not resign Austin Blythe.

Cut:

Pre-June 1 - Brian Allen, Kenny Young, Nasimba Webster, Justin Lawler, Kendal Blanton, Brandon Wright



Outside FA’s:

Center – Ben Garland (49ers)

Garland was cut by the 49ers. He is 6’5” – 305 lbs. He started 5 games last season. Played approx. 333 snaps, 1 penalty and no sacks allowed. He will be the veteran to anchor the starting job while the rookie learns the ropes. He signs a 1 year deal for 2.5-mil


ILB – LJ Fort (Ravens)


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKS_AecCdIM


Fort will provide an upgrade in terms of production at the ILB position. He has graded out much higher than any of the existing Ram ILB’s. And, he has decent coverage skills making him a valuable 3-down LB. He will basically take Kenny Young’s spot. Rams should be balanced with 2 early down LB’s in Reeder and Kiser, and (2) coverage LB’s in Fort & Howard. I don’t see the Rams using any draft picks for this position. His salary has been in the 2.5-Mil range, so a 3 year deal with a heavy bonus that can be prorated would be in the works. This signing should not impact the Rams Comp pick plan.



DL / 5T - Shamar Stephens (Vikings)

Stephens was recently cut by the Vikings. He played DT in their even front but at 6’5” – 310 lbs, should replace the size we lost at DE when Brockers was traded to Detroit. He agrees to a 1-yr Cap friendly deal.




Player Trade:

Rams send Rob Havenstein

Vikings send 4th Rnd (#117)


Draft:

Trade :

(trade up)

Rams send #57, 2022 3rd

Jaguars send #45


(trade up)

Rams send #88, #119, 2022 4th

Browns sends #59


(trade down)

Rams send #103

Chargers send #118, #159


Rams own 7 selections after trades

Rnd 2 pick #45 Center Creed Humphrey (Oklahoma)


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Yg5oq4eMM&t=1s


Humphrey is a known entity at this stage of the pre-draft process. I can only add that I think he is arguably the most stout in Pass Pro of all Centers in this class. And, after his Pro Day, he showed he can move in space as well as any O-lineman. His 5-10-5 shuttle, @ 4.46, was faster than his teammate Tre Norwoood (Safety) 4.50, and would’ve been #1 of all the O-lineman from the 2020 Combine.



Rnd 2 pick #59 Safety Hamsah Nasirildeen (Florida St)


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pWGHoH_Rvo


Nasirildeen is not only my favorite player in the draft, he may end up being the most impactful. He is 6’4” – 220lbs. He can play like a LB or play in space with good range. He can take over for John Johnson and IMO, be an upgrade at the Strong Safety position. He was outstanding in coverage against TE’s and RB’s during Senior Bowl week. In addition to his size and length he creates turnovers.


Rnd 4 pick #118 DL - Cam Sample (Tulane)


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXGe2heHfVM




View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrfZxqltJk4

Sample turned heads at the Senior Bowl. He was un-blockable in most 1-on-1 reps. He is 6’3” – 275 lbs and will fill the role that Morgan Fox had as a situational pass rusher.

Rnd 4 pick #141 CB (slot) Tre Brown (Oklahoma)


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmP2CSJhVsc


Brown stands at 5’9-3/4” – 188 lbs. He was one of the best CB’s at the Senior bowl. He is sticky in coverage and even intercepted a couple passes as seen in the Senior Bowl video highlight. He ran a 4.40 /40 at his Pro Day, and has experience returning kicks.


Rnd 5 pick #159 WR – Josh Imatorbhebhe (Illinios)


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGQE5ZF5e3g


Josh transferred from USC to Illinois to play for Lovie Smith. He good size and strength for a wideout ; 6’2” – 220 lbs. He has decent speed, 4.45/ 40. But where he shines is contested balls. He has great body control going up and combating a defender for the ball. At his Pro Day, his vertical jump of 46.5” would’ve been an all time record at the Combine ; he outjumped the measurement stand. As Snead mentioned, the Rams may be looking for a player who can out-muscle and/or out-jump a defender for ball down field. Imatorbhebhe has the skill set to do it.



Rnd 6 pick #205 TE – Shaun Beyer (Iowa)


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYS8oy8251k


Beyer is a bit of an enigma. He has been stuck behind some players on the depth chart like George Kittle, Noah Fant, and TJ Hockenson. He has good size at 6’5” – 246 lbs. He is a former WR. Because of this, he has better than average burst off the LOS, and is a good hands catcher. He also has been well coached in blocking. He has a good feel for Zone blocking, and seals off well as a down blocker. There isn’t a lot of production go on with Beyer, but his athleticism is easy to see.



Rnd 7 pick #248 CB - Antonio Phillips ( Ball St)


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZSpSu3EaY0



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycTLIrgisNA


Phillips is a well rounded football player. He has good production in pass defense ; 7 INT’s, 15 PD’s in 3 seasons. In addition, he is a willing tackler who shows good form. He has the size to play the boundary if a teammate like D. Williams or J. Ramsey are forced inside with man coverage. He has above average recovery speed. In one of the D’Wayne Eskridge highlights, he catches Eskridge down the left sideline after a long gain, chasing from the other side of the field. He will make a good gunner on specials teams.


