Draft Possibilities First round (@ Pick 31)

[Merlin]

Going to put some cutups here for all the guys who look to potentially be slotting when we're up in round one. This year is tougher because of Draft Breakdown closing their doors after trying to make money off their product, but there's still some cutups out there for these guys. And might as well start with a guy I think is an outstanding fit:

Dexter Lawrence, NT, Clemson

Strengths: this guy can anchor vs the run but he can also crush the pocket. Plug 'n play NT in our scheme and having this guy plugged in next to Donald would sure be nice, because he's going to grow into quite a monster of a player (he's young like 21). Lastly I like his demeanor just going off of his interviews, seems like a grounded young man.

Weaknesses: drug test and the injury running his first 40 time.

2016 vs Florida St

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7mDUQLtWjI


2017 vs Auburn

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPxQs9VT8ms


2018 vs Duke

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmWlN_K0ADw


Breakdowns

View: https://youtu.be/Pe9VEkWmDms

 

[Merlin]

One thing I think the Rams need badly is an upgrade at TE. Whether it happens this year I don't know. But I do know there are a couple guys I really like in this draft, and this dude is one of them. Oh and btw how about that TE coach of theirs eh? I mean he obviously has been loaded in talent but Jesus talk about a guy churning out NFL products:

Noah Fant, TE, Iowa

Strengths: extremely well rounded passing game weapon. Runs well, plus hands, body control, speed, awareness, etc. IMO he's a bigger and better version of Everett, minus the RB skills. Smart kid too, like his demeanor in interviews and that matters to myself.

Weaknesses: first off he doesn't have that plus size and presence you get with a guy like Gronk, with the crazy lanky catch radius. Also he's going to need a lot of work at this level in his blocking.

2017 vs Ohio St

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXflhZ2v50Y


2017 vs Wyoming

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI1m4YSjZ_w


2017 vs Boston College

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfKL90RPt5M


2018 vs Penn St

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


Highlights vs Hoosiers

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJkNaKWQ8RA

 

[Merlin]

Will throw some more up tomorrow. And no worries if anyone else wants to put some up who they think we'll see in that range there in round 1.

 

[FrantikRam]

One thing I think the Rams need badly is an upgrade at TE. Whether it happens this year I don't know. But I do know there are a couple guys I really like in this draft, and this dude is one of them. Oh and btw how about that TE coach of theirs eh? I mean he obviously has been loaded in talent but Jesus talk about a guy churning out NFL products:

Noah Fant, TE, Iowa

Strengths: extremely well rounded passing game weapon. Runs well, plus hands, body control, speed, awareness, etc. IMO he's a bigger and better version of Everett, minus the RB skills. Smart kid too, like his demeanor in interviews and that matters to myself.

Weaknesses: first off he doesn't have that plus size and presence you get with a guy like Gronk, with the crazy lanky catch radius. Also he's going to need a lot of work at this level in his blocking.

2017 vs Ohio St

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXflhZ2v50Y


2017 vs Wyoming

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI1m4YSjZ_w


2017 vs Boston College

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfKL90RPt5M


2018 vs Penn St

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


Highlights vs Hoosiers

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJkNaKWQ8RA

What have you seen that makes you think we need an upgrade at TE? I just don't get it. Higbee and Everett have been very good.

 

[Merlin]

What have you seen that makes you think we need an upgrade at TE? I just don't get it. Higbee and Everett have been very good.

The change in the potency and explosiveness of our offense the moment Kupp went down. Put Kupp in our lineup for the Super Bowl and we win that game IMO. Moving forward we could look to add another wideout, but the return on that for the draft position isn't as good as finding a plus TE in the passing game. Keep stacking playmaking talent, and TE is the ideal spot to do that.

Don't want to get into a big back and forth, though, on needs. We've done that ad nauseum elsewhere and trying to keep this about potential picks there at 31 so we can focus in a bit on guys who are the top options.

