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This one is for you, Memphis. I followed your mock which is linked below for player availability in the first 3 rounds:
http://www.ramsondemand.com/threads/memphisram-3-round-mock-draft-1-0.36309/
I am going to pretend that the Rams did not sign (or re-sign) any FAs prior to the draft.(as disappointed as I would be if that happened)
Trade
St. Louis Rams trade Round 3 Pick #8 and 2016 4th Round Pick
New England Patriots trade Round 2 Pick #32
I did include one trade, Memphis, but since we're trading up and not gaining picks, I figured it was fair game.
NFL Draft
Round 1 Pick #10 - T.J. Clemmings OT Pittsburgh
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPpSi723eM
Analysis: This may not be the most popular pick because people are worried about his perceived rawness but that won't stop me from drafting the highest rated guy on my board. The draft is about more than just 2015. Yes, Clemmings will have some rookies moments if asked to start at RT but he also has the ability to develop into one of the best OTs in the NFL.(not just RT...either side) He's easily the most athletically gifted OT in this class boasting quick feet, great balance, smooth, fluid and graceful movement skills, and arguably the best power of any OT in this class. Clemmings is already a dominating run blocker despite still having some technical flaws to clean up in that department.
As a pass blocker, Clemmings is raw but insanely talented. He has the range and movement skills to handle any type of rusher but needs to learn to trust his feet and technique as he climbs deeper into the back-field. Clemmings also needs to not involve his head in his punch as it leaves him vulnerable to arm over swim moves and adversely affects his balance. Additionally, Clemmings needs to work on his footwork while sliding and his punch placement especially on counter moves to the inside. That all said, Clemmings has come a long way as a player and should continue to develop with even better coaching at the next level. As long as he doesn't lose confidence, he has the ability to be as good as he wants to be as a pass blocker...he just needs time, coaching, and experience.
Round 2 Pick #9 - A.J. Cann OG/C South Carolina
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlwRR2-tr_w
Analysis: A.J. Cann is the best pure OG in this class but actually got a lot of work at Center at his Pro Day and was recruited out of high school as a Center. He would be an interesting developmental prospect at Center for down the line that can contribute immediately as a rookie at OG. As a LG, Cann is a brutish run blocker combining sound footwork with great power and leverage. He's explosive out of his stance, consistently the low man, and drives his feet through contact. Cann has a mean streak and looks to bury guys in the run game. He'd immediately bolster our run game and his experience in South Carolina's zone blocking scheme will help him at the next level because it bolstered his understanding of angles and positions and gave him a lot of experience blocking on the move.
As a pass protector, Cann has a few technical issues to clean up but should be able to hold his own until they're cleaned up. Cann has the natural mirroring ability, anchor, power, and athleticism to develop into a very good pass protecting LG. He needs to improve his punch and hand placement in the passing game. His punch can be a bit weak because he doesn't time it right and he has a tendency to allow his punches to land outside the chest-plate. Cann also needs to do a better job of sitting back in his stance as he'll get caught leaning at times but his bend is not at all an issue so that should be something that will be easy to clean up. Cann also needs to do a better job of redirecting vs. quicker DTs especially on swim moves as he will sometimes stop moving his feet when getting spun on by a quick DT. Regardless, Cann's technical issues are very fixable and nothing overly worrisome at this stage.
Round 2 Pick #32 - Garrett Grayson QB Colorado State
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fwhKKXII_g
Analysis: The Rams see Bryce Petty go off the board a few picks ahead of Grayson and decide that they want to get in front of the teams picking at the beginning of Round 3 to make sure they can land their guy. Garrett Grayson does not have outstanding physical tools but he makes up for his average physical talent with great instincts, sound mechanics, and consistent ball placement. Grayson's arm strength is middle of the pack and would likely be considered below average for a current NFL starter but it is adequate for the next level. Due to his polished footwork, he gets good zip on the majority of throws. Some of the deeper throws to the sideline can be tough for him. However, him and Nick Foles both are similar in terms of arm strength so Grayson's arm is more than enough. Grayson really shines in ball placement. His polished footwork, throwing base, and upper body mechanics allow him to throw a very consistent ball. He is coming from a pro style offense so he's used to throwing pro style routes and locates the football well especially on deep routes. Grayson also shows nice touch on the ball although he needs to do a better job of lofting it when trying to get over the LOS without a throwing lane as he had some issues in college with batted passes. Grayson also had a slight hitch in the back side of his throwing motion but has reportedly been working this off-season to clean that up.
