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I told y'all that I was going to get another mock out pretty quickly with FA right around the corner. With FA next week, we should have a lot of clarity on what the Rams' plans are for the off-season and the Draft. Here are my thoughts on a possible scenario for us:
Cut
WR Tavon Austin
ILB Mark Barron
I don't see anyone trading us anything for Austin. Barron played well for us, but we can find a better fit for our scheme.
Re-Sign/Extend
DT Aaron Donald - 6 years $120 million
CB Nickell Robey-Coleman - 4 years $20 million
S LaMarcus Joyner - Franchise Tag (5 years $45 million extension)
S Cody Davis - 3 years $4.5 million
C John Sullivan - 1 year $2 million
CB Troy Hill - ERFA
HB Malcolm Brown - ERFA
OLB Matt Longacre - RFA
LS Jake McQuaide - 3 years $3.3 million
We let Trumaine walk. Sammy gets a better offer and also walks. The rest of it is consistent with what I've done before in past mocks.
Free Agency
WR Paul Richardson - 5 years $35 million
ILB Corey Nelson - 3 years $7.5 million
ILB Korey Toomer - 2 years $5 million
OLB Pernell McPhee - 1 year $3.5 million
TE Niles Paul - 1 year $1.5 million
Paul Richardson is a speedy WR who has shown the ability to get vertical in Seattle. He's also sure-handed and a quality route runner. He made a number of big plays for Seattle, including a few difficult catches in coverage. Like Robert Woods, I think Richardson is a guy who could really benefit from Sean McVay's scheme and Goff's more traditional QBing. Richardson's injury history will scare some teams away, and his lack of top notch production should keep the price tag reasonable. The terms are quite similar to Robert Woods' contract from last year.
Corey Nelson played for Wade Phillips in Denver. He steps into the WILB role in our defense. Nelson actually looked quite good when he had to step into the starting lineup due to injury for Wade in 2016. He recorded 32 tackles over 4 starts for Wade over the final 4 games of 2016. At 6'1" 226, Nelson isn't the run stopping force we're after. Rather, he brings range and cover skills to replace Barron at a fraction of the cost. Nelson is also an excellent special teamer, so that should endear him to Coach Bones.
Korey Toomer comes in to provide the run-stopping presence that we've been seeking at ILB. Toomer actually played for the Rams for a brief time under Fisher as a special teamer. He's grown into a talented ILB who really flashed ability in 2016 in San Diego in their 3-4 defense. In his 8 starts, Toomer posted 63 tackles and 3 FFs and was very impressive as a run defender. San Diego moved to a 4-3 defense under Gus Bradley this year, who didn't use Toomer as much.
Pernell McPhee flashed a lot of ability in Baltimore and Chicago and has a lot of experience in the 3-4. He can replace Barwin in our scheme. He's had some injury issues the past few years, but I think he could do well platooning with Samson. He's a big OLB who can set the edge, but can also get after the passer. If he's able to stay healthy, he could provide us solid play at SOLB.
Niles Paul played under McVay in Washington as his 3rd TE. Paul is a great athlete who can block and contribute on special teams. He replaces Carrier as our 3rd TE.
Trades
Rams trade Round 1 Pick #23 and Round 4 Pick #11
Browns trade Round 2 Pick #1 and Round 2 Pick #32
The Browns are looking for a CB to pair with Randall. It looks likely that there will be a CB run near the end of the 1st, so the Browns trade up to land Josh Jackson or Jaire Alexander, both of whom are great fits for GW's scheme. Trader Les continues to be active, especially with Harold Landry going before Pick #23.
Rams trade Round 2 Pick #1
Cardinals trade Round 2 Pick #15 and Round 3 Pick #33
The Cardinals draft their QB of the Future in Round 1, so they move up to the top of Round 2 to grab a WR or TE to develop with that QB.
NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #15 - Harrison Phillips NT Stanford
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1WZDDf3Kbs
Analysis: Harrison Phillips was a ridiculously productive NT at Stanford posting 98 tackles, 17.5 TFLs, and 7.5 sacks as a Senior in a scheme that asked him to do a lot of two-gapping. Phillips capped that off with a strong Senior Bowl week where an assortment of the best OLs in college football tended to get manhandled by Phillips one on one. Phillips is an interesting player to watch because he's kind of unconventional. He wouldn't be a great NT in a normal 3-4 because he isn't squatty (6'3" 307 pounds with nearly 34 inch arms and 10.5 inch hands), has a higher center of gravity, and spends a bit too much time on the ground. However, he's a perfect fit for Wade's more aggressive, one-gap heavy scheme. Phillips is a former wrestler who shows the incredible upper body and core strength and outstanding hand usage that you expect of a wrestler. He's a very difficult player to keep blocked because he's always fighting to reestablish his hands even if the OL gets an initial win. Phillips is extraordinarily strong in both the upper and lower body with a vicious punch. He gave college OLs fits with his heavy hands and polished hand usage. He also showed the ability to use body position and strength to hold up against and defeat double teams with some consistency. However, Phillips is a bit heavy-legged and not a fast athlete. This limits his range and closing ability. Nevertheless, he moves well laterally, has great instincts, and understands how to attack and defend blocking schemes. I think Phillips actually has a lot of room to grow as a pass rusher because he doesn't have a lot of moves in his arsenal other than an arm-over swim move for players where he wants to win quickly and the bullrush when he's asked to play more conservatively. With his heavy hands and powerful upper body, he could give NFL OLs fit if he learned to use the bull-pull. Overall, Phillips is a disruptive players who makes life miserable for blockers trying to handle him one on one.
Round 2 Pick #32 - Obo Okoronkwo OLB Oklahoma
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVmff0yRrY8
Analysis: Obo Okoronkwo shared Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year with Malik Jefferson after posting 75 tackles, 17 TFLs, and 8 sacks in 2017. In 2016, he posted 71 tackles, 12 TFLs, and 9 sacks. Okoronkwo played a role at Oklahoma that is fairly similar to the one he'd be playing for the Rams. Oklahoma dropped him in coverage quite a bit but also asked him to rush the passer and set the edge against the run. Okoronkwo thrived in all three areas; although, he needs to do a better job of disengaging from blocks while setting the edge. In the NFL, he would offer similar versatility. Why is he not going higher in the Draft? Only being 6'1" 253 with a 4.7 40, Obo is scheme-limited and doesn't offer the guaranteed pass rush potential to go in Round 1. While Okoronkwo is very quick and explosive, he doesn't really show the great bend and dominant edge rushing ability or the power and heavy hands needed to be an impact NFL pass rusher. Instead, he wins with his quickness, smarts, and balance. His go-to move right now is a spin move or an inside move (after feinting to the outside). He shows sophisticated pass rush plans and uses his hands well, but there are legitimate questions as to whether he can get consistent pressure. Still, he's a physical player with a great motor, his versatility, and the athletic traits to be a solid NFL OLB and a great special teamer. There is potential for him to be a good pass rusher if he continues to develop his hand usage, pass rush plans, and power, but it's not guaranteed. I'd really like to see him do a better job of using his inside arm to flatten the edge.
Round 3 Pick #23 - Shaquem Griffin ILB/OLB UCF
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6jFL3W1Z7E
Analysis: Griffin checks in at 6'0" 227 with surprising power and elite burst/speed. Griffin closes like few can at the LB position, and his 4.38 40 at the Combine reflects his freakish speed. He's been a highly-effective pass rusher because of his ability diverse set of rush moves and evolved pass rush plan along with his elite speed and quickness off the edge. He doesn't have the size to hold up as an edge, but he should be an effective blitzer. Griffin has had plenty of snaps in coverage and shows the athleticism to handle M2M coverage responsibilities in the NFL. In the running game, he's a sideline-to-sideline LB who will sift through traffic to make TFLs. He can also close from the backside due to his incredible speed. Despite his small stature, Griffin has shown the ability to work off of and through blockers. Griffin's missing hand can limit him at times. It can make it harder for him to disengage from blocks and can cause him to miss tackles. However, Griffin's unique blend of elite speed for his position along with top-notch instincts means that the tackles he generally misses due to his hand are tackles that few other LBs would have been in a position to make. Griffin is a film room junkie who went as far as to put his mattress in the facility during camp to allow himself to stay overnight to watch more film. It shows in his play through his tremendous instincts, tendency to be in the right place at the right time, and his evolved pass rush plan. Simply put, if Griffin had two hands, I think he'd be considered one of the top players in the Draft. He's been highly productive the past two years at UCF and won the Senior Bowl Practice Player of the Week Award. His game reminds me of Lavonte David and Deion Jones.