Lastly I will be throwing out a summary here too re: some of the groupings, as I think that's a fun conversation too. By that I mean listing the group of players we can 100% assume will be off the board, so we can hone in a bit on the identification of that second group of potential options.

 

[FrantikRam]

The change in the potency and explosiveness of our offense the moment Kupp went down. Put Kupp in our lineup for the Super Bowl and we win that game IMO. Moving forward we could look to add another wideout, but the return on that for the draft position isn't as good as finding a plus TE in the passing game. Keep stacking playmaking talent, and TE is the ideal spot to do that.

Don't want to get into a big back and forth, though, on needs. We've done that ad nauseum elsewhere and trying to keep this about potential picks there at 31 so we can focus in a bit on guys who are the top options.

Lastly I will be throwing out a summary here too re: some of the groupings, as I think that's a fun conversation too. By that I mean listing the group of players we can 100% assume will be off the board, so we can hone in a bit on the identification of that second group of potential options.

I think Kupp is our best WR and 2nd or 3rd best offensive player overall - so I don't see that the same way. Him going down was always going to be a huge loss for our offense. I wouldn't touch the TE position in the draft personally - Everett is explosive and Higbee is an excellent blocker and plus receiver too.

 

[Ram65]

If McVay was going TE wouldn't he go with Hockenson? He is the best blocker and pro ready TE. If Rams are still going to run the 11 personnel most of the time having a TE that is a great blocker and receiving threat makes sense. I think if he falls Rams would think twice about drafting him. Interesting comparison article on him, Fant and the recently drafted top TE in the NFL.

https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/comparing-fant-hockenson-to-recent-elite-te-prospects

 

[Merlin]

If McVay was going TE wouldn't he go with Hockenson? He is the best blocker and pro ready TE. If Rams are still going to run the 11 personnel most of the time having a TE that is a great blocker and receiving threat makes sense. I think if he falls Rams would think twice about drafting him. Interesting comparison article on him, Fant and the recently drafted top TE in the NFL.

https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/comparing-fant-hockenson-to-recent-elite-te-prospects

Just starting this out 65. TJ Hockenson is definitely on that list of possibles, I just listed his teammate first.

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

Merlin, I'm all for upgrading the TE position but before I would sign off on any player i want a commitment from Coach Mac that he is actually going to call some plays and throw him the ball. Look Coach drafted Gerald Everett as his first ever pick as Rams' HC and he still isn't using him after two years. If he is going to remain committed to 11 personnel then we simply do not need to take a TE in the first round. If he is going to start using the position like he did with Jordan Reed in Washington then mebbe so.
To me it's all up to how Coach Mac wants to play it. I, for one, went hoarse in the Super Bowl yelling and what not for McVay to use Higbee and Everett in seam and middle of the field routes.You saw how that went......

Just my .02 cents......

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[Merlin]

Continuing on here with another TE who would make this team deeper and more dangerous offensively, this is a player who I suspect will crack the top 15. Why do I think he'll go sooner than his teammate Fant? Because of his well rounded game, which will abbreviate the time it takes him to eat snaps and make a difference for a position that is known to require some transition time at the NFL level.

TJ Hockenson

Strengths: this is a TE who can do it all, and his combination of blocking plus receiving means he's one of those TEs it will be very hard to shut down. He's got the plus hands, size, strength at the point, etc, that you want in a primary chain moving target who doesn't need to come off the field, who can win on run or pass downs.

Weaknesses: I don't think he's as smooth an athlete as some of the more elite "oversized wideout" type TEs.

