Early Thoughts on NFL Draft

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Memphis Ram

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It’s crazy how potentially one of the deeper EDGE, DLine, and RB draft classes in years comes right after the Rams have loaded up there. You’d think that would push a stud player at a position of need right into the Rams laps, but the rest of class appears a bit shaky. Maybe they should double down there? I don't know.

What’s up with all these prospects suffering season ending injuries?

Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State
Jalen Royal, WR, Utah State
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan (chance he might be back for playoffs)
Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina
Harold Perkins, LB, LSU

I've probably missed some others.

Seems like every time I look up, a player who I think the Rams might have an interest in has some injury. Some of these guys may not be able to work out pre-draft or participate in the post-draft offseason program. And some of them needed the extra games on their resume in order to get a better feel for their talents and how they might fit.

From what I’m reading or hearing about this OT draft class, Alaric Jackson is about to get paid by the Rams or someone else. That is barring some sort of injury, suspension, or his play falling off. They might even have to use the franchise tag or go away from the prototypical measurements of an OT to get one early.

Here are some OLine tidbits I've discovered from draft gurus Dane Brugler and/or Tony Pauline:

There are questions by some scouts if Will Campbell (LSU), Kelvin Banks Jr., (Texas) and Wyatt Milum (West Virgina) would be better off at guard. Campbell & Milum may not minimum reach 33” arm length OLine coaches seem to prefer and Campbell has had his fair share of penalties. Banks is expected to be shorter than 6’4” and is on the ground a lot. Josh Conerly Jr. (Oregon) is said to be raw and expected to be under the 6’4” threshold. Josh Simmons (Ohio State) is injured and no one knows the severity of his injury. Cameron Williams (Texas) has less than a dozen college starts and may still lead the FBS in penalties.

That leaves Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota), Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona) & Grey Zabel (North Dakota State). The latter two are said to be best moved into the interior, too. Should be interesting, but again....Alaric Jackson is about to get paid.

Receivers? If the Rams are selecting in the back half of round one, will there be a WR worthy of the selection? The better WR options appear to be kids who could be had later. It’s still way to early, but after Travis Hunter (better CB than WR, IMO) and Tetairoa McMillian is there really a WR worthy of a 1st round selection? Luther Burden III and Emeka Egbuka may only be slot WRs and while talented and Kupp is winding down would that be the route Mcvay would want to go. Or would a TE like Colston Loveland (Michigan) be a better option in the slot for McVay. He might give McVay the Jordan Reed type he appeared to be looking for when he took Gerald Everett before selecting Kupp and going to heavy on 11 personnel because of Kupp’s talents.

Finally, this QB class is disappointing.

I don’t know if Stafford is coming back next year or not. But if so, I’d really like his replacement to be already on the roster learning in 2025. Is it just me or is it difficult to name a QB in this potential draft class that you would select over anyone selected in the 1st round last year with the POSSIBLE exception of Shedeur Sanders?

Others may disagree, but looking at this draft class makes me cringe that the Rams missed out of trading for Sam Howell and makes me hope the Rams make a play for Zach Wilson this offseason. He’s still only 25 years old and I think I’d take him over anyone else in this draft class. I'd love to see what McVay could do with him.

Anybody know anything about Indiana's Kurtis Rourke? He's an intriguing late round consideration.
 
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methomas50

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I actually like a bunch of the injured guys. Particularly Simmons from Ohio St. Perkins who the scouts loved his first year is on the smaller side for me. There aren't too many positions I would complain about if they took em early. I would not be surprised by a 1st round trade back to try and recoup a 2nd.
 

Memphis Ram

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I actually like a bunch of the injured guys. Particularly Simmons from Ohio St. Perkins who the scouts loved his first year is on the smaller side for me. There aren't too many positions I would complain about if they took em early. I would not be surprised by a 1st round trade back to try and recoup a 2nd.