Round 3 Pick #33 - Orlando Brown Jr. OT Oklahoma
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCkY01Ma-Kg
Analysis: Orlando Brown Jr. is quite the lightning rod for criticism after his Combine. I know myself and many others don't see eye to eye on the kid. Personally, I think he's amazing value in the 3rd round and am not scared off by his Combine. At 6'8" 350 pounds with 35 inch arms, Brown is a very big and long man. His father, Orlando Brown, was a Pro Bowl caliber NFL LT who had similar size. Brown Jr. had a highly productive career at Oklahoma where he was consistently considered one of the best OLs in college football. He could have declared last year for the Draft, but he made a promise to his father that he'd get his college degree, which he obviously couldn't break after his father tragically died in 2011. Brown is an incredibly powerful player who manhandles smaller defenders in the running game and cedes next to nothing to bull-rushes in the passing game. Brown is surprisingly good at blocking on the second level and in space. He also does a nice job of mirroring in pass protection and preventing guys from beating him with inside moves. Brown is susceptible to speedy edge rushers attacking the corner. He relies on his length to try and push them past the QB, but his flawed kick-slide (not enough depth) and his slow feet make it difficult for him to prevent the best of the best speed rushers from turning the corner and flattening to the QB against him. Brown also plays high because he doesn't possess great flexibility due to his size and weight. However, Brown's strength and length allows him to get away with his lack of leverage. He displays outstanding hand strength and a powerful punch that stops pass rushers in their tracks. Brown's punch timing and placement are quality for an OT of his age, but they can both be improved. All in all, Brown is a supremely talented OT with size, power, and length that you simply can't teach. If he can clean up his body in the NFL with better nutrition and a great S&C program, he ought to be able to unlock more speed than most think he has, which will help him protect against explosive edge rushers. He's a bit of a project, but with our veteran OLs (Whitworth, Saffold, and Sullivan), our great OL Coach, and our ability to take our time with him, I think this is the perfect situation for Brown. Plus, Kromer's scheme loves big, powerful OTs.
Round 4 Pick #35 - Hercules Mata'afa OLB Washington State
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT7JRYFo35E
Analysis: Mata'afa was an incredibly productive player in his final year at Washington State posting 45 tackles, 22.5 TFLs, and 10.5 sacks as an undersized DT. At 6'2" 252 pounds, Mata'afa will not be playing DT in the NFL. With a strong Combine, I felt Mata'afa could boost himself into the first round like Melvin Ingram did by proving he was a 3-4 OLB instead of a tweener. Unfortunately for Mata'afa, he had an underwhelming Combine which have only made the belief that he's a tweener intensify. Still, Mata'afa's film shows a kid with elite get-off who anticipates the snap count well and can play under blockers. Mata'afa has a non-stop motor, the strength to set the edge, and a nose for the football. He has great football character, outstanding overall intangibles, and a will to be the best. Mata'afa may not have the athleticism to win on the edge in the NFL, but I think it's worth a try. He's the type of kid who will work as hard as anyone to try and make it happen. With his special traits, I think there's certainly a chance that he can develop into a dangerous pass rusher in the NFL.
Round 6 Pick #2 - Javon Wims WR Georgia
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd-OCrCZgwQ
Analysis: Javon Wims is a project WR with a lot of upside that we take a shot on here. At 6'3" 215 with a 4.5 40, Wims is a good athlete who only has two years of college experience after going to a JUCO out of high school. Wims had a productive final season at UGA with 720 receiving yards, 16 yards per catch, and 7 TDs in an offense that was run heavy. He made his money at UGA winning 50/50 balls when isolated down the field. Wims displays great hands, outstanding body control, and a great ability to track the ball and time his jumps. As a route runner, Wims has some experience with a NFL route tree from UGA's offense, but he still has a lot of development to do. He has to be especially careful with his route tempo as he has a tendency to tip his routes. Wims is a physical run blocker who brings it on every snap. Overall, Wims has a lot of upside and is worth trying to develop.
Round 6 Pick #9 - Jack Cichy ILB Wisconsin
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTirt1ZQFI4
Analysis: Cichy is just a really good football player. The problem for him is his injury history. He missed all of 2017 with a torn ACL, and he missed half of the 2016 season with a torn pectoral muscle. However, I think it's worth the risk because he's a Day 2 talent on tape. Cichy is a very smart and sound football player who possesses good athleticism for his size. At 6'2" 238 pounds with solid arm length, Cichy has the dimensions of a NFL ILB. While Cichy won't overpower blockers, he is quite adept at slipping blocks due to his advanced hand usage and agility. He sifts through traffic well, plays with consistent gap integrity, and tackles well, even in space. Cichy also reads his keys well and rarely takes false steps. The thing that stands out the most is Cichy's ability to close when he gets a path to the runner. He may not run a 4.4 40, but he plays fast. As a blitzer, Cichy is highly effective due to his outstanding anticipation of the snap count and his hand usage when rushing the passer. He puts a lot of pressure on the QB when used on A-gap blitzes. His cover skills are good; although, he's a better zone defender than man defender. Cichy also has that sort of annoying style that gets into the heads of offensive players. He plays through the whistle, is constantly buzzing around opposing players, and has a non-stop motor. All in all, Cichy checks all the boxes and should contribute in the NFL if he stays healthy. He'll be great depth at ILB and can contribute on special teams.
