Draft: OLB at 57

[Merlin]

Mods if you want this in the draft area by all means move it. Putting it here for a distraction from the early Goffseason discussion back 'n forth, feeling kind of stale around here.

I know it's early and we're probably going to see more sorting than usual after all the workouts are done because there's less film and there will be more guesswork going on by teams in their board building. But even at this early stage we can see rough groupings that demonstrate certain positions will be more flush than other positions when we pick at 57. And one of the positions that looks particularly good to me right now is OLB.

Gonna pull some groupings here from different sites and big board listings for this. Consider this an early look and this may of course affect the Rams' strategy with Floyd, though even if they find a way to keep him I'd still like to see an addition for the blindside edge. OLB types who fit our defense are in red.

thedraftnetwork.com

pff.com
11 Kwity Paye
19 Jayson Oweh
21 Gregory Rousseau
24 Azeez Ojulari
28 Jaelan Phillips
38 Carlos Basham
53 Payton Turner
61 Ronnie Perkins
65 Joseph Ossai
66 Joe Tryon
67 Rashad Weaver
80 Dayo Odeyingbo
93 Cameron Sample
102 Quincy Roche

Some quick notes on these guys...

First if we lose Floyd then I want Odeyingbo more than I already do. But even if we keep Floyd I really like the look of this defense with two towers on the edges. I think Odeyingbo is going to be a stud and will climb the boards but if he doesn't he's my guy there.

I'm seeing a lot of deviation on different boards which is no surprise. Didn't include gbn because they have some of the LBs mislabeled in their roles. There are also quite a few ILBs who could get squeezed down to us in that range, but don't want to get my hopes up on a couple of these guys like Bolton for example (who would be a windfall if he gets to us).

There's a ton of LBs period in that top 100 but I didn't want to get too crazy and get into the off ball guys too here. Also WR is particularly good in that range to my eye at least. So I don't want to get too excited here or anything but I think Edge has a better than usual chance to be our pick at 57. Comparing these guys straight up to the other positions who are sorting in our range they do very well. Also there is going to be a better than average chance of one of them (that the Rams may covet) sliding to us.

MOD NOTE: Draft content goes here in the off-season.

In the off-season, RAMS/NFL is home to ALL football talk.

 

[JonRam99]

I like that too, been a while since the Rams LB's looked good gettin off the bus. I really hope they don't drop Floyd for that reason, so ya your pick or any other 6'5 OLB would be great.

 

[Memento]

Man, would I love to have Ossai. He's obviously going to be picked in the first round (top fifteen, if a team's smart; I like him a lot more than Paye, Phillips and especially Rousseau), but hey, a girl can dream, right?

 

[OldSchool]

There are some nice Edge guys in the day 2 range.

 

[Ballhawk]

Haven't we learned our lesson about linebackers with names that start with an O?

 

[NJRamsFan]

I don’t follow nearly as many prospects as some of you guys so it would be hard for me to judge specific names. But I do think we should go OL or DL. We will make the playoffs we know that, and as we see year after year the team that controls the line of scrimmage has a huge advantage .

 

[BonifayRam]

I am all in on upgrading our Edge Rushing cadre. A future LT or a ER just feels like the way to go. Going defensively in this case hopefully will bring early returns than a future LT prospect. With the NFL being about even with 34 D's vs 43 D's ....hitting on a hot tweener pass rusher looks like an obtainable goal.

Just way too many health questions lurking around on Terrell Lewis & Justin Lawler. The Lewis situation is real disturbing...lingered throughout Bama & now in the NFL to make me feel comfortable. I look for Og Okoronkwo (entering his 4th season) to provide enough talent to replace the departed Floyd. I would look for Justin Hollins (entering his 3rd season) to replace Ebukam. Rams really do not have any other OLB'er signed.

Rams must get in some replacements here @ OLB/ER cadre for 2021.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I hope Snead doesn’t revert to looking for physical freaks with Holmes gone. Remember Holmes said it’s hard to resist the lure.

