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LA Rams Top 5 positional rankings: Offense edition
LA Rams 2020 NFL Draft Top 5 positional rankings: Offense edition. Complete insight and information about the best players for this year's draft.
ramblinfan.com
LA Rams 2020 NFL Draft Top 5 positional rankings: Offense edition
The 2020 NFL Draft is coming in a week’s time, and the LA Rams are in deep need in several crucial positions. After all, the team faced losing up to 18 players this off-season, distributed fairly evenly between offense and defense. Most of the impact players lost this off-season due to expired contracts were on the defense.
Still, the Rams forced the issue on offense. The team released running back Todd Gurley, followed by trading away speedy wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Offensively speaking, it seemed as though that the only need was improving the talent level at the offensive line.
But, changes came. And they can still come before the clock is running for the Rams during the draft. Of course, the team could always use insurance where they still need to secure some crucial players to an extension (i.e. Cooper Kupp).
Could a top prospect slide down and fall into LA’s lap? Or will Les Snead and Sean McVay make yet another draft trade to secure their top guy? For all we can say and wish, these are the top five players at each position; put your crosshairs at your favorite, because we are about to shoot!
LA Rams NFL Draft Board quarterback class of 2020
1.- Joe Burrow (LSU): The top prospect for many; a great leader and player, good traits that can make him day 1 starter. Burrow is everything you want from a quarterback. His intelligence, poise, and awareness are well above average. Has the arm strength to throw deep dimes and to zip the football in tight spots. Best prospect since Andrew Luck; Zac Taylor will be very happy to have him
2.- Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama): If not because of his injury history and the raise of Burrow, he would’ve been the top prospect. Let’s be honest, QB is the most coveted position in all of the NFL, and Tua is really good at it. Many teams will fight for the right to draft for him. His best pass came in the National Championship against Georgia in overtime, where he threw a complete dime to walk it off. He is relentless but brittle. Brittle because he has sustained many injuries (some severe) and that would be my only concern. His durability is a high concern for NFL teams as well. He could and should have success with an above-average offensive line and a good running game, but when pressured, he might just have to take the sack or get rid of it in order to protect himself, and that could come costly. Should avoid extending plays too much as he is used to.
3.- Jake Fromm (Georgia): He might not be as flashy as most of the top quarterbacks of this list, but he stands the second readiest and at the top of safest pick. Arm strength is average, but intelligence is above. His pre-snap work will get you going and might draw defensive players with his eyes. Excellent decision maker that could do well if plugged into a scheme that has a great coach but is just lacking a QB (ahem, Bill Belichik’s Patriots).
4.- Jordan Love (Utah State): The next Patrick Mahomes? Nah, don’t put that type of pressure on a kid. I see more flaws in his game than I did when Mahomes came out, to be honest, but he has that modern-day QB mobility and precision on the move that can wow you in a second. He had a down year, but let’s attribute some of that to the absence of 9 starters, and the change of Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator that he suffered in 2019. Still, he needs to cut back on those crunch time mistakes if he wants to be a starter in this league for a long time.
5.- James Morgan (FIU)/Justin Herbert (Oregon): A surprise by all means. Florida Atlantic University had a gem in the rough; James Morgan got a better look at the East-West Shrine Game where he absolutely dominated. He may need a couple of years to still develop, but the traits are all there, good footwork, feel and progression reading will have him barely cracking day 2, and with no immediate pressure, this could be the right bet.
Herbert had a great year, but he still needs to get a feel of an NFL type of playbook. With the right coach (i.e. Panthers Matt Rhule) that transition could be smooth. He still needs to develop some traits and would benefit for a year or two out, not as needy like James Morgan for development, but sure would be wise to do so.
LA Rams NFL Draft Board running back class of 2020
1.- Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin) A true bell-cow with enormous patience, Taylor is my top at the position, and for good reason. He basically had 2,000 yards each of his three seasons rushing as a Badger (1st was 1,977, but you get my point), finished 3rd, 1st and 3rd on total rushing yards each season respectively, and had a massive 6.7 yards-per-carry throughout his career. The only downside I could hold against him is his mileage (926 attempts in three years) and lack of receiving showcase (42 total receptions).
2.- Clyde Edwards-Helaire (LSU) We will be seeing a lot of LSU Tigers in most top 5’s and Big Boards, but don’t be fooled, CEH is the real deal. After taking the backseat to Derrius Guice (2017) and Nick Brossette (2018), Clyde took the job to never look back; he displayed great vision, patience, awareness, and added that little extra in the passing game showcasing great hands, and good blocking abilities. The team that gets him will have a special player.
