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We've seen the Rams make some big moves in FA. I'm very happy that we were able to get Whitworth to join the squad. I'm looking forward to seeing what we do next. I wanted to change things up a bit compared to my past mocks. Thus, I decided not to put in guys like T.J. Watt, Ahkello Witherspoon, Ishmael Zamora, etc. Know that I still love those guys, but I wanted to toss out a different scenario. In this mock, I assume that Trumaine Johnson is NOT traded.
Additional Free Agent Signings
Kayvon Webster CB
Benny Cunningham HB
Greg Zuerlein K
Ryan Groy C
The Rams decide to bring back Benny and Zuerlein as both serve valuable roles. Webster joins the team to compete at CB and play special teams. Groy joins as the starting Center. He played well while filling in for Eric Wood last year and has the size and strength that Kromer loves on the interior.
Trade
Los Angeles Rams trade Round 2 Pick #5 and Round 4 Pick #34
Denver Broncos trade Round 2 Pick #19, Round 3 Pick #37, and Round 4 Pick #19
This trade comes out to even on the value chart, the Broncos have an extra third because of the comp pick, and the Broncos need OL help in the worst way. Moving up allows Denver to grab one of the top OLs in the second round. It allows us to grab an extra pick after giving up our first and comp third in the Goff trade.
NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #19 - Jordan Willis OLB Kansas State
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg4X-8fNx0A
Summary: Willis blew up the Combine by vastly outperforming expectations. Coming into the Combine, Willis was seen as a hard-working, high-effort rusher who used his powerful punch and polished hand use to win off the edge. At 6'4" 255, Willis posted a 4.52 40, 39 inch vertical jump, and a 6.85 three cone drill. Bill Snyder raved about Willis's character and work habits. He has shown the ability to stack and shed blocks against the run and threaten the edge as a pass rusher. Willis needs to improve in his creativity as a pass rusher, needs to develop an inside move (especially an inside counter), and needs to learn to better convert his explosive speed to power. All in all, Willis offers double digit sack upside as an edge rusher, strong football character, and polished skills. He should be able to step in and play early in his career.
Round 3 Pick #5 - Jourdan Lewis CB Michigan
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp3mHua_jSQ
Summary: A year ago, it would have been blasphemy to argue that Lewis could fall this far, but it seems like it's more and more a possibility. This is an absolutely stacked CB class, and unfortunately for Lewis, he's 5'10" 188 with a 4.54 40. He had a very average Combine while players like Fabian Moreau, Ahkello Witherspoon, Kevin King, Chidobe Awuzie, and Gareon Conley dominated. Realistically, Lewis should go a round earlier than this, but it's hard to justify taking the 5'10" CB with 4.54 speed over the 6'3" CB with 4.45 speed. In terms of on the field play, Lewis is a tenacious competitor with outstanding feet, fluid hips, and good ball-skills. He can get a little grabby at times, but he's smothering in coverage. Lewis offers a skill-set that can be very productive in the slot and outside on the boundary. However, despite his short stature, Lewis does his best work from press man because of his long arms (relative to his size), sound technique, and exceptional agility.
Round 3 Pick #37 - K.D. Cannon WR Baylor
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbZ0NORzw-Y
Summary: We need a guy who can take on the DeSean Jackson role in the offense, and that is K.D. Cannon's specialty. Cannon ran a limited route tree at Baylor and had some drop issues during his career. However, Cannon has otherworldly speed on the football field. He has explosive acceleration followed by leave them in the dust top-end speed. Cannon's speed is so intimidating that CBs struggle to cover him on stop routes because they open their hips too early to run with him. While Cannon drops some easy passes, he also tracks the deep ball incredibly well and made a number of tough contested catches while at Baylor. Despite his 5'11" 182 pound frame, Cannon is a tough, physical player who will lower the shoulder at the end of a run and work the middle with no regard for his safety. Cannon needs quite a bit of development as a route runner, but he should see the field early due to his vertical speed.
Round 4 Pick #5 - Sidney Jones CB Washington
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laZlf2rLe00
Summary: It's a true shame that Jones tore his achilles tendon at his Pro Day. Fortunately, we might be able to capitalize on it. Prior to his injury, Jones was considered a first round lock. After his injury, he could slide as far as the fourth round. Jones has been compared to Marcus Peters without the character problems. He is a CB who specializes in press coverage and getting his hands on the football. He's a twitchy athlete who uses his hands well in press, mirrors WRs at a high level, and uses his high football IQ to bait QBs into bad throws. Jones needs to get a bit stronger for the NFL, as bigger WRs like Juju Smith pushed him around in college. That all said, Jones has the athletic skill-set, ball-skills, character, and football IQ to be one of the best CBs in the NFL. He's an ideal fit for Wade's press man heavy scheme if he returns to form in 2018 following his injury.