Jason Oweh out of PSU is a physical freak. He’s very fast for his size. But he was a basketball player first who couldn’t get a scholarship so he started playing football in high school. He is very raw and far from an instinctual football player. I’ve seen him projected as a first round pick but I, and many other PSU fans thought he would get a 3rd round grade.

 

[Merlin]

Haven't we learned our lesson about linebackers with names that start with an O?

Racist.
~ @Loyal.

 

[So Ram]

I am all in on upgrading our Edge Rushing cadre. A future LT or a ER just feels like the way to go. Going defensively in this case hopefully will bring early returns than a future LT prospect. With the NFL being about even with 34 D's vs 43 D's ....hitting on a hot tweener pass rusher looks like an obtainable goal.

Just way too many health questions lurking around on Terrell Lewis & Justin Lawler. The Lewis situation is real disturbing...lingered throughout Bama & now in the NFL to make me feel comfortable. I look for Og Okoronkwo (entering his 4th season) to provide enough talent to replace the departed Floyd. I would look for Justin Hollins (entering his 3rd season) to replace Ebukam. Rams really do not have any other OLB'er signed.

Rams must get in some replacements here @ OLB/ER cadre for 2021.

MThat is truthfully what I HATE. This young guy T.Lewis try’s to bust his AZZ & plays hurt getting solid rookie reps as a LBer/OLB and all he gets for it is concerns.
My personal feelings on what I think of him as a player is different than how hard he worked to get on the field.I think he has a SLOW first step & doesn’t read plays very fast as well.I did see him make a HUGE play that helped The Rams make the Playoffs.
When it comes to the draft I wonder how much say the Coaches have on a player ? Is Les Snead that much in control? I have a feeling this new coaching staff will create more pressure on QB’s. I think The Rams need upgrades,but to get down on T. Lewis for a guy The Rams knew was injured is SO MUCH worth the risk.

 

[So Ram]

Yes - Justin Lawyler is who ever he is? A late draft pick that who knows if he ever plays a down for The Rams. His injuries have kept him on the roster. This OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Brewer would have been cut,so he is a BIG Question Mark.In 2019 he made the game day roster and played ithe last game.

 

[PhillyRam]

....... When it comes to the draft I wonder how much say the Coaches have on a player ? Is Les Snead that much in control? I have a feeling this new coaching staff will create more pressure on QB’s. I think The Rams need upgrades,but to get down on T. Lewis for a guy The Rams knew was injured is SO MUCH worth the risk.

In regards to if Snead is in control... I am guessing if Snead loves a guy, which would mean his scouts would also be solidly on board because I think Snead listens to them or their work creates his opinion, but McVay hates the guy, McVay can likely veto it.

Conversely, if McVay loves a guy, but their scouting dept/Snead do not, then i believe that they can likely veto it as well.

Seems like they truly must come to a consensus, especially for their premium picks. The latter picks, when your looking for role players & special teamers etc.. then the staff likely gets a bigger say if they are adamant about a player like Fassel was for Nick Scott or Kromer for a back up OL.

Those are developmental type guys where coaches are looking for coachable kids or key traits they need for their system.

 

[So Ram]

In regards to if Snead is in control... I am guessing if Snead loves a guy, which would mean his scouts would also be solidly on board because I think Snead listens to them or their work creates his opinion, but McVay hates the guy, McVay can likely veto it.

Conversely, if McVay loves a guy, but their scouting dept/Snead do not, then i believe that they can likely veto it as well.

Seems like they truly must come to a consensus, especially for their premium picks. The latter picks, when your looking for role players & special teamers etc.. then the staff likely gets a bigger say if they are adamant about a player like Fassel was for Nick Scott or Kromer for a back up OL.

Those are developmental type guys where coaches are looking for coachable kids or key traits they need for their system.