Grayson's poise under pressure, pocket presence, and pocket movement are some of the most impressive parts of his game. Grayson feels pressure and understands how to slide in the pocket to find and create space while still keeping his eyes down-field. Grayson also understands when to take a sack and protect the football. His OL was inconsistent so he dealt with quite a bit of pressure and has a lot of experience standing tall and making accurate throws with the knowledge that he's about to get hit. He's a very tough kid (played through an ankle injury during the season despite it visibly hobbling him in some games...and played well). Grayson also has flashed NFL caliber anticipation (seen him start his motion on quite a few NFL out routes before the WR has even began gearing down to make his break) although he needs to be more consistent with it, his timing, and his internal clock. Will throw late at times or hold onto the ball too long at times but this should improve with experience and coaching at the next level. Grayson has shown the ability to work through NFL style route combinations and progressions. He will hit the checkdown when nothing is there or throw it away when necessary. He's a good decision maker that protects the ball. He needs to be more deceptive with his eyes as he will lock onto targets at times. Grayson also needs to be more consistent with his timing in moving through progressions. His mental processing speed looks great at times and at other times, he's slow to come off his first read. But again, these are things that typically improve in the NFL. I like Grayson a lot as a prospect. I think he's got the ability to develop into a starter for a team at the next level.
Round 4 Pick #20 - Jarvis Harrison OG/OT Texas A&M
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlqJS2BVwxI
Analysis: Jarvis Harrison really has no business being around this late in the draft. It's likely that a lot of you don't really know much about Harrison. Here's some interesting info on Harrison...at the Combine, Harrison bested La'el Collins in the 10 yard dash(1.77 vs. 1.87), in the vertical jump(29.5 inches vs. 27 inches), in the short shuttle(4.62 vs. 4.63), and the 3 cone drill(7.51 vs. 7.70). Collins only bested Harrison in the broad jump(9 feet vs. 8.5 feet). Now here's the kicker...Harrison did all that at 330 pounds...that's 25 pounds heavier than Collins. Jarvis Harrison is a 6'4" 330 pound OG with the athleticism and feet of a NFL OT(arguably a NFL LT). He also has enough length to play LT or RT when needed(6'4" with 33.5 inch arms). Harrison's pass protection skills are incredibly impressive despite a few technical flaws in his punch timing and hand placement. His ability to sustain blocks in pass protection is incredible. This is a kid that has experience at LG, RG, and RT. Hell, he even slid out to LT this year against Missouri and Auburn and showed the foot speed to handle the LT spot. So why is Harrison still around in the 4th round?
There are a couple big reasons why. The first one is that there are some major concerns about Harrison's ability to keep his weight in check. He was suspended for the first two games in 2014 due to "conditioning" problems. He's a guy that the team that drafts him is going to have to keep a close eye on. On top of that, Harrison lacks a mean streak and plays with far too much finesse as well as a highly inconsistent motor. He definitely looks like a lazy player on the field at times. He's a guy that you're going to have to light a fire under him. As a run blocker, Harrison just looks to block his man and sustain the block rather than dominate him. He doesn't drive him off the LOS or out of the hole like a man with his power and size should. He also doesn't look to bury or finish his man. He's an effective enough run blocker but he should be dominant with his size, strength, and athleticism. That all said, Harrison is the most physically gifted OG in this class and if he actually had his head screwed on right, he'd be a first round pick. I think it's worth taking the risk here in the fourth round on a guy with his sort of upside. I hope that Fisher and Boudreau will be able to motivate him and the Rams will find a way to help him keep his weight under control. Because if that happens, you have a kid that can be a dominant OG and a swing OT. In fact, Harrison kind of reminds me of Shawn Andrews. Hopefully, we can keep Harrison's head screwed on for longer than Andrews's because Andrews was an elite player until he fell apart mentally and physically after his fourth year.
Round 6 Pick #40 - DeAndre Smelter WR Georgia Tech
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjlTPD4BHQo
Analysis: I'm not buying that he'll be here. I still think that someone will recognize his talent and scoop him up in the 4th or 5th round but he's ranked lowly on the draft sites and I just want a reason to toss him in this draft. As I've said before many times, this is a kid with outstanding physical talent and the type of attitude I love in big WRs(aggressive bully). He's 6'2" 225 with speed to stretch the defenses deep, the strength to break tackles after the catch, and the quickness to make people miss as well as make hard cuts on his routes. He's raw and tore his ACL late in 2014 but if he were healthy, I think he'd have put himself in contention for a first round pick at the Combine. He's that talented imo.
