March Madness Mock

[fanotodd]

Now that the QB and LT have been settled, the Rams finally complete the Cooper Kupp trade. Rams banners will be flown at half mast for the remainder of the month.
Rams receive one of the Bills 2nd round picks (2.30.62) and their 5th (5.223.171).
Bills get Kupp and a Rams 3rd (3.36.100).

The packers have grown tired of alexander missing too many games and release him.
Rams scoop him up and give him a prove it deal, adding a vet CB.

Those are the biggest splash moves the Rams make before the draft.

BB3 is priced out of LA leaving Gallimore to be offered a modest contract to stay. Atwell leaves but Robinson stays. Other players’ fates may be decided after the draft/during camp.

1.26.26 Mason Taylor (TE) LSU, 6-5/250
Skilled in all aspects, pro ready, and one of the faster TEs coming out. His pedigree should be a bonus as he learns the McVay system. Long is “long gone” and Parkinson would also be released if Taylor is drafted.

2.30.62. Anthony Belton (OT) NC St., 6-6/336
Big and physical. Likes to “finish blocks”. My favorite OT in the draft who will be drafted by the time the Rams pick in the 3rd—probably by the 9ers. He would be a perfect replacement for tw. Belton would instantly be the swing Tackle and start next season at either side. Rams would be set at the Tackle spots for at least 3 years.

3.26.90. Dorian Strong (CB) V.Tech, 6-1/185
The Rams get younger, faster, and bigger at the Corner. Solid collegiate career. Excellent skillset.

4.25.126. DJ Giddens (RB), K St., 6-1/212
The Rams grab a bigger back who was very productive in college and possesses a complete skillset. There are a lot of good RBs in this draft and Giddens could still be around here. He could handle the load if needed and would be a bigger target for Stafford in the passing game.

5.23.171. CJ West (NT) Indiana, 6-2/317
Very athletic for his size. Solid run stuffer and pass rusher. If he falls this far he will be the annual Snead day 3 steal.

6.14.192. Arian Smith (WR) UGA, 6-0/185
A burner. Big enough to line up anywhere, he gives the Rams a deep threat,

6.25.203. Shamari Simmons (S) Zona St., 6-0/185
Big time playmaker flying under the radar. The Rams are set to lose Curl and Lake after ‘25. Simmons is a baller.

6.26.204. Smael Mondon (ILB) UGA, 6-2/225
The Rams get a more athletic LB with speed. Productive with good numbers, he would be a welcome sight in camp.

The Rams always seem to make a mark in UDFAs so I want to list a few names they might want to take a look at, should these players go undrafted.

McTelvin Smith (CB) S.Ark., 6-1/185
More speed and size at Corner. Productive career at a small program.

Nick Martin (ILB) OK St., 6-0/220
A bit undersized, but has the LB instincts and was a tackling machine. STs at least.

Seth Henigan (QB) Memphis, 6-3/215
Wanted to fit in the QB from Indy but there wasn’t enough picks in my mock. The Rams will need to bring in an arm or two to camp. Henigan put up solid numbers over his collegiate career. I would like to see some competition for Bennett.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Nice mock.

Some thoughts.

If I reading the Kupp trade correctly it appears that Kupp has been given a 3rd round value. If so, I'm not even sure the Rams will get a 5th round value for Kupp unless they trade him without his input.

Belton would be an interesting choice for our future RT if he can make the transition to the right side after 3 seasons of playing LT. For some reason some can do it and some cannot.

I'd be shocked if the Rams waited until the 6th round to get a WR. And even more shocked if it's Smith. Great speed. Horrible and I mean HORRIBLE hands. But hey, maybe they can improve in time.

I may be in the minority that believes the Rams are not going to select a RB so early after last year's Corum selection.

I hope the Rams can land C.J. West and I would really love the Nick Martin pickup. He looked like a lighter London Fletcher to me in 2023.

 

[fanotodd]

Nice mock.

Some thoughts.

If I reading the Kupp trade correctly it appears that Kupp has been given a 3rd round value. If so, I'm not even sure the Rams will get a 5th round value for Kupp unless they trade him without his input.

Belton would be an interesting choice for our future RT if he can make the transition to the right side after 3 seasons of playing LT. For some reason some can do it and some cannot.

I'd be shocked if the Rams waited until the 6th round to get a WR. And even more shocked if it's Smith. Great speed. Horrible and I mean HORRIBLE hands. But hey, maybe they can improve in time.

I may be in the minority that believes the Rams are not going to select a RB so early after last year's Corum selection.

I hope the Rams can land C.J. West and I would really love the Nick Martin pickup. He looked like a lighter London Fletcher to me in 2023.

Thanks for the response.
1) yeah, according to the point value chart I used, Kupp would be getting a mid 3rd round grade to make the numbers work on the trade. The Rams won’t get that kind of value unless it’s a team like the bills who have a good group of young WRs and TEs with shamir an emerging star. Kupp would be dynamite as a mentor for those young bills.

2) I do like Belton a lot and think even if he can’t make the switch to the right side he could challenge AJ on the left in ‘26. One of these guys will end up on the right side. Either way, the Rams would have a heckuva pair of Tackles.

3) LOL. I knew I was gonna get called on the WR pick. I’m not saying there aren’t good WRs who could help the Rams in a critical need, it’s just that I don’t feel as strongly about any of them as I do the first two picks in the mock. Then I realized that if the Rams truly want to try and find a CB with realistic starter potential, they need to pull the trigger by the 3rd round. By that point, things had gotten away from me! I know Smith has had his share of drops, and that usually turns me off instantly on a WR, but he’s super fast and was only a 6th rounder at that point.
…but I too would be shocked if the Rams didn’t draft a WR in one of the first two rounds. I just wanted Taylor for the TE pick and chose him over a WR.