Thanks - I remember the Nick Scott pick.Man he has come along ways as well.Talk about another steal in The Draft.He still has 2 years left. I think he could be The Rams starting Free Safety in 2021. Johnston was another one of those coaches or scout picks.Then Snead picked that STUPID FG kicker who was a Horrible project.Don’t know how The Rams let that one playout? I liked the trade back for the 3 6th rd picks.Trey Anchrum will see how he works out.
—T. Lewis was a good value pick.He Will find a position.It would be nice if Les Snead could find a gem at LBer.

 

[PressureD41]

M. Fox & D. Rivers could platoon on one side, but still need a quick twitch Edge tho

 

[Ram_Rally]

M. Fox & D. Rivers could platoon on one side, but still need a quick twitch Edge tho

Lewis IF his injuries ever get behind him.

 

[Angry Ram]

I have no idea who any of these guys are. I want Carlos Basham because I can say "he bashed him hard!"

Carry on.

 

[Allen2McVay]

M. Fox & D. Rivers could platoon on one side, but still need a quick twitch Edge tho

Both would first need to be resigned.

 

[OnceARam]

Terrell Lewis - After basically a red-shirt year should be FIRE!!!

If not, we hold Snead down and shave his head.

 

[BonifayRam]

Lewis IF his injuries ever get behind him.

How many years has it been since he did that?

Lewis was @ Bama for 4 seasons. He played in 26 gms & ONLY started 3 gms. Elbow (2017), ACL (2018). In 2019, Lewis appeared in 10 Bama games & recorded 31 tackles & 6 sacks for the Crimson Tide.

It's obvious that Lewis has some damage to that knee & Bama only used Lewis sparingly in the 2019 senior season. Why did Bama not start such a highly talented ER in his last season with the team? He injured his knee back in 2018! We all know about his knee issues during Training Camp & with Covid-19 plus when the season began all the time where Lewis underwent numerous injury tests on that knee. Does anyone recall this report? "Coach Sean McVay said Monday Lewis' knee injury is "something that we have never experienced before and that's why it's taken so long to get some clarity," Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports." i

Then Rams placed Lewis (knee) on the reserve/non-football injury list. Rams finally activated Lewis the 2nd week in October. Lewis's big game where he had the most snaps was gainst Seattle then the following week he was back on the injury list ...out. He was not back to practice till wk #14.

Lewis saw 124 snaps in 8 gms this past season. Lewis did not suit up until wk #16. After wk#16 he did not play again. Lewis has 2 sacks & 5 tackles total.

 

[Ram_Rally]

How many years has it been since he did that?

Lewis was @ Bama for 4 seasons. He played in 26 gms & ONLY started 3 gms. Elbow (2017), ACL (2018). In 2019, Lewis appeared in 10 Bama games & recorded 31 tackles & 6 sacks for the Crimson Tide.

It's obvious that Lewis has some damage to that knee & Bama only used Lewis sparingly in the 2019 senior season. Why did Bama not start such a highly talented ER in his last season with the team? He injured his knee back in 2018! We all know about his knee issues during Training Camp & with Covid-19 plus when the season began all the time where Lewis underwent numerous injury tests on that knee. Does anyone recall this report? "Coach Sean McVay said Monday Lewis' knee injury is "something that we have never experienced before and that's why it's taken so long to get some clarity," Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports." i

Then Rams placed Lewis (knee) on the reserve/non-football injury list. Rams finally activated Lewis the 2nd week in October. Lewis's big game where he had the most snaps was gainst Seattle then the following week he was back on the injury list ...out. He was not back to practice till wk #14.

Lewis saw 124 snaps in 8 gms this past season. Lewis did not suit up until wk #16. After wk#16 he did not play again. Lewis has 2 sacks & 5 tackles total.

Yeah but les mentioned that his injuries were mostly freakish. It was two major injuries. However this year it's been a string of medium ones