Round 7 Pick #32 - Donald Celiscar CB/S Western Michigan
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTJAbl2cbRM
Analysis: Another player that I think quite highly of and that I think will likely be off the board this point in the draft but again, the draft sites have him rated in this area. Celiscar is a physical CB that is not afraid to come up in run support. His lack of long speed has some believing he should move to safety due to the aforementioned physicality and run support. I think he'd be a great safety but I also think he's capable of playing CB in the NFL. Likely in the slot. I love his instincts, feet, and hip fluidity. He anticipates routes well and gets a great break on the ball. He's a very aggressive kid that sticks to his man like glue. Faster WRs can get behind him deep but he's feisty and will make them absolutely earn it. The big thing I loved seeing while watching him is that he brought his "A" game when playing more talented teams and really stood out. Also, Celiscar is a former WR and plays like it. He has great ball-skills and is very comfortable playing the ball even with his back to it.
Starting Line-up
QB: Nick Foles
HB: Tre Mason
FB: Cory Harkey
XWR: Brian Quick
ZWR: Kenny Britt
SLWR: Tavon Austin
TE: Jared Cook
LT: Greg Robinson
LG: A.J. Cann
C: Barrett Jones
RG: Rodger Saffold
RT: T.J. Clemmings
LDE: Chris Long
NT: Michael Brockers
UT: Aaron Donald
RDE: Robert Quinn
OLB: Alec Ogletree
MLB: James Laurinaitis
SPUR: Mark Barron
LCB: E.J. Gaines
RCB: Janoris Jenkins
NCB: Trumaine Johnson (Gaines moves into the slot when all three are on the field)
FS: Rodney McLeod
SS: T.J. McDonald
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
KR: Benny Cunningham
PR: Tavon Austin
I realize all the rookie starters (as well as young players on top of that in Greg Robinson and Barrett Jones) isn't ideal but I am working within the constraints I set out. If it were my choice, I'd like to go into the draft with AT LEAST one of Joe Barksdale and Justin Blalock but I wanted to do a mock with no trades and without signing either one since that's the situation we're CURRENTLY in.(hoping it will change soon)
P.S. for all of those worried about the WR corp...2016 looks like it'll have a nice group as well so if we have to wait until next year...don't fret. Tyler Boyd (#23) from Pittsburgh is going to be a great prospect...kid is nasty. And you got guys like LaQuon Treadwell(Ole Miss), Rashard Higgins(Colorado State), Duke Williams(Auburn), and Mike Williams(Clemson). It's also going to be a talented class.
http://www.ramsondemand.com/threads/memphisram-3-round-mock-draft-1-0.36309/
I am going to pretend that the Rams did not sign (or re-sign) any FAs prior to the draft.(as disappointed as I would be if that happened)
Trade
St. Louis Rams trade Round 3 Pick #8 and 2016 4th Round Pick
New England Patriots trade Round 2 Pick #32
I did include one trade, Memphis, but since we're trading up and not gaining picks, I figured it was fair game.
NFL Draft
Round 1 Pick #10 - T.J. Clemmings OT Pittsburgh
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPpSi723eM
Analysis: This may not be the most popular pick because people are worried about his perceived rawness but that won't stop me from drafting the highest rated guy on my board. The draft is about more than just 2015. Yes, Clemmings will have some rookies moments if asked to start at RT but he also has the ability to develop into one of the best OTs in the NFL.(not just RT...either side) He's easily the most athletically gifted OT in this class boasting quick feet, great balance, smooth, fluid and graceful movement skills, and arguably the best power of any OT in this class. Clemmings is already a dominating run blocker despite still having some technical flaws to clean up in that department.
As a pass blocker, Clemmings is raw but insanely talented. He has the range and movement skills to handle any type of rusher but needs to learn to trust his feet and technique as he climbs deeper into the back-field. Clemmings also needs to not involve his head in his punch as it leaves him vulnerable to arm over swim moves and adversely affects his balance. Additionally, Clemmings needs to work on his footwork while sliding and his punch placement especially on counter moves to the inside. That all said, Clemmings has come a long way as a player and should continue to develop with even better coaching at the next level. As long as he doesn't lose confidence, he has the ability to be as good as he wants to be as a pass blocker...he just needs time, coaching, and experience.
Round 2 Pick #9 - A.J. Cann OG/C South Carolina
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlwRR2-tr_w
Analysis: A.J. Cann is the best pure OG in this class but actually got a lot of work at Center at his Pro Day and was recruited out of high school as a Center. He would be an interesting developmental prospect at Center for down the line that can contribute immediately as a rookie at OG. As a LG, Cann is a brutish run blocker combining sound footwork with great power and leverage. He's explosive out of his stance, consistently the low man, and drives his feet through contact. Cann has a mean streak and looks to bury guys in the run game. He'd immediately bolster our run game and his experience in South Carolina's zone blocking scheme will help him at the next level because it bolstered his understanding of angles and positions and gave him a lot of experience blocking on the move.