Roster:

Offense-

QB- Matt Stafford, John Wolford

RB- Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, Xavier Jones

WR- Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, DeSean Jackson Van Jefferson, Josh Imatorbhebhe

TE- Tyler Higbee, Johnny Mundt, Brycen Hopkins, Shaun Beyer

OL- Andrew Whitworth, Ben Garland, Creed Humphrey, Austin Corbett, Joseph Noteboom, David Edwards, Bobby Evans, Chandler Brewer, Tremane Anchrum

1st team: Whitworth (LT), Edwards (LG), Garland (C), Corbett (RG), Noteboom / Evans (RT)

Defense-

DL- Aaron Donald, Joseph-Day, Shamar Stephen, A’Shawn Robinson, Cam Sample, Greg Gaines

OLB- Leonard Floyd, Terell Lewis, Obo Okoronkwo, Justin Hollins

ILB- Micah Kiser, Troy Reeder, LJ Fort Travin Howard,

CB- Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams, David Long, Tre Brown, Dante Deayon, Antonio Phillips

Safety- Taylor Rapp, Hamsah Nasirildeen, Jordan Fuller, Terrell Burgess, Nick Scott

 

[dang]

Love the FAs. Love Creed trading up to get Humphrey. He or Josh Meyers with Garland for a year fixed a problem the Rams have had for 2+ seasons. I’d like to see best available of OLB/OT-OG/CB/WR-KR after that.

 

[den-the-coach]

Really like the plan with the exception of adding one more Offensive Tackle like Walker Little of Stanford for example and I'm not sure Havenstein would garner a 4th round selection. I also concur with @dang that I would like to see someone selected with the ability to return punts & kickoffs, but @8to12 there is plenty to like here and your free agents are right on point IMHO.

 

[8to12]

T

Really like the plan with the exception of adding one more Offensive Tackle like Walker Little of Stanford for example and I'm not sure Havenstein would garner a 4th round selection. I also concur with @dang that I would like to see someone selected with the ability to return punts & kickoffs, but @8to12 there is plenty to like here and your free agents are right on point IMHO.

Thanks for the positive feedback Den. Yeah, there are a couple of positions that I would like to have added but short on resources. Tre Brown does have experience as a returned at Oklahoma.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Interesting reading. Some thoughts.

I have my doubts that the Stephen free agent pickup or the Sample DLine selection is in the cards. The Rams really seems to be banking on Antwan Robinson and those 4 DLinemen they kept on the practice squad to fill out the DLine.

Count me as one who questions if Humphrey isn't going to even get out of the 1st round after that Pro Day.

I can see Nasirildeen as an upgrade over Johnson vs. the run, but not vs. the pass. Here's another position, I think will be avoided given the depth they already have on the roster at safety. Now if the plan is to move him to LB where he probably belongs, then that different.

 

[8to12]

I can see Nasirildeen as an upgrade over Johnson vs. the run, but not vs. the pass. Here's another position, I think will be avoided given the depth they already have on the roster at safety. Now if the plan is to move him to LB where he probably belongs, then that different.

So, you don't think he can cover TE's and RB's as well as J. Johnson?

Joe Marino / TDN ; ..." A versatile defender, Nasilideen forecasts best as a positionless sub-package defender in the NFL. He can serve the role of tight end neutralizer, play in an overhang role, play in man coverage against running backs, and play in the box and operate from deeper alignments. "

Nick Falato / FanNation :
"Showed solid man covering ability and will probably be asked frequently to cover tight ends (more than likely). Solid hips for a bigger player and showed very good closing burst when trailing on horizontal crosses.

Plants and drives downhill very quickly when in off man or zone situations. Ball skills are solid as well; he had nine career passes defensed and four interceptions. He brings good physicality to the catch point."

Kelvin Hunt / Fansided :
FSU Alum: Hamsah Nasirildeen shining at Senior Bowl workouts

by Kelvin Hunt1 month ago Follow @khchopchat
FSU football standout safety Hamsah Nasirildeen had a tough 2020 after getting injured against Florida in November 2019.

Nasirildeen had to rehab from a bad leg injury during the middle of a pandemic with his third coaching staff in the last four years.
However, his hard work paid off, as Nasirildeen returned in the two final games of the season and seemed to pick up right where he left off.
He had 13 tackles in two games, 1.5 tackles for loss, one pass breakup, and one interception. Nasirildeen could have returned for the 2021 season due to 2020 not counting against his eligibility, but he decided to enter the NFL Draft.
I think that was the right decision considering he was coming off an injury, and he could get drafted fairly high, provided he has a good combine.
He was chosen to play in the Senior Bowl and has been one of the standouts at workouts


View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1354956670309437447

Some folks will say this was more of a bad throw than a good play by Nasirildeen. However, the quarterback would have to make a perfect throw to give the tight end a shot at making the catch. That’s what you want as a defensive back.


View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1354197977162788864




View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1354951947917389830



View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1354297492112891905

Remember what I said about making the quarterback throw a perfect pass? Sometimes a receiver, in this case, former FSU tight end Tre McKitty) makes a ridiculous catch.

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If all you see here is a Linebacker, then I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

 

[FrantikRam]

You said an unproven rookie will be ab upgrade over a top 5, maybe top 3 safety in the NFL?

 

[Memphis Ram]

@8to12

We will have to agree to disagree on Nasirildeen in coverage vs Johnson.

Johnson was a college CB to moved to S. Johnson's skills made him interchangeable at FS AND SS.

He was capable of covering the slot vs. WRs who are much better than the likes of McMath in that clip who caught all of 33 passes for 522 yards in 3 seasons and has been more of a special teams guy so far. He was never considered a box safety only, like some consider Nasirildeen.