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So, another day, another mock draft. Thoughts and the like would be deeply appreciated:
#16 - Jarvis Jones / OLB / Georgia.
You may be shocked at this choice. You're probably wondering why in the world I decided to pick Jarvis Jones instead of Johnson, Warmack, or Cooper. My answer? Johnson and Warmack will likely not be there, and I am not a fan of Cooper. Aside from that, if Jones falls to us at 16, it would be amazing value; he was considered a top three pick before his medical issues knocked him down. Remember: he has the same medical issues that Chris Samuels and Rob Gronkowski have. Samuels played over ten years in the league as an All-Pro caliber offensive tackle without any real issues, and Gronkowski is one of the best tight ends to play in recent memory. You take talent where-ever you can find it.
Jones is a physical specimen at 6'2", 240 lbs. He can do everything you ask him to do on the football field, and he has a non-stop motor that allows him to continue making plays as a game wears on. He struggles a bit when people run at him, but overall, he isn't bad. It's just not as well-polished as his other attributes. As a pass-rusher, he's utterly dominant; I have never seen him have a bad game as a pass-rusher. He has gone up against extremely talented linemen and has made them look like fools. He has a wide variety of pass-rushing moves that he can and will use to gain an advantage. I would say his pass-rushing is more advanced than Von Miller's was when he came out, and that will help him out in the pros.
#22 - Justin Hunter / WR / Tennessee.
Yes, I realize that this is the exact same pick as jrry's mock. Can you blame me? Hunter is one of the most talented wide receivers in this entire draft. He was a dominant receiver when recovering from an ACL injury in 2011, and now that he's fully healthy, look for him to wreak havoc on a football field.
Hunter is another physical specimen: 6'4", 195 lbs with the frame to bulk up more without losing speed. Speaking of speed, he has that in spades; he's just as fast in pads as he was at the Combine. He is a true deep threat at Tennessee, but he has the ability to run all of the routes. His hands are solid, his leaping ability is unmatched, and he is a very positive influence in the locker room - which was needed at Tennessee after multiple players got kicked off the team. He reminds me of a much lesser Randy Moss, but without the attitude and apathy issues.
#46 - Larry Warford / RG / Kentucky.
A guard before an offensive tackle may sound a bit odd, but I didn't see any decent offensive tackles that would be there when we pick at this juncture. Besides, we need a right guard just as much as an offensive tackle, seeing as Harvey Dahl has likely played his last season in St. Louis.
Warford is simply one of the most dominant guards I have ever watched on tape. I love this kid as a player, and after
you see him in action, you will as well. He is an absolute monster in the run game with an amazing amount of mobility for a man of his size (6'2", 333 lbs). He can pull, get to the second level, and bulldoze anyone in his way. Not even defensive tackles like John Jenkins (Georgia), Daniel McCullers (Tennessee), Sharrif Floyd (Florida), and Sheldon Richardson (Missouri) could make any sort of impact against him. His pass-protection impressed me even more. Richardson had no impact on Kentucky in any facet of the game when he was matched up against Warford. To compare, he had a sack against Alabama when matched up against Warmack. For such a big guard to be that nimble and be able to stop any sort of penetration is almost unheard of. If we take Warford, we will not regret it.
#78 - Bacarri Rambo / FS / Georgia.
Another similar pick to jrry's mock, but again, it's a pick that I think is necessary. We need that ball-hawking free safety more than anything else on our defense. Even if he gets burned a few times while gambling, we need to produce turnovers, and this guy can do just that.
Rambo...it's the name of a man who was born to be a Ram. On a serious note, Rambo was quite impressive at the Senior Bowl, and the Rams were interested in him. He makes a few mistakes when gambling, and his run defense needs a lot of work, but nobody can deny that he can produce turnovers better than almost anyone else in this class. More importantly, the times he gets beat is not because of any lack of athleticism on his part or because he's poor in coverage; it's because he will gamble in the hopes of getting a turnover and lose. It's something that Darren Sharper, Earl Thomas, and even Ed Reed have struggled with in their careers, but it can be coached, and the player can learn when and when not to gamble with experience.
#110 - Marcus Lattimore / RB / South Carolina.
Well, it's official: Steven Jackson has played his last game as a Ram. Even Richardson and Pead isn't going to be enough to replace him entirely. We'll need another power back (as I don't entirely trust Ganaway), so why not take the back who has the most similar rushing style?
