For everyone looking to draft a RB high...

[LARAMSinFeb.]

At this point, if I can find a sportsbook with a line of whether he goes in the 1st or not, I'll definitely be taking the no side of things. Alot of pundits have Avila above him now for the sheer utility of a guy able to play all line positions, and well.

And then there's always the issue that if he does drop to us, will McSnead grab a longshot shifty receiver instead.

 

[OldSchool]

Brents my #1 realistic target at CB.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Well that would be a terrible tactical move if they do. He's under control cheaply for the next 2 seasons and showed he may be back to form from the injury in the latter part of the year. Why create another hole? Especially because the compensation back for him would probably be a '24 7th, if that knowing our trade tendencies.

The compensation could be another player who could fill a hole.

If he's really available, I'd take Panthers QB Matt Corral for Akers in a heartbeat.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9-FjhBB5w8

 

[Neil039]

The compensation could be another player who could fill a hole.

If he's really available, I'd take Panthers QB Matt Corral for Akers in a heartbeat.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9-FjhBB5w8

That would be a trade I could get on board with immediately. I clears the way for a RB to be drafted. Immediately fills the QB2 position and opens up the draft. Fingers crossed Snead reads your post.

 

[OldSchool]

Trading up for Levis would make me physically sick

 

[rdlkgliders]

Trading up for Levis would make me physically sick

Agreed! This isn't the draft to grab players with the intent that they sit behind an established player and only play if there is a catastrophe. Developing players is great but to further reduce assets for a developmental player is bad timing.

 

[HitStick]

That would be a trade I could get on board with immediately. I clears the way for a RB to be drafted. Immediately fills the QB2 position and opens up the draft. Fingers crossed Snead reads your post.

I only do that trade if a running back worth taking early is there. Gibbs or Charbonnett, or just roll with Akers IMO

 

[CGI_Ram]

The compensation could be another player who could fill a hole.

If he's really available, I'd take Panthers QB Matt Corral for Akers in a heartbeat.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9-FjhBB5w8

I would do that in a heartbeat. I find him an interesting “guy nobody is talking about” option.

But, yeah… is he available?

 

[Flatlyner]

I still think that they are going to trade down and select Auburn EDGE Derick Hall in second round.

There are far worse scenarios. I like Hall a fair amount and was going to be praying he dropped to our 3rd if we addressed a CB in 2nd.

 

[Flatlyner]

The compensation could be another player who could fill a hole.

If he's really available, I'd take Panthers QB Matt Corral for Akers in a heartbeat.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9-FjhBB5w8

I'd entertain that trade, but, I'm done being ok with Rams trading quality players for insignificant draft picks. Akers is a quality NFL RB and I think he's fully back from Achillies and ready to roll. And again, under 2 years of cheap contract control which is a bonus on top. But, Corral does intrigue me, provided his significant injury is 100%

 

[Memphis Ram]

It really got me to thinking a couple years back when I saw when the Bengals needed Olinemen desperately and had no real need at WR. The so-called best OLineman in the draft (Penei Sewell) was right there on the board, when they nabbed difference maker / matchup problem WR Jamar Chase.

In the playoffs, I just knew the Cowboys were toast against the 49ers when Tony Pollard got hurt leaving CeeDee Lamb as the only playmaker on offense. (BTW, Dallas didn't even need another WR when he fell into their laps on draft day. From what I heard, they were ready to take EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson in an attempt to fill a need).


Anyway, the #1 goal for a team's first pick should be to acquire a difference maker / matchup problem, IMO. That's the game. Matchup problems. Actually, Mike Martz showed us this years ago.

If it's a Pass Rusher, does he draw double teams? Do opposing defensive coordinators have to gameplan for him?
If it's an OLineman, can he win on an island? And is he capable of physically dominating defenders consistently?
If he's a CB, is he a potential shutdown type that QBs tend to avoid? Does he force turnovers?
If he's a WR, does he have to potential to force opponents to shade a safety in his direction and/or use their best CB on him?
If he's a RB, is he good enough to be a threat to score from any point on the field running and receiving. If he motions out of the backfield can be covered by LBs?

This isn't all encompassing, but if the answer to any of these questions is NO, then that player isn't a difference maker / matchup problem. He may still be a good player, but he's a hole filler, IMO. And hole fillers can be had later in the draft and in free agency.

If the Rams draft anyone at ANY of the above listed positions that isn't just a hole filler, then I'll be thrilled.

But, IMO, Gibbs is a difference maker / matchup problem. And Cooper Kupp is the only other one on offense.

It's players. Not positions.

McVay can't scheme everything. Someone has to be able to make a play.

 

[Merlin]

Trading up for Levis would make me physically sick

You'd start putting mayo in your coffee if we get him.

 

[Merlin]

McVay can't scheme everything. Someone has to be able to make a play.

I agree. This is why I say a backup in the slot is a need for us. Because since Kupp has come online in this offense every time he gets hurt the offense stalls out. His slot production has carried the pass game for years now.

So who factors into the slot. WR and TE. Both positions can source a guy who wins quickly underneath and buys the QB time under duress. Which, with the Rams, seems to be the rule with our iffy ass OLs we have fielded.

Over the years he's missed on Everett, Jefferson, Hopkins, Harris, Skow, Tutu, Robinson, none of these guys have been able to threaten in the pass game for him. Tutu going into year 3 now, maybe he can change that but I'm not gonna hold my breath on that one.