Round 6 Pick #20 - David Bright OL Stanford
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN6mBX7oemo
Analysis: David Bright lives up to his name. He's a very intelligent player with great intangibles who started at all every spot on the OL for Stanford except Center. However, he practiced at Center and was capable of playing the position if needed. Bright started at LT in 2017 after being Stanford's starting LG in 2016. At 6'5" 307 pounds with 33 inch arms and 10 inch hands, Bright has the length to play OT in the NFL. He also has enough athleticism to stick outside. However, I'd be drafting Bright as a utility OL in the short term and as a guy to develop as our future Center. Bright has a higher center of gravity than you'd expect from most Centers and isn't overly powerful, so he might struggle a bit with the power of great nose tackles, but Bright has the athleticism, length, and football IQ to really thrive in the position. In our scheme, he's a great fit because the Center is rarely asked to do drive block. Instead, his job is typically blocking on the move. Bright blocks well in space and on the second level, he pulls well, and he does a nice job when zone blocking. Bright doesn't get much push when power blocking, but he uses angles and positioning well to wall his man off. As a pass blocker, Bright needs to improve his punch timing on the interior as he tends to be late with it. As a tackle, Bright is athletic enough to do the job, but he'd struggle with the elite edge rushers who have the ability to both beat him with speed and overpower him. All in all, I see a kid who can be a backup for every position on our OL and possibly develop into a starting Center down the line while being a positive influence in the locker-room and a guy who will push others in practice.
Round 6 Pick #21 - Phillip Lindsay HB Colorado
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lpqc99k9-I
Analysis: Phillip Lindsay's nickname is the "Tasmanian Devil" because of his endless energy, toughness, and refusal to let his size limit him. At 5'7" 185 pounds, Lindsay is definitely undersized, but that didn't stop him from rushing for 2726 yards and 30 TDs over the past two seasons at Colorado. He also caught 76 passes during that time. Lindsay is a fearless pass protector who will stonewall edge rushers despite his small stature. He saved his QB from a number of hits in college. He's actually been compared to Chris Thompson by some, and there's validity to the comparison. Lindsay is small with good speed (4.39 40 at his Pro Day), great pass protection skills, and good pass-catching skills. He won't break a lot of tackles as a runner, but he'll get what's blocked. He has the potential to be a valuable HB on passing downs.
Round 6 Pick #22 - Brett Toth OT Army
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slHlORcQodQ
Analysis: Brett Toth stood out at both the E-W Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl in a big way. Measuring in at 6'6" 303 pounds with 33 inch arms and 10 inch hands, Toth has all the dimensions of a NFL OT. After playing in a triple-option offense, Toth impressed with his pass protection skills in the off-season bowl games. Toth can also get after it in the running game. On top of that, Toth is graduating from Army with a degree in Physics. Originally recruited as a Tight End, Toth added weight and ended up at RT for Army helping them to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in quite awhile. You must be asking yourself, "Why is a such a smart and gifted player with LT traits falling this far in the Draft?" Toth has to serve two years in the military before he can play in the NFL. Last year, the DOD change the rules to prevent athletes from getting waivers allowing them to play immediately in the NFL. It's possible the DOD could change its mind and grant Toth an exception, but it seems unlikely. Due to that, any team that drafts him must wait two years for him to play.
Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
XWR: Paul Richardson vs. Josh Reynolds
ZWR: Robert Woods
SLWR: Cooper Kupp
TE: Gerald Everett
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Rodger Saffold
C: John Sullivan
RG: Jamon Brown
RT: Rob Havenstein
SDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Harrison Phillips
DT: Aaron Donald
WOLB: Obo Okoronkwo vs. Matt Longacre
WILB: Corey Nelson vs. Shaquem Griffin
SILB: Korey Toomer vs. Jack Cichy
SOLB: Pernell McPhee vs. Samson Ebukam
LCB: Marcus Peters
RCB: Aqib Talib
SLCB: Nickell Robey-Coleman
FS: LaMarcus Joyner
SS: John Johnson III
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
Cut
WR Tavon Austin
ILB Mark Barron
I don't see anyone trading us anything for Austin. Barron played well for us, but we can find a better fit for our scheme.