 

[DzRams]

Now that the QB and LT have been settled, the Rams finally complete the Cooper Kupp trade. Rams banners will be flown at half mast for the remainder of the month.
Rams receive one of the Bills 2nd round picks (2.30.62) and their 5th (5.223.171).
Bills get Kupp and a Rams 3rd (3.36.100).

The packers have grown tired of alexander missing too many games and release him.
Rams scoop him up and give him a prove it deal, adding a vet CB.

Those are the biggest splash moves the Rams make before the draft.

BB3 is priced out of LA leaving Gallimore to be offered a modest contract to stay. Atwell leaves but Robinson stays. Other players’ fates may be decided after the draft/during camp.

1.26.26 Mason Taylor (TE) LSU, 6-5/250
Skilled in all aspects, pro ready, and one of the faster TEs coming out. His pedigree should be a bonus as he learns the McVay system. Long is “long gone” and Parkinson would also be released if Taylor is drafted.

2.30.62. Anthony Belton (OT) NC St., 6-6/336
Big and physical. Likes to “finish blocks”. My favorite OT in the draft who will be drafted by the time the Rams pick in the 3rd—probably by the 9ers. He would be a perfect replacement for tw. Belton would instantly be the swing Tackle and start next season at either side. Rams would be set at the Tackle spots for at least 3 years.

3.26.90. Dorian Strong (CB) V.Tech, 6-1/185
The Rams get younger, faster, and bigger at the Corner. Solid collegiate career. Excellent skillset.

4.25.126. DJ Giddens (RB), K St., 6-1/212
The Rams grab a bigger back who was very productive in college and possesses a complete skillset. There are a lot of good RBs in this draft and Giddens could still be around here. He could handle the load if needed and would be a bigger target for Stafford in the passing game.

5.23.171. CJ West (NT) Indiana, 6-2/317
Very athletic for his size. Solid run stuffer and pass rusher. If he falls this far he will be the annual Snead day 3 steal.

6.14.192. Arian Smith (WR) UGA, 6-0/185
A burner. Big enough to line up anywhere, he gives the Rams a deep threat,

6.25.203. Shamari Simmons (S) Zona St., 6-0/185
Big time playmaker flying under the radar. The Rams are set to lose Curl and Lake after ‘25. Simmons is a baller.

6.26.204. Smael Mondon (ILB) UGA, 6-2/225
The Rams get a more athletic LB with speed. Productive with good numbers, he would be a welcome sight in camp.

The Rams always seem to make a mark in UDFAs so I want to list a few names they might want to take a look at, should these players go undrafted.

McTelvin Smith (CB) S.Ark., 6-1/185
More speed and size at Corner. Productive career at a small program.

Nick Martin (ILB) OK St., 6-0/220
A bit undersized, but has the LB instincts and was a tackling machine. STs at least.

Seth Henigan (QB) Memphis, 6-3/215
Wanted to fit in the QB from Indy but there wasn’t enough picks in my mock. The Rams will need to bring in an arm or two to camp. Henigan put up solid numbers over his collegiate career. I would like to see some competition for Bennett.

I like most of these selections. I also question the WR waiting until the 6th round.

What are we going to do with all of these CBs? On your plan we'll have Alexander, Williams, Durant, Kendricks, Forbes, and Strong. If they're picking up Alexander, I would say the CB need is addressed and use that pick to address the dire WR position.

 

[Flatlyner]

I do like most of this offseason. Signing Alexander could be huge and worth it, just think Les might be hesitant to do that with the miserable failure of White last year.

I think we would be in a dire situation with this offseason not really addressing WR. As Memphis alluded to, Smith might have the worst hands in the draft. And didn't run as fast as I expected him too. I'd pass on him altogether and address a WR earlier.

 

[fanotodd]

I like most of these selections. I also question the WR waiting until the 6th round.

What are we going to do with all of these CBs? On your plan we'll have Alexander, Williams, Durant, Kendricks, Forbes, and Strong. If they're picking up Alexander, I would say the CB need is addressed and use that pick to address the dire WR position.

The CB room is gonna be full and competitive going into camp in my scenario. Signing Alexander might produce a hit or it could be another travarius white situation. A prove it deal coupled with a draft selection makes it worth the gamble.

I see a lot of mocks where the decision of who goes and who stays at CB is decided before the draft. I would wait until camp and decide accordingly. I don’t know how many CBs the Rams would carry if that was the group, but 6 isn’t necessarily excessive. At least one could be stashed on the PS. Then there’s the possibility of trading somebody.

As for the WR pick…yeah, I waited too long, but I like Taylor for the Rams at TE and it took me too long to get back to WR after the 1rst.

 

[fanotodd]

I do like most of this offseason. Signing Alexander could be huge and worth it, just think Les might be hesitant to do that with the miserable failure of White last year.

I think we would be in a dire situation with this offseason not really addressing WR. As Memphis alluded to, Smith might have the worst hands in the draft. And didn't run as fast as I expected him too. I'd pass on him altogether and address a WR earlier.

I know the Rams are gonna draft a WR earlier, but I don’t know if they’re valuing/targeting the TE or the WR higher. I went TE in this one, but now that the Rams have acquired another 6th rounder, I might do another mock but make the WR the priority over the TE this time.

The Alexander trepidation is understandable after what happened last year with white, but that why I would still draft a CB early (by the 3rd).