Josh Simmons seems like a great option. But, would the Rams be willing to select him if he's deemed not being able to be ready by the start of the season? They did it with Gurley, but they weren't even close to being in any sort of Super Bowl window back then. Should be interesting.
 

dieterbrock

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For a mid-late round QB, I really like Tyler Shough from Louisville
If they go QB on 2nd day of draft, I like Jaxson Dart
 

Memphis Ram

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For a mid-late round QB, I really like Tyler Shough from Louisville
If they go QB on 2nd day of draft, I like Jaxson Dart
Had to look up Shough. Might be worth a late round dart throw.
I had no idea a kid could maintain eligibility for 7 years.:wow2:
 

Londoner

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I had no idea a kid could maintain eligibility for 7 years.
IMG_8728.jpeg
 

Ram_Rally

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Feels like a prime trade down year. More question marks in this first round than last and I don't love many of the prospects where we're currently sitting. I'd honestly be a fan of of trading down to the end of round one and targeting one of the big 3 running backs. I think all 3 are tone setting studs.
 

DzRams

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Feels like a prime trade down year. More question marks in this first round than last and I don't love many of the prospects where we're currently sitting. I'd honestly be a fan of of trading down to the end of round one and targeting one of the big 3 running backs. I think all 3 are tone setting studs.
Another reason to trade down to the end of the 1st is that they may be able to get that 2nd round pick back. 17 for 28 and 60 is even on the trade chart.

A RB there, though, would be surprising.
 

Ram_Rally

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Another reason to trade down to the end of the 1st is that they may be able to get that 2nd round pick back. 17 for 28 and 60 is even on the trade chart.

A RB there, though, would be surprising.
I don't think it would be as surprising as in Year's past. Najee Harris and Travis Etienne were both first round picks a few years ago. Or maybe it was just Najee? At least one of them lol. And I think Hampton and Johnson are better than him.
 

DzRams

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I don't think it would be as surprising as in Year's past. Najee Harris and Travis Etienne were both first round picks a few years ago. Or maybe it was just Najee? At least one of them lol. And I think Hampton and Johnson are better than him.
I meant surprising for McSnead.
 

Ram_Rally

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I meant surprising for McSnead.
Oh yes definitely. He did draft Gurley, though that might've been more a Fisher decision. This crop of running backs is REALLY good though.
 

DzRams

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Oh yes definitely. He did draft Gurley, though that might've been more a Fisher decision. This crop of running backs is REALLY good though.
Yeah, from what I recall, it was reported that Gurley was definitely a Fisher decision.
 

Ram_Rally

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Yeah, from what I recall, it was reported that Gurley was definitely a Fisher decision.
Yeah so Snead probably won't lol. I hope he considers it though. Even if we trade down from 17 to 28 and use the second round pick on one.
 

DzRams

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Yeah so Snead probably won't lol. I hope he considers it though. Even if we trade down from 17 to 28 and use the second round pick on one.
It seems Snead likes to draft QB, pass rushers, OT, and WR in the 1st. I can see McVay pushing for a dynamic, game breaking RB though. Do you really believe the RBs in this class will have a Gurley or even Gibbs like impact?
 

Ram_Rally

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It seems Snead likes to draft QB, pass rushers, OT, and WR in the 1st. I can see McVay pushing for a dynamic, game breaking RB though. Do you really believe the RBs in this class will have a Gurley or even Gibbs like impact?
I don't think many running backs can have Gurley impact. He was truly a unicorn. I think at least 4 of them give me shades of a prime Ezekiel Elliott or an Alvin kamara though in terms of usage and output.
 

Memento

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I think Jeanty's going top ten, but if we do draft a running back highly, I'd prefer Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State). He was dominant on the ground for Mississippi State, starting as a true freshman. Then he transferred to Ohio State and just took off.

Not the best pass-catcher, but a solid pass-blocker, so you could still use him on third down. To my knowledge, Ohio State doesn't really use their running backs in the passing game like other teams do, so that could explain a bit.
 

Memphis Ram

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Another reason to trade down to the end of the 1st is that they may be able to get that 2nd round pick back. 17 for 28 and 60 is even on the trade chart.

A RB there, though, would be surprising.
It would interesting to see if they could pull this off in such a weaker draft class.

But, of course, it only takes one desperate team.
 

Allen2McVay

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Feels like a prime trade down year. More question marks in this first round than last and I don't love many of the prospects where we're currently sitting. I'd honestly be a fan of of trading down to the end of round one ...

Problem with that is if other teams agree about the lack of quality prospects when the Rams are on-the-clock, there may not be many teams looking to trade-up.