Round 4 Pick #19 - Eddie Vanderdoes NT/DE UCLA
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10CtPc_VaGw
Summary: Vanderdoes is an interesting player due to his backstory. He was a top ranked recruit out of HS who put a lot of good play on film between major injuries in college. Vanderdoes played heavier in 2016 than I would want him to play in the NFL (he was around 6'3" 325). He was pretty much immovable against the run, but it limited his ability to penetrate. Vanderdoes came into the Combine at 6'3" 305 and ran an impressive 4.99 40. Vanderdoes is country strong and uses it to stack blocks and disrupt the run game. As a pass rusher, he's pretty raw at this stage. He's been described as a bull in a china shop. He goes all out in terms of effort but plays a bit out of control. Still, Vanderdoes has a lot of potential if he stays healthy and should be at home attacking in Wade's scheme. As it is now, he has the ability to be a a quality run stopper with the potential to maybe develop into a solid to good pass rusher down the line.
Round 5 Pick #5 - George Kittle TE Iowa
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNsmmz6t5TI
Summary: George Kittle is one of the most interesting guys in this class. He was unheralded going into the Combine out of Iowa. He had solid production as a pass catcher in college but nothing eye popping (other than his yards per catch average). At the Combine, the 6'4" 247 pound Kittle surprised a lot of people by running a 4.52 40 and posting incredible jump numbers for a man his size. However, Kittle is more than just an athlete. What separates Kittle from your typical athletic project is that Kittle is a phenomenal blocking TE. Kirk Ferentz puts out a lot of polished TEs and OLs from Iowa. Kittle is another guy cut from that cloth as a blocker. He is a tenacious run blocker who uses his athleticism, body control, polished technique, and quality strength to create lanes in the run game and take his defender out of the play. Kittle plays through the whistle as a blocker and looks to bury his man. As a pass catcher, he's still developing as a route runner, but he has shown that he has the athleticism, YAC skills, and hands to be a factor.
Round 6 Pick #5 - Ryan Switzer WR North Carolina
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoF_rGPdyQ8
Summary: I expect people will tell me that we have enough slot WRs, but I like competition. Switzer was a highly productive college player for North Carolina who also returned 7 punts for touchdowns during his college career. He's every stereotype you hear for a short, white slot WR. He doesn't drop passes, he's a twitched up athlete who creates separation out of his breaks, he feasts on zone defenses, and he gives max effort on every play. Switzer would compete with Pharoh Cooper and Nelson Spruce for the Jamison Crowder role in the offense. He has a lot of potential as a chain moving option route specialist in the slot.
Round 6 Pick #22 - Joshua Holsey CB Auburn
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-MJCkkQ1Bs&t=49s
Summary: Holsey is another guy on my list of underrated CBs. This is such a deep and talented class that a guy like Holsey can go unnoticed. Holsey had two torn ACLs in his career, so that is a concern with him. However, he has exceptionally quick feet, the speed to run with WRs deep, loose hips, and good ball-skills. He can get a little grabby at times, but as we all know, some CBs use that to their advantage (*cough* Richard Sherman). Holsey is a CB who hides it well and uses it to his advantage. Holsey handled a number of top college WRs, including Mike Williams, during his senior season at Auburn.
Round 7 Pick #16 - Joey Ivie DE Florida
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w496Aftsryg
Summary: Ivie is flying under the radar right now. He's an underrated athlete with a relentless motor who has the ability to be a productive rotational interior DL at the NFL level. Ivie uses his hands well and does a nice job of stacking and shedding blocks in the run game. He's athletic enough to disrupt plays in the back-field and pressure QBs in the passing game. I think there's a strong chance that Joey Ivie's best football is ahead of him. He fits what Wade Phillips often looks for in his DEs.
Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
FB: Cory Harkey
XWR: Robert Woods
ZWR: K.D. Cannon vs. Mike Thomas
SLWR: Tavon Austin
TE: Tyler Higbee
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Rodger Saffold
C: Ryan Groy
RG: Greg Robinson
RT: Rob Havenstein
LDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Eddie Vanderdoes
RDE: Aaron Donald
LOLB: Jordan Willis
LILB: Mark Barron
RILB: Alec Ogletree
ROLB: Robert Quinn
LCB: Trumaine Johnson
RCB: Kayvon Webster vs. E.J. Gaines
SLCB: Jourdan Lewis
FS: LaMarcus Joyner
SS: Maurice Alexander
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
KR: Benny Cunningham
PR: Tavon Austin
Additional Free Agent Signings
Kayvon Webster CB
Benny Cunningham HB
Greg Zuerlein K
Ryan Groy C
The Rams decide to bring back Benny and Zuerlein as both serve valuable roles. Webster joins the team to compete at CB and play special teams. Groy joins as the starting Center. He played well while filling in for Eric Wood last year and has the size and strength that Kromer loves on the interior.
Trade
Los Angeles Rams trade Round 2 Pick #5 and Round 4 Pick #34
Denver Broncos trade Round 2 Pick #19, Round 3 Pick #37, and Round 4 Pick #19
This trade comes out to even on the value chart, the Broncos have an extra third because of the comp pick, and the Broncos need OL help in the worst way. Moving up allows Denver to grab one of the top OLs in the second round. It allows us to grab an extra pick after giving up our first and comp third in the Goff trade.
NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #19 - Jordan Willis OLB Kansas State
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg4X-8fNx0A
Summary: Willis blew up the Combine by vastly outperforming expectations. Coming into the Combine, Willis was seen as a hard-working, high-effort rusher who used his powerful punch and polished hand use to win off the edge. At 6'4" 255, Willis posted a 4.52 40, 39 inch vertical jump, and a 6.85 three cone drill. Bill Snyder raved about Willis's character and work habits. He has shown the ability to stack and shed blocks against the run and threaten the edge as a pass rusher. Willis needs to improve in his creativity as a pass rusher, needs to develop an inside move (especially an inside counter), and needs to learn to better convert his explosive speed to power. All in all, Willis offers double digit sack upside as an edge rusher, strong football character, and polished skills. He should be able to step in and play early in his career.
Round 3 Pick #5 - Jourdan Lewis CB Michigan
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp3mHua_jSQ
Summary: A year ago, it would have been blasphemy to argue that Lewis could fall this far, but it seems like it's more and more a possibility. This is an absolutely stacked CB class, and unfortunately for Lewis, he's 5'10" 188 with a 4.54 40. He had a very average Combine while players like Fabian Moreau, Ahkello Witherspoon, Kevin King, Chidobe Awuzie, and Gareon Conley dominated. Realistically, Lewis should go a round earlier than this, but it's hard to justify taking the 5'10" CB with 4.54 speed over the 6'3" CB with 4.45 speed. In terms of on the field play, Lewis is a tenacious competitor with outstanding feet, fluid hips, and good ball-skills. He can get a little grabby at times, but he's smothering in coverage. Lewis offers a skill-set that can be very productive in the slot and outside on the boundary. However, despite his short stature, Lewis does his best work from press man because of his long arms (relative to his size), sound technique, and exceptional agility.
Round 3 Pick #37 - K.D. Cannon WR Baylor
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbZ0NORzw-Y
Summary: We need a guy who can take on the DeSean Jackson role in the offense, and that is K.D. Cannon's specialty. Cannon ran a limited route tree at Baylor and had some drop issues during his career. However, Cannon has otherworldly speed on the football field. He has explosive acceleration followed by leave them in the dust top-end speed. Cannon's speed is so intimidating that CBs struggle to cover him on stop routes because they open their hips too early to run with him. While Cannon drops some easy passes, he also tracks the deep ball incredibly well and made a number of tough contested catches while at Baylor. Despite his 5'11" 182 pound frame, Cannon is a tough, physical player who will lower the shoulder at the end of a run and work the middle with no regard for his safety. Cannon needs quite a bit of development as a route runner, but he should see the field early due to his vertical speed.
Round 4 Pick #5 - Sidney Jones CB Washington
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laZlf2rLe00
Summary: It's a true shame that Jones tore his achilles tendon at his Pro Day. Fortunately, we might be able to capitalize on it. Prior to his injury, Jones was considered a first round lock. After his injury, he could slide as far as the fourth round. Jones has been compared to Marcus Peters without the character problems. He is a CB who specializes in press coverage and getting his hands on the football. He's a twitchy athlete who uses his hands well in press, mirrors WRs at a high level, and uses his high football IQ to bait QBs into bad throws. Jones needs to get a bit stronger for the NFL, as bigger WRs like Juju Smith pushed him around in college. That all said, Jones has the athletic skill-set, ball-skills, character, and football IQ to be one of the best CBs in the NFL. He's an ideal fit for Wade's press man heavy scheme if he returns to form in 2018 following his injury.