3.- D’Andre Swift (Georgia): Oh, the Georgia Bulldogs running program, it feels like each and every year they contribute with yet another star to the NFL, and D’Andre Swift is no short of it. He displays an NFL veteran-like type of game and makes it even better with soft and polished hands; a true three-down back, with good vision and the right tempo to command most of the backfield touches. He has to improve his ball security abilities in order to do so.
4.- Cam Akers (Florida State): One of the lone bright spots in this Florida State team the past couple of years, Akers made the most out of his opportunities. Well balanced rusher, capable of handling blocking duties. He will not explode for big runs, but rather be more effective between the tackles type of runner. He can very well be an excellent complement to a running tandem.
5.- Eno Benjamin (Arizona State): Undersized? For some. Did that stop him? Hell no! Benjamin can run and can disguise you whenever, wherever, inside or outside; great hesitation to provoke missed tackles and wait for the holes to open. He sometimes waits too long or tries unscheduled things that were not on the script, but he can certainly hit a home-run down the middle.
LA Rams NFL Draft Board-wide receiver class of 2020
1.- Justin Jefferson (LSU): I know some prospects will cause some cringing on this list, but after all, for me, Jefferson is the number one receiving target in this year’s draft.
Jefferson is big, with a nice catching ability, and an amazing radius that makes him a mismatch in most of the contested catches. Justin has been the most reliable WR for the Tigers the past few seasons, and that led him to be first in the nation in receptions (111), second in touchdown receptions (18) and third in yards (1,540). He has deceiving speed and is freaky fast for a WR with his size. Don’t sleep on him.
2.- Jerry Jeudy (Alabama)/Ceedee Lamb (Oklahoma): For most, the best in this year’s draft is Jerry Jeudy, and he doesn’t fall short of impressive. The former Bielitnikoff award winner was one of the most reliable receivers for QB star Tua Tagovailoa. Strong, super skilled, and with one of the best route running you will see this year, Jeudy is poised to command some attention at the top of the draft. He can run routes either from the X, the Y or the Z positions can be a deep threat or a possession receiver, he just can do it all.
Not so far from him stands CeeDee Lamb, maybe the most complete receiver in this year’s class. A clear threat in every level of the field, in every route spot, and in every catching point. with two-hand catches, body catches, one-handed, Lamb will not disappoint you. But maybe his most impressive feature in that sneaky second gear he has, and he uses it pretty well for both separation and generating a ridiculous amount of yards after the catch. A true number one that will go fast, the former Sooner is legit.
3.- Henry Ruggs III (Alabama): There are many definitions for a fast running player: fast, deceptively fast, in-game fast has blazing speed, etc. Well, Ruggs is the very definition of eating dust. He is faster than faster, his 5th gear is beyond blazing. Agree, Ruggs is not a possession kind of receiver, or at least that didn’t look to be the case, after playing alongside Jerry Jeudy and DeVonta Smith in one of the best wide receiver groups the NCAA has ever seen. But think of him as a Tyreek Hill kind of player, not a John Ross one; Ruggs has the wiggle and the cuts, to be special in the NFL.
4.- Chase Claypool (Notre Dame): I strongly considered pinning Claypool as my No.1 wide receiver, you just never see receivers his size do the things he does on a constant basis. Built like a tight end and with the speed of a deep threat, Claypool will take the league by storm; he is a pure hands catcher that knows how to use his big frame in his favor, runs the slot like a king and bullies corners with his strength, creating a match made in heaven for QB’s looking for an every-down receiver. Pin him inside or out, and you will have a mismatch either because of size or speed most of the time. And no, I won’t agree with the “scouts” suggesting he should play Tight End.
5.- Jalen Reagor (TCU): This one was close between Reagor and CeeDee Lamb but ultimately had to add the highest motor player in this draft. He always seems to be playing with that little extra, every play he goes for that extra yard. Many see him as a Z wide receiver, creating vertical contests and helping the offense push the ball down the field, but I actually see him as a complete receiver; he will lineup everywhere and run every route, he needs to polish his blocking sets, but other than that, he will be in a study, plug and play situation, wherever he lands.
LA Rams NFL Draft Board tight end class of 2020
1.- Thaddeus Moss (LSU): Most say he is a run-blocking tight end, which is actually not inaccurate. Moss displays great ability as an extra blocker or as a lead one, showing great awareness; but his ability to catch the ball is magnificent (let’s not forget he is the son of Hall of Fame WR Randy Moss); Thaddeus has a ridiculous catching radius, a big frame, which he uses to perfection to box out opposing defenders, and has amazing hands, and off-body catching ability. If they sleep, we win. Thad is the real deal.
2.- Brycen Hopkins (Purdue): Sneaky fast for his size, a fighter as a blocker. He might not be the best, and every other player can have something better than him, but he is built like an all-around tight end. If he improves his receiving abilities, he could be one heck of a pick-up.