Re-Sign/Extend
DT Aaron Donald - 6 years $120 million
CB Nickell Robey-Coleman - 4 years $20 million
S LaMarcus Joyner - Franchise Tag (5 years $45 million extension)
S Cody Davis - 3 years $4.5 million
C John Sullivan - 1 year $2 million
CB Troy Hill - ERFA
HB Malcolm Brown - ERFA
OLB Matt Longacre - RFA
LS Jake McQuaide - 3 years $3.3 million
We let Trumaine walk. Sammy gets a better offer and also walks. The rest of it is consistent with what I've done before in past mocks.
Free Agency
WR Paul Richardson - 5 years $35 million
ILB Corey Nelson - 3 years $7.5 million
ILB Korey Toomer - 2 years $5 million
OLB Pernell McPhee - 1 year $3.5 million
TE Niles Paul - 1 year $1.5 million
Paul Richardson is a speedy WR who has shown the ability to get vertical in Seattle. He's also sure-handed and a quality route runner. He made a number of big plays for Seattle, including a few difficult catches in coverage. Like Robert Woods, I think Richardson is a guy who could really benefit from Sean McVay's scheme and Goff's more traditional QBing. Richardson's injury history will scare some teams away, and his lack of top notch production should keep the price tag reasonable. The terms are quite similar to Robert Woods' contract from last year.
Corey Nelson played for Wade Phillips in Denver. He steps into the WILB role in our defense. Nelson actually looked quite good when he had to step into the starting lineup due to injury for Wade in 2016. He recorded 32 tackles over 4 starts for Wade over the final 4 games of 2016. At 6'1" 226, Nelson isn't the run stopping force we're after. Rather, he brings range and cover skills to replace Barron at a fraction of the cost. Nelson is also an excellent special teamer, so that should endear him to Coach Bones.
Korey Toomer comes in to provide the run-stopping presence that we've been seeking at ILB. Toomer actually played for the Rams for a brief time under Fisher as a special teamer. He's grown into a talented ILB who really flashed ability in 2016 in San Diego in their 3-4 defense. In his 8 starts, Toomer posted 63 tackles and 3 FFs and was very impressive as a run defender. San Diego moved to a 4-3 defense under Gus Bradley this year, who didn't use Toomer as much.
Pernell McPhee flashed a lot of ability in Baltimore and Chicago and has a lot of experience in the 3-4. He can replace Barwin in our scheme. He's had some injury issues the past few years, but I think he could do well platooning with Samson. He's a big OLB who can set the edge, but can also get after the passer. If he's able to stay healthy, he could provide us solid play at SOLB.
Niles Paul played under McVay in Washington as his 3rd TE. Paul is a great athlete who can block and contribute on special teams. He replaces Carrier as our 3rd TE.
Trades
Rams trade Round 1 Pick #23 and Round 4 Pick #11
Browns trade Round 2 Pick #1 and Round 2 Pick #32
The Browns are looking for a CB to pair with Randall. It looks likely that there will be a CB run near the end of the 1st, so the Browns trade up to land Josh Jackson or Jaire Alexander, both of whom are great fits for GW's scheme. Trader Les continues to be active, especially with Harold Landry going before Pick #23.
Rams trade Round 2 Pick #1
Cardinals trade Round 2 Pick #15 and Round 3 Pick #33
The Cardinals draft their QB of the Future in Round 1, so they move up to the top of Round 2 to grab a WR or TE to develop with that QB.
NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #15 - Harrison Phillips NT Stanford
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1WZDDf3Kbs
Analysis: Harrison Phillips was a ridiculously productive NT at Stanford posting 98 tackles, 17.5 TFLs, and 7.5 sacks as a Senior in a scheme that asked him to do a lot of two-gapping. Phillips capped that off with a strong Senior Bowl week where an assortment of the best OLs in college football tended to get manhandled by Phillips one on one. Phillips is an interesting player to watch because he's kind of unconventional. He wouldn't be a great NT in a normal 3-4 because he isn't squatty (6'3" 307 pounds with nearly 34 inch arms and 10.5 inch hands), has a higher center of gravity, and spends a bit too much time on the ground. However, he's a perfect fit for Wade's more aggressive, one-gap heavy scheme. Phillips is a former wrestler who shows the incredible upper body and core strength and outstanding hand usage that you expect of a wrestler. He's a very difficult player to keep blocked because he's always fighting to reestablish his hands even if the OL gets an initial win. Phillips is extraordinarily strong in both the upper and lower body with a vicious punch. He gave college OLs fits with his heavy hands and polished hand usage. He also showed the ability to use body position and strength to hold up against and defeat double teams with some consistency. However, Phillips is a bit heavy-legged and not a fast athlete. This limits his range and closing ability. Nevertheless, he moves well laterally, has great instincts, and understands how to attack and defend blocking schemes. I think Phillips actually has a lot of room to grow as a pass rusher because he doesn't have a lot of moves in his arsenal other than an arm-over swim move for players where he wants to win quickly and the bullrush when he's asked to play more conservatively. With his heavy hands and powerful upper body, he could give NFL OLs fit if he learned to use the bull-pull. Overall, Phillips is a disruptive players who makes life miserable for blockers trying to handle him one on one.
Round 2 Pick #32 - Obo Okoronkwo OLB Oklahoma
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVmff0yRrY8
Analysis: Obo Okoronkwo shared Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year with Malik Jefferson after posting 75 tackles, 17 TFLs, and 8 sacks in 2017. In 2016, he posted 71 tackles, 12 TFLs, and 9 sacks. Okoronkwo played a role at Oklahoma that is fairly similar to the one he'd be playing for the Rams. Oklahoma dropped him in coverage quite a bit but also asked him to rush the passer and set the edge against the run. Okoronkwo thrived in all three areas; although, he needs to do a better job of disengaging from blocks while setting the edge. In the NFL, he would offer similar versatility. Why is he not going higher in the Draft? Only being 6'1" 253 with a 4.7 40, Obo is scheme-limited and doesn't offer the guaranteed pass rush potential to go in Round 1. While Okoronkwo is very quick and explosive, he doesn't really show the great bend and dominant edge rushing ability or the power and heavy hands needed to be an impact NFL pass rusher. Instead, he wins with his quickness, smarts, and balance. His go-to move right now is a spin move or an inside move (after feinting to the outside). He shows sophisticated pass rush plans and uses his hands well, but there are legitimate questions as to whether he can get consistent pressure. Still, he's a physical player with a great motor, his versatility, and the athletic traits to be a solid NFL OLB and a great special teamer. There is potential for him to be a good pass rusher if he continues to develop his hand usage, pass rush plans, and power, but it's not guaranteed. I'd really like to see him do a better job of using his inside arm to flatten the edge.
Round 3 Pick #23 - Shaquem Griffin ILB/OLB UCF
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6jFL3W1Z7E
Analysis: Griffin checks in at 6'0" 227 with surprising power and elite burst/speed. Griffin closes like few can at the LB position, and his 4.38 40 at the Combine reflects his freakish speed. He's been a highly-effective pass rusher because of his ability diverse set of rush moves and evolved pass rush plan along with his elite speed and quickness off the edge. He doesn't have the size to hold up as an edge, but he should be an effective blitzer. Griffin has had plenty of snaps in coverage and shows the athleticism to handle M2M coverage responsibilities in the NFL. In the running game, he's a sideline-to-sideline LB who will sift through traffic to make TFLs. He can also close from the backside due to his incredible speed. Despite his small stature, Griffin has shown the ability to work off of and through blockers. Griffin's missing hand can limit him at times. It can make it harder for him to disengage from blocks and can cause him to miss tackles. However, Griffin's unique blend of elite speed for his position along with top-notch instincts means that the tackles he generally misses due to his hand are tackles that few other LBs would have been in a position to make. Griffin is a film room junkie who went as far as to put his mattress in the facility during camp to allow himself to stay overnight to watch more film. It shows in his play through his tremendous instincts, tendency to be in the right place at the right time, and his evolved pass rush plan. Simply put, if Griffin had two hands, I think he'd be considered one of the top players in the Draft. He's been highly productive the past two years at UCF and won the Senior Bowl Practice Player of the Week Award. His game reminds me of Lavonte David and Deion Jones.