Looking at this draft I have to think the options who have a chance to factor in there are on McVay's hot list. Because if they can find someone who can handle the slot role then you can bounce Kupp out to flanker and end up with just as much a boost as if they were to find that perimeter wideout threat everyone wants.

Who are the options there in round 2? From the TE side I'd say Kincaid, Mayer, LaPorta. Of those only LaPorta should be on the board when we pick at 36 or after a short trade down. From the WR side I'd say Smith, Flowers, Addison, Dell, and Downs. Of those I think Smith, Flowers, and Addison are off the board by 36.

Also and btw as it pertains to TE Higs is gone after this season. So TE is a need additionally on top of all this. WR is much healthier in that regard though with McVay no less a need.

So IMO we're looking at LaPorta, Dell, and Downs as most likely fits for what has plagued the Rams forever it seems. And this is why I think LaPorta is such a great fit for this offense. He's big, he wins underneath, and going forward he plugs what will be a big hole after this season but for now he can juice the offense day one.

Last but not least there are quite a few more wideouts that apply after a trade down. There are options if that happens, which seems to be a preferred path for us based on our holes exceeding our picks. I'd list Hyatt and Rice at the top of that post-move-down list for the wideouts, with the TEs there is only Kraft. In my estimation and fwiw.

 

[Merlin]

Sorry not impressed with Vaughn at all from that game

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder isn't it. I've probably watched six or seven of his games in total and loved every one of them. He's a favorite of mine in this draft but I don't think we need any more smurfs. Even smurfs with a lot of dog in them.

 

[Merlin]

If he's really available, I'd take Panthers QB Matt Corral for Akers in a heartbeat.

Yeah I'd really love to at least hear that the Rams explored the option. Have to think McVay would handle him well.

 

[OldSchool]

You'd start putting mayo in your coffee if we get him.

I suddenly wish something mildly bad and very unfortunate to happen to you

 

[Tano]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder isn't it. I've probably watched six or seven of his games in total and loved every one of them. He's a favorite of mine in this draft but I don't think we need any more smurfs. Even smurfs with a lot of dog in them.

I think it is the smurf in him that makes me dislike his running ability. In the open field, he is really good.

But we need someone who can plow into the line and get that one or two yards for the first down on 3rd and short.

Too often we passed on 3rd and short because we knew that there was just no way we were going to make the first down running the ball.

 

[Memphis Ram]

I agree. This is why I say a backup in the slot is a need for us. Because since Kupp has come online in this offense every time he gets hurt the offense stalls out. His slot production has carried the pass game for years now.

So who factors into the slot. WR and TE. Both positions can source a guy who wins quickly underneath and buys the QB time under duress. Which, with the Rams, seems to be the rule with our iffy ass OLs we have fielded.

Over the years he's missed on Everett, Jefferson, Hopkins, Harris, Skow, Tutu, Robinson, none of these guys have been able to threaten in the pass game for him. Tutu going into year 3 now, maybe he can change that but I'm not gonna hold my breath on that one.

Looking at this draft I have to think the options who have a chance to factor in there are on McVay's hot list. Because if they can find someone who can handle the slot role then you can bounce Kupp out to flanker and end up with just as much a boost as if they were to find that perimeter wideout threat everyone wants.

Who are the options there in round 2? From the TE side I'd say Kincaid, Mayer, LaPorta. Of those only LaPorta should be on the board when we pick at 36 or after a short trade down. From the WR side I'd say Smith, Flowers, Addison, Dell, and Downs. Of those I think Smith, Flowers, and Addison are off the board by 36.

Also and btw as it pertains to TE Higs is gone after this season. So TE is a need additionally on top of all this. WR is much healthier in that regard though with McVay no less a need.

So IMO we're looking at LaPorta, Dell, and Downs as most likely fits for what has plagued the Rams forever it seems. And this is why I think LaPorta is such a great fit for this offense. He's big, he wins underneath, and going forward he plugs what will be a big hole after this season but for now he can juice the offense day one.

Last but not least there are quite a few more wideouts that apply after a trade down. There are options if that happens, which seems to be a preferred path for us based on our holes exceeding our picks. I'd list Hyatt and Rice at the top of that post-move-down list for the wideouts, with the TEs there is only Kraft. In my estimation and fwiw.

I really like Craft, Laporta and Flowers. But, I'm kinda just meh on the rest.

 

[LA_Rams_#29]

You need to have at least 4-5 RBs total ...active, inactive and on your practice squad. I believe we have 3 right now, so we need....at least 2 more.... IF we have the opportunity to draft one that would jump Kyren Williams on the depth chart and be up to at least a 1B option with Cam.... we'll have to consider that in the draft within those first 3 picks of those... to me, if Zach Charbonnet were to be there...I believe there would still be the opportunity to get a CB and an EDGE with those other early picks. If not.... there will still be some decent options at RB after round 3 in the draft.....and some who will be available as UDFAs. We also need to keep in mind that we need a return guy now which means WR and RB options late and after the draft..you'll have some opportunities for some guys.

 

[Riverumbbq]

For 2023 I think I'd rather draft a HIGH RB than draft high for a RB.

Get me a big later round RB to replace Malcolm Brown for now, someone who can block, catch, and perform well in short yardage situations. Akers/Williams are our guys this year, find a solid RB3 in the draft and perhaps later look towards tier 2 free agents or waiver wire cuts.