Round 4 Pick #19 - Eddie Vanderdoes NT/DE UCLA
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10CtPc_VaGw
Summary: Vanderdoes is an interesting player due to his backstory. He was a top ranked recruit out of HS who put a lot of good play on film between major injuries in college. Vanderdoes played heavier in 2016 than I would want him to play in the NFL (he was around 6'3" 325). He was pretty much immovable against the run, but it limited his ability to penetrate. Vanderdoes came into the Combine at 6'3" 305 and ran an impressive 4.99 40. Vanderdoes is country strong and uses it to stack blocks and disrupt the run game. As a pass rusher, he's pretty raw at this stage. He's been described as a bull in a china shop. He goes all out in terms of effort but plays a bit out of control. Still, Vanderdoes has a lot of potential if he stays healthy and should be at home attacking in Wade's scheme. As it is now, he has the ability to be a a quality run stopper with the potential to maybe develop into a solid to good pass rusher down the line.
Round 5 Pick #5 - George Kittle TE Iowa
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNsmmz6t5TI
Summary: George Kittle is one of the most interesting guys in this class. He was unheralded going into the Combine out of Iowa. He had solid production as a pass catcher in college but nothing eye popping (other than his yards per catch average). At the Combine, the 6'4" 247 pound Kittle surprised a lot of people by running a 4.52 40 and posting incredible jump numbers for a man his size. However, Kittle is more than just an athlete. What separates Kittle from your typical athletic project is that Kittle is a phenomenal blocking TE. Kirk Ferentz puts out a lot of polished TEs and OLs from Iowa. Kittle is another guy cut from that cloth as a blocker. He is a tenacious run blocker who uses his athleticism, body control, polished technique, and quality strength to create lanes in the run game and take his defender out of the play. Kittle plays through the whistle as a blocker and looks to bury his man. As a pass catcher, he's still developing as a route runner, but he has shown that he has the athleticism, YAC skills, and hands to be a factor.
Round 6 Pick #5 - Ryan Switzer WR North Carolina
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoF_rGPdyQ8
Summary: I expect people will tell me that we have enough slot WRs, but I like competition. Switzer was a highly productive college player for North Carolina who also returned 7 punts for touchdowns during his college career. He's every stereotype you hear for a short, white slot WR. He doesn't drop passes, he's a twitched up athlete who creates separation out of his breaks, he feasts on zone defenses, and he gives max effort on every play. Switzer would compete with Pharoh Cooper and Nelson Spruce for the Jamison Crowder role in the offense. He has a lot of potential as a chain moving option route specialist in the slot.
Round 6 Pick #22 - Joshua Holsey CB Auburn
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-MJCkkQ1Bs&t=49s
Summary: Holsey is another guy on my list of underrated CBs. This is such a deep and talented class that a guy like Holsey can go unnoticed. Holsey had two torn ACLs in his career, so that is a concern with him. However, he has exceptionally quick feet, the speed to run with WRs deep, loose hips, and good ball-skills. He can get a little grabby at times, but as we all know, some CBs use that to their advantage (*cough* Richard Sherman). Holsey is a CB who hides it well and uses it to his advantage. Holsey handled a number of top college WRs, including Mike Williams, during his senior season at Auburn.
Round 7 Pick #16 - Joey Ivie DE Florida
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w496Aftsryg
Summary: Ivie is flying under the radar right now. He's an underrated athlete with a relentless motor who has the ability to be a productive rotational interior DL at the NFL level. Ivie uses his hands well and does a nice job of stacking and shedding blocks in the run game. He's athletic enough to disrupt plays in the back-field and pressure QBs in the passing game. I think there's a strong chance that Joey Ivie's best football is ahead of him. He fits what Wade Phillips often looks for in his DEs.
Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
FB: Cory Harkey
XWR: Robert Woods
ZWR: K.D. Cannon vs. Mike Thomas
SLWR: Tavon Austin
TE: Tyler Higbee
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Rodger Saffold
C: Ryan Groy
RG: Greg Robinson
RT: Rob Havenstein
LDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Eddie Vanderdoes
RDE: Aaron Donald
LOLB: Jordan Willis
LILB: Mark Barron
RILB: Alec Ogletree
ROLB: Robert Quinn
LCB: Trumaine Johnson
RCB: Kayvon Webster vs. E.J. Gaines
SLCB: Jourdan Lewis
FS: LaMarcus Joyner
SS: Maurice Alexander
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
KR: Benny Cunningham
PR: Tavon Austin
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