2018 vs Wisconsin

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


2018 vs Iowa St

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


2019 vs Mississippi St (Outback Bowl)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8k61WRh854


Highlights vs 2018 Hoosiers

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxJgEZMTS6Q


Run blocking highlights (love this one)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEl7Md-qn08

 

[Merlin]

Merlin, I'm all for upgrading the TE position but before I would sign off on any player i want a commitment from Coach Mac that he is actually going to call some plays and throw him the ball. Look Coach drafted Gerald Everett as his first ever pick as Rams' HC and he still isn't using him after two years. If he is going to remain committed to 11 personnel then we simply do not need to take a TE in the first round. If he is going to start using the position like he did with Jordan Reed in Washington then mebbe so.
To me it's all up to how Coach Mac wants to play it. I, for one, went hoarse in the Super Bowl yelling and what not for McVay to use Higbee and Everett in seam and middle of the field routes.You saw how that went......

Just my .02 cents......

~ArkyRamsFan~

My own bias in the way I think TE is a position of need aside, trying to keep this to possibles which definitely includes them. Gonna be a lot more players put up here, and most of them won't be TEs.

 

[Merlin]

Going to continue on with the offensive side for now, and switching over to the OL types, where we'll start with a guy who seems to have a good chance of being there at 31. He's also a very nice fit for the ZBS:

Garrett Bradbury, C/G, NC State

Strengths: high end quickness and very strong technique are his greatest assets, day one starter and fit for what the Rams do. Makes second level blocks look easy in the run game.

Weakness: short arm measurement, and not a big or physical type OL that typifies very early selection. Played exclusively zone so power schemes will not be interested in him early rounds.

2018 vs Virginia (full game)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNb_A1mEaig


2018 vs Clemson (full game)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31JBKbSFgyA

 

[Memento]

I'd like to add Jeffery Simmons to that list.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I'd like to add Jeffery Simmons to that list.

A good name to add to the list, although more likely a trade down candidate for the Rams. A top 15 prospect just a few weeks back now battling a recent ACL tear and his assault arrest that has been steadily sliding down the charts in many recent mocks. Most teams making a run at a Super Bowl will want an immediate starter with a first round pick, Simmons may not be ready to play at all in 2019. Some team will get a real bargain so long as they can wait a year. jmo.

 

[Merlin]

Yeah will add him. I see him as a 3T which is one position we absolutely do not need, but with the Rams you never know.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Yeah will add him. I see him as a 3T which is one position we absolutely do not need, but with the Rams you never know.

I read somewhere recently that Pittsburgh was eyeing him as a potential 5 tech.

 

[Merlin]

Next up is another zone interior OL type who fits what we do very well, and who represents a plug 'n play addition for our line.

Erik McCoy, C/OG, Texas A&M

Strengths: stout run blocker who has some strength/toughness to him so might be looked at by other than the zone scheme teams. But he's also quick off the snap and gets position quickly, looks like a guy who would jump right in for us. Might project better to OG than say Bradbury, since they're closely linked in a lot of mocks.

Weaknesses: short arms, gets blown up in pass pro at times.

2018 vs Kentucky

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmmYmDaKX4A


2018 vs Alabama

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asJhS29JpNs


I like his mentality re: skippin bowl games

View: https://twitter.com/TexAgs/status/1075887098358571010

 

[jrry32]

The guys who seem like options to me are Jachai Polite, Jerry Tillery, Jeff Simmons (unlikely), Devin Bush (unlikely), Nasir Adderley, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, and Taylor Rapp.

 

[Akrasian]

The guys who seem like options to me are Jachai Polite, Jerry Tillery, Jeff Simmons (unlikely), Devin Bush (unlikely), Nasir Adderley, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, and Taylor Rapp.

With the likelihood of them taking a QB, while wanting a DL, OLB, CB relatively early, unless somebody they absolutely love falls to them, I suspect they trade down, to get an extra fourth.

 

[Riverumbbq]

With the likelihood of them taking a QB, while wanting a DL, OLB, CB relatively early, unless somebody they absolutely love falls to them, I suspect they trade down, to get an extra fourth.

The Trade Value Chart has us at even points if Cleveland were to trade picks #49 (2'nd.rd.) & #80 (3'rd.rd.) for the Rams #31. Most other teams are likely to involve some additional compensation, whether by us or them.