As a pass protector, Cann has a few technical issues to clean up but should be able to hold his own until they're cleaned up. Cann has the natural mirroring ability, anchor, power, and athleticism to develop into a very good pass protecting LG. He needs to improve his punch and hand placement in the passing game. His punch can be a bit weak because he doesn't time it right and he has a tendency to allow his punches to land outside the chest-plate. Cann also needs to do a better job of sitting back in his stance as he'll get caught leaning at times but his bend is not at all an issue so that should be something that will be easy to clean up. Cann also needs to do a better job of redirecting vs. quicker DTs especially on swim moves as he will sometimes stop moving his feet when getting spun on by a quick DT. Regardless, Cann's technical issues are very fixable and nothing overly worrisome at this stage.
Round 2 Pick #32 - Garrett Grayson QB Colorado State
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fwhKKXII_g
Analysis: The Rams see Bryce Petty go off the board a few picks ahead of Grayson and decide that they want to get in front of the teams picking at the beginning of Round 3 to make sure they can land their guy. Garrett Grayson does not have outstanding physical tools but he makes up for his average physical talent with great instincts, sound mechanics, and consistent ball placement. Grayson's arm strength is middle of the pack and would likely be considered below average for a current NFL starter but it is adequate for the next level. Due to his polished footwork, he gets good zip on the majority of throws. Some of the deeper throws to the sideline can be tough for him. However, him and Nick Foles both are similar in terms of arm strength so Grayson's arm is more than enough. Grayson really shines in ball placement. His polished footwork, throwing base, and upper body mechanics allow him to throw a very consistent ball. He is coming from a pro style offense so he's used to throwing pro style routes and locates the football well especially on deep routes. Grayson also shows nice touch on the ball although he needs to do a better job of lofting it when trying to get over the LOS without a throwing lane as he had some issues in college with batted passes. Grayson also had a slight hitch in the back side of his throwing motion but has reportedly been working this off-season to clean that up.
Grayson's poise under pressure, pocket presence, and pocket movement are some of the most impressive parts of his game. Grayson feels pressure and understands how to slide in the pocket to find and create space while still keeping his eyes down-field. Grayson also understands when to take a sack and protect the football. His OL was inconsistent so he dealt with quite a bit of pressure and has a lot of experience standing tall and making accurate throws with the knowledge that he's about to get hit. He's a very tough kid (played through an ankle injury during the season despite it visibly hobbling him in some games...and played well). Grayson also has flashed NFL caliber anticipation (seen him start his motion on quite a few NFL out routes before the WR has even began gearing down to make his break) although he needs to be more consistent with it, his timing, and his internal clock. Will throw late at times or hold onto the ball too long at times but this should improve with experience and coaching at the next level. Grayson has shown the ability to work through NFL style route combinations and progressions. He will hit the checkdown when nothing is there or throw it away when necessary. He's a good decision maker that protects the ball. He needs to be more deceptive with his eyes as he will lock onto targets at times. Grayson also needs to be more consistent with his timing in moving through progressions. His mental processing speed looks great at times and at other times, he's slow to come off his first read. But again, these are things that typically improve in the NFL. I like Grayson a lot as a prospect. I think he's got the ability to develop into a starter for a team at the next level.
Round 4 Pick #20 - Jarvis Harrison OG/OT Texas A&M
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlqJS2BVwxI
Analysis: Jarvis Harrison really has no business being around this late in the draft. It's likely that a lot of you don't really know much about Harrison. Here's some interesting info on Harrison...at the Combine, Harrison bested La'el Collins in the 10 yard dash(1.77 vs. 1.87), in the vertical jump(29.5 inches vs. 27 inches), in the short shuttle(4.62 vs. 4.63), and the 3 cone drill(7.51 vs. 7.70). Collins only bested Harrison in the broad jump(9 feet vs. 8.5 feet). Now here's the kicker...Harrison did all that at 330 pounds...that's 25 pounds heavier than Collins. Jarvis Harrison is a 6'4" 330 pound OG with the athleticism and feet of a NFL OT(arguably a NFL LT). He also has enough length to play LT or RT when needed(6'4" with 33.5 inch arms). Harrison's pass protection skills are incredibly impressive despite a few technical flaws in his punch timing and hand placement. His ability to sustain blocks in pass protection is incredible. This is a kid that has experience at LG, RG, and RT. Hell, he even slid out to LT this year against Missouri and Auburn and showed the foot speed to handle the LT spot. So why is Harrison still around in the 4th round?