3.- Cole Kmet (Notre Dame) Kmet will not get your RB a running lane but will give you a major threat down the middle. Kmet excels in the passing game; he has good hands and can beat his blockers with route cuts to have even more separation; great ability in fighting for extra yards.
4.- Hunter Bryant (Washington): His injury history is quite scary and might push some teams away from him, but when healthy, Bryant is one of those rare athletes. He does not have a good blocking ability but compares to an Evan Engram kind-of-player. Rare speed for a tight end that can create som mismatches every single game.
5.- Adam Trautman (Dayton): A sleeper in the making. Trautman displays a good athletic ability. Coming from Dayton might make his NFL transition a little slower, but he has grown each and every year. He needs to continue his learning curve on the blocking area, but can learn it, and has the size to do so. A good TE2 for any team, that could be a potential steal if well-coached.
LA Rams NFL Draft Board offensive tackle class of 2020
1.- Andrew Thomas(Georgia): What can’t you like about a 6-foot-5, 320-pound tackle with three years of experience at left tackle? Thomas is a mauler, excels at run blocking (he looks like a fast-moving refrigerator, the big type of them). In pass protection, he is solid and with experience in a pro-style scheme, so he should adapt faster than other prospects, and start growing and contributing since day 1. The former Georgia bulldog should go top-10.
2.- Jedrick Wills Jr. (Alabama): Wills is strictly a right tackle, that alone could push him down a few spots as some teams don’t value that spot as much as a left tackle (usually the blindside), but don’t be fooled, Jedrick Wills Jr. is an anchor at RT. He has almost every hand technique developed nicely, slides in protection as smooth as a 60’s song makes you feel driven by the Pacific Road Highway in a classic Mustang. His only downside might just be that he has 1 great year, a truly amazing one, but once he took the starting job, he never looked back.
3.- Mekhi Becton (Louisville): Now, this one is big (literally, he stands at an enormous 6’7″ and weighs in at 369 lbs) but his size will only make you look at him with sparkling eyes. Becton projects nicely as a left tackle, he is an amazing run blocker that can reach the second level with ease. Smooth feet in pass protection with a good bend for his size. He might have to get his hand technique better, but this kid is a bully.
4.- Josh Jones (Houston): A physical yet athletic prospect that is better fitted in a scheme that uses a mobile QB. Jones is raw but he is incredibly gifted and athletic, He will zone block the hell out of you. Has room to improve but he is considered (at least by me) a raw prospect with electric abilities. His tape show he can develop as the season unfolds, so he can start early in his career.
5.- Isaiah Wilson (Georgia): The second Bulldog on this list. Wilson projects strictly as a right tackle. He is inconsistent at times, but the level of learning and his athletic ability is just of the charts. Wilson will have to settle more into his blocks at times and will have to learn to be a better zone-blocker, but everything is teachable, and his ceiling is high.
LA Rams NFL Draft Board interior offensive lineman class of 2020
1.- Tyler Biadasz (Wisconsin): Maybe the most versatile player of this list. Biadasz played both defensive line and offensive line in high school. In college, he garnered individual awards such as the Remington in 2019 (best center in the nation) and first-team all-conference (2018), All-Big Ten (2019) and first-team for the Associated Press. He excels in both passing and running games, but he is best at run blocking. Could and should be a day-one starter.
2.- Cesar Ruiz (Michigan): Ruiz comes in almost tied for the best IOL this year, as he should, A solid, versatile and athletic player that can fit almost every scheme; he could play center or guard, as he is fitted for both. Has second-level blocking ability and polished techniques. Could use some more leverage against power-rushers. Day-one starter quality
3.- Lloyd Cushenberry III (LSU): There’s a reason Burrow and Edwards-Helaire are in this list aside from their talent, and that’s their offensive line, commanded by this guy. Cushenberry (or “Cush” as he is known) is a polished, solid center, with spectacular strength that can create driving lanes and bully opposing defensive linemen. Although not as versatile as Biadasz, he should excel at the NFL and could be a day-1 starter as well.
4.- Jonah Jackson (Ohio State): Lengthy, mobile, athletic and with good technique both on hands and feet. Jackson only played one season with the Buckeyes as a Rutgers transfer but shined in his lone year. He plays better as a pass-protection specialist and has swingman abilities along with the interior of the line. Could get better at anchoring himself and has room to get better, but as he stands, he has a solid chance to be a late 1st/mid-2nd round pick.
5.- Tristan Wirfs (Iowa): Wirfs was a right tackle at a college level, but projects better as an interior offensive lineman. He can block and plug the gaps as well as any of the names listed here but lacks athleticism for playing on the outside. Needs to polish come blocking sets, and he could benefit if he sits out a year in order to develop better. Wirfs could come handy as a swingman in year one, looking to secure a spot either mid-season or the next, but for sure, he is a talented player.