Round 3 Pick #33 - Orlando Brown Jr. OT Oklahoma
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCkY01Ma-Kg
Analysis: Orlando Brown Jr. is quite the lightning rod for criticism after his Combine. I know myself and many others don't see eye to eye on the kid. Personally, I think he's amazing value in the 3rd round and am not scared off by his Combine. At 6'8" 350 pounds with 35 inch arms, Brown is a very big and long man. His father, Orlando Brown, was a Pro Bowl caliber NFL LT who had similar size. Brown Jr. had a highly productive career at Oklahoma where he was consistently considered one of the best OLs in college football. He could have declared last year for the Draft, but he made a promise to his father that he'd get his college degree, which he obviously couldn't break after his father tragically died in 2011. Brown is an incredibly powerful player who manhandles smaller defenders in the running game and cedes next to nothing to bull-rushes in the passing game. Brown is surprisingly good at blocking on the second level and in space. He also does a nice job of mirroring in pass protection and preventing guys from beating him with inside moves. Brown is susceptible to speedy edge rushers attacking the corner. He relies on his length to try and push them past the QB, but his flawed kick-slide (not enough depth) and his slow feet make it difficult for him to prevent the best of the best speed rushers from turning the corner and flattening to the QB against him. Brown also plays high because he doesn't possess great flexibility due to his size and weight. However, Brown's strength and length allows him to get away with his lack of leverage. He displays outstanding hand strength and a powerful punch that stops pass rushers in their tracks. Brown's punch timing and placement are quality for an OT of his age, but they can both be improved. All in all, Brown is a supremely talented OT with size, power, and length that you simply can't teach. If he can clean up his body in the NFL with better nutrition and a great S&C program, he ought to be able to unlock more speed than most think he has, which will help him protect against explosive edge rushers. He's a bit of a project, but with our veteran OLs (Whitworth, Saffold, and Sullivan), our great OL Coach, and our ability to take our time with him, I think this is the perfect situation for Brown. Plus, Kromer's scheme loves big, powerful OTs.
Round 4 Pick #35 - Hercules Mata'afa OLB Washington State
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT7JRYFo35E
Analysis: Mata'afa was an incredibly productive player in his final year at Washington State posting 45 tackles, 22.5 TFLs, and 10.5 sacks as an undersized DT. At 6'2" 252 pounds, Mata'afa will not be playing DT in the NFL. With a strong Combine, I felt Mata'afa could boost himself into the first round like Melvin Ingram did by proving he was a 3-4 OLB instead of a tweener. Unfortunately for Mata'afa, he had an underwhelming Combine which have only made the belief that he's a tweener intensify. Still, Mata'afa's film shows a kid with elite get-off who anticipates the snap count well and can play under blockers. Mata'afa has a non-stop motor, the strength to set the edge, and a nose for the football. He has great football character, outstanding overall intangibles, and a will to be the best. Mata'afa may not have the athleticism to win on the edge in the NFL, but I think it's worth a try. He's the type of kid who will work as hard as anyone to try and make it happen. With his special traits, I think there's certainly a chance that he can develop into a dangerous pass rusher in the NFL.
Round 6 Pick #2 - Javon Wims WR Georgia
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd-OCrCZgwQ
Analysis: Javon Wims is a project WR with a lot of upside that we take a shot on here. At 6'3" 215 with a 4.5 40, Wims is a good athlete who only has two years of college experience after going to a JUCO out of high school. Wims had a productive final season at UGA with 720 receiving yards, 16 yards per catch, and 7 TDs in an offense that was run heavy. He made his money at UGA winning 50/50 balls when isolated down the field. Wims displays great hands, outstanding body control, and a great ability to track the ball and time his jumps. As a route runner, Wims has some experience with a NFL route tree from UGA's offense, but he still has a lot of development to do. He has to be especially careful with his route tempo as he has a tendency to tip his routes. Wims is a physical run blocker who brings it on every snap. Overall, Wims has a lot of upside and is worth trying to develop.
Round 6 Pick #9 - Jack Cichy ILB Wisconsin
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTirt1ZQFI4
Analysis: Cichy is just a really good football player. The problem for him is his injury history. He missed all of 2017 with a torn ACL, and he missed half of the 2016 season with a torn pectoral muscle. However, I think it's worth the risk because he's a Day 2 talent on tape. Cichy is a very smart and sound football player who possesses good athleticism for his size. At 6'2" 238 pounds with solid arm length, Cichy has the dimensions of a NFL ILB. While Cichy won't overpower blockers, he is quite adept at slipping blocks due to his advanced hand usage and agility. He sifts through traffic well, plays with consistent gap integrity, and tackles well, even in space. Cichy also reads his keys well and rarely takes false steps. The thing that stands out the most is Cichy's ability to close when he gets a path to the runner. He may not run a 4.4 40, but he plays fast. As a blitzer, Cichy is highly effective due to his outstanding anticipation of the snap count and his hand usage when rushing the passer. He puts a lot of pressure on the QB when used on A-gap blitzes. His cover skills are good; although, he's a better zone defender than man defender. Cichy also has that sort of annoying style that gets into the heads of offensive players. He plays through the whistle, is constantly buzzing around opposing players, and has a non-stop motor. All in all, Cichy checks all the boxes and should contribute in the NFL if he stays healthy. He'll be great depth at ILB and can contribute on special teams.