There are a couple big reasons why. The first one is that there are some major concerns about Harrison's ability to keep his weight in check. He was suspended for the first two games in 2014 due to "conditioning" problems. He's a guy that the team that drafts him is going to have to keep a close eye on. On top of that, Harrison lacks a mean streak and plays with far too much finesse as well as a highly inconsistent motor. He definitely looks like a lazy player on the field at times. He's a guy that you're going to have to light a fire under him. As a run blocker, Harrison just looks to block his man and sustain the block rather than dominate him. He doesn't drive him off the LOS or out of the hole like a man with his power and size should. He also doesn't look to bury or finish his man. He's an effective enough run blocker but he should be dominant with his size, strength, and athleticism. That all said, Harrison is the most physically gifted OG in this class and if he actually had his head screwed on right, he'd be a first round pick. I think it's worth taking the risk here in the fourth round on a guy with his sort of upside. I hope that Fisher and Boudreau will be able to motivate him and the Rams will find a way to help him keep his weight under control. Because if that happens, you have a kid that can be a dominant OG and a swing OT. In fact, Harrison kind of reminds me of Shawn Andrews. Hopefully, we can keep Harrison's head screwed on for longer than Andrews's because Andrews was an elite player until he fell apart mentally and physically after his fourth year.
Round 6 Pick #40 - DeAndre Smelter WR Georgia Tech
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjlTPD4BHQo
Analysis: I'm not buying that he'll be here. I still think that someone will recognize his talent and scoop him up in the 4th or 5th round but he's ranked lowly on the draft sites and I just want a reason to toss him in this draft. As I've said before many times, this is a kid with outstanding physical talent and the type of attitude I love in big WRs(aggressive bully). He's 6'2" 225 with speed to stretch the defenses deep, the strength to break tackles after the catch, and the quickness to make people miss as well as make hard cuts on his routes. He's raw and tore his ACL late in 2014 but if he were healthy, I think he'd have put himself in contention for a first round pick at the Combine. He's that talented imo.
Round 7 Pick #32 - Donald Celiscar CB/S Western Michigan
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTJAbl2cbRM
Analysis: Another player that I think quite highly of and that I think will likely be off the board this point in the draft but again, the draft sites have him rated in this area. Celiscar is a physical CB that is not afraid to come up in run support. His lack of long speed has some believing he should move to safety due to the aforementioned physicality and run support. I think he'd be a great safety but I also think he's capable of playing CB in the NFL. Likely in the slot. I love his instincts, feet, and hip fluidity. He anticipates routes well and gets a great break on the ball. He's a very aggressive kid that sticks to his man like glue. Faster WRs can get behind him deep but he's feisty and will make them absolutely earn it. The big thing I loved seeing while watching him is that he brought his "A" game when playing more talented teams and really stood out. Also, Celiscar is a former WR and plays like it. He has great ball-skills and is very comfortable playing the ball even with his back to it.
Starting Line-up
QB: Nick Foles
HB: Tre Mason
FB: Cory Harkey
XWR: Brian Quick
ZWR: Kenny Britt
SLWR: Tavon Austin
TE: Jared Cook
LT: Greg Robinson
LG: A.J. Cann
C: Barrett Jones
RG: Rodger Saffold
RT: T.J. Clemmings
LDE: Chris Long
NT: Michael Brockers
UT: Aaron Donald
RDE: Robert Quinn
OLB: Alec Ogletree
MLB: James Laurinaitis
SPUR: Mark Barron
LCB: E.J. Gaines
RCB: Janoris Jenkins
NCB: Trumaine Johnson (Gaines moves into the slot when all three are on the field)
FS: Rodney McLeod
SS: T.J. McDonald
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
KR: Benny Cunningham
PR: Tavon Austin
I realize all the rookie starters (as well as young players on top of that in Greg Robinson and Barrett Jones) isn't ideal but I am working within the constraints I set out. If it were my choice, I'd like to go into the draft with AT LEAST one of Joe Barksdale and Justin Blalock but I wanted to do a mock with no trades and without signing either one since that's the situation we're CURRENTLY in.(hoping it will change soon)
P.S. for all of those worried about the WR corp...2016 looks like it'll have a nice group as well so if we have to wait until next year...don't fret. Tyler Boyd (#23) from Pittsburgh is going to be a great prospect...kid is nasty. And you got guys like LaQuon Treadwell(Ole Miss), Rashard Higgins(Colorado State), Duke Williams(Auburn), and Mike Williams(Clemson). It's also going to be a talented class.