Round 6 Pick #20 - David Bright OL Stanford
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN6mBX7oemo
Analysis: David Bright lives up to his name. He's a very intelligent player with great intangibles who started at all every spot on the OL for Stanford except Center. However, he practiced at Center and was capable of playing the position if needed. Bright started at LT in 2017 after being Stanford's starting LG in 2016. At 6'5" 307 pounds with 33 inch arms and 10 inch hands, Bright has the length to play OT in the NFL. He also has enough athleticism to stick outside. However, I'd be drafting Bright as a utility OL in the short term and as a guy to develop as our future Center. Bright has a higher center of gravity than you'd expect from most Centers and isn't overly powerful, so he might struggle a bit with the power of great nose tackles, but Bright has the athleticism, length, and football IQ to really thrive in the position. In our scheme, he's a great fit because the Center is rarely asked to do drive block. Instead, his job is typically blocking on the move. Bright blocks well in space and on the second level, he pulls well, and he does a nice job when zone blocking. Bright doesn't get much push when power blocking, but he uses angles and positioning well to wall his man off. As a pass blocker, Bright needs to improve his punch timing on the interior as he tends to be late with it. As a tackle, Bright is athletic enough to do the job, but he'd struggle with the elite edge rushers who have the ability to both beat him with speed and overpower him. All in all, I see a kid who can be a backup for every position on our OL and possibly develop into a starting Center down the line while being a positive influence in the locker-room and a guy who will push others in practice.
Round 6 Pick #21 - Phillip Lindsay HB Colorado
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lpqc99k9-I
Analysis: Phillip Lindsay's nickname is the "Tasmanian Devil" because of his endless energy, toughness, and refusal to let his size limit him. At 5'7" 185 pounds, Lindsay is definitely undersized, but that didn't stop him from rushing for 2726 yards and 30 TDs over the past two seasons at Colorado. He also caught 76 passes during that time. Lindsay is a fearless pass protector who will stonewall edge rushers despite his small stature. He saved his QB from a number of hits in college. He's actually been compared to Chris Thompson by some, and there's validity to the comparison. Lindsay is small with good speed (4.39 40 at his Pro Day), great pass protection skills, and good pass-catching skills. He won't break a lot of tackles as a runner, but he'll get what's blocked. He has the potential to be a valuable HB on passing downs.
Round 6 Pick #22 - Brett Toth OT Army
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slHlORcQodQ
Analysis: Brett Toth stood out at both the E-W Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl in a big way. Measuring in at 6'6" 303 pounds with 33 inch arms and 10 inch hands, Toth has all the dimensions of a NFL OT. After playing in a triple-option offense, Toth impressed with his pass protection skills in the off-season bowl games. Toth can also get after it in the running game. On top of that, Toth is graduating from Army with a degree in Physics. Originally recruited as a Tight End, Toth added weight and ended up at RT for Army helping them to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in quite awhile. You must be asking yourself, "Why is a such a smart and gifted player with LT traits falling this far in the Draft?" Toth has to serve two years in the military before he can play in the NFL. Last year, the DOD change the rules to prevent athletes from getting waivers allowing them to play immediately in the NFL. It's possible the DOD could change its mind and grant Toth an exception, but it seems unlikely. Due to that, any team that drafts him must wait two years for him to play.
Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
XWR: Paul Richardson vs. Josh Reynolds
ZWR: Robert Woods
SLWR: Cooper Kupp
TE: Gerald Everett
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Rodger Saffold
C: John Sullivan
RG: Jamon Brown
RT: Rob Havenstein
SDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Harrison Phillips
DT: Aaron Donald
WOLB: Obo Okoronkwo vs. Matt Longacre
WILB: Corey Nelson vs. Shaquem Griffin
SILB: Korey Toomer vs. Jack Cichy
SOLB: Pernell McPhee vs. Samson Ebukam
LCB: Marcus Peters
RCB: Aqib Talib
SLCB: Nickell Robey-Coleman
FS: LaMarcus Joyner
SS: John Johnson III
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