Lattimore is an utter steal at this point. He was projected to be a mid-first round pick, even with his prior injury. One injury later, and people start losing their minds. Lattimore is a back who can do just about everything on a football field. Run with power? He can do that. Run away from defenders? He can do that too. Catch and block? Why wouldn't he? He reminds me so much of Steven Jackson, except he's more mature than Jackson was at that age.
#142 - Chris Faulk / OT / LSU.
So now you take an offensive tackle, Memento? What the hell is wrong with you? Well, you're right. In all honesty, I would take Lane Johnson over Jarvis Jones at this point. I just don't think he'll be there. But it's not like this guy is a terrible consolation prize.
Faulk is another big mauler in the run game who has surprisingly quick feet for a man his size (6'6", 330 lbs). He has the ability to play left tackle in a pinch, but his best position will be right tackle. He's quick enough to handle pass-rushers coming from the right side, but left tackle may be too much to trust him with. But I get the feeling that when he recovers from his injury, he'll be a very solid option for us. He'll certainly be better than Richardson or Hunter, that's for sure.
#174 - Cooper Taylor / SS / Richmond.
We double-dip at safety, but this time, I'm going with a sleeper pick. A deep sleeper pick.
Taylor is not your typical strong safety. He's more like a Kam Chancellor-type: a huge safety who can lay the wood and come up with huge stops in the running game. Hell, Taylor's size is more like that of a linebacker's than a safety's at 6'5", 235 lbs (and yes, folks, that's even bigger than Chancellor is). So why am I putting him at strong safety? Because he's shown that he can handle even the faster tight ends that come up. He is very fluid and natural in coverage; it's rare to see him get beat. He was easily Richmond's best player on defense, and he constantly made splash plays in every aspect of the game (four interceptions, three forced fumbles, five tackles for a loss, and nine pass deflections to go along with seventy-seven tackles). He's raw and unpolished, a developmental player for certain. But if you put him behind Stewart and Daniels and let him learn more about the NFL, I am of the opinion that he'll pan out to be a great player.
#206 - T.J. Moe / WR / Missouri.
Homer pick! ...Or maybe not.
Moe is a slot receiver and a returner at the next level. Fortunately, he's shown an afinity for all of those things, and he reminds me a bit of Amendola, especially on punts. He won't get touchdowns very often, but he will always get you solid yards and good field position. He's a smart player (used to be a quarterback in high school) with hands of pure glue; I don't think I've ever seen him drop a pass or get alligator arms. He also has very deceptive speed; his forty time may have been poor, but he is much, much faster in pads. He doesn't have to replace Amendola. Quite frankly, I'd rather see Amendola resigned before drafting Moe. But we do need a slot receiver who can provide the same things, and we need someone who can take punts and kicks aside from Amendola and Givens.
#16 - Jarvis Jones / OLB / Georgia.
You may be shocked at this choice. You're probably wondering why in the world I decided to pick Jarvis Jones instead of Johnson, Warmack, or Cooper. My answer? Johnson and Warmack will likely not be there, and I am not a fan of Cooper. Aside from that, if Jones falls to us at 16, it would be amazing value; he was considered a top three pick before his medical issues knocked him down. Remember: he has the same medical issues that Chris Samuels and Rob Gronkowski have. Samuels played over ten years in the league as an All-Pro caliber offensive tackle without any real issues, and Gronkowski is one of the best tight ends to play in recent memory. You take talent where-ever you can find it.
Jones is a physical specimen at 6'2", 240 lbs. He can do everything you ask him to do on the football field, and he has a non-stop motor that allows him to continue making plays as a game wears on. He struggles a bit when people run at him, but overall, he isn't bad. It's just not as well-polished as his other attributes. As a pass-rusher, he's utterly dominant; I have never seen him have a bad game as a pass-rusher. He has gone up against extremely talented linemen and has made them look like fools. He has a wide variety of pass-rushing moves that he can and will use to gain an advantage. I would say his pass-rushing is more advanced than Von Miller's was when he came out, and that will help him out in the pros.
#22 - Justin Hunter / WR / Tennessee.
Yes, I realize that this is the exact same pick as jrry's mock. Can you blame me? Hunter is one of the most talented wide receivers in this entire draft. He was a dominant receiver when recovering from an ACL injury in 2011, and now that he's fully healthy, look for him to wreak havoc on a football field.
Hunter is another physical specimen: 6'4", 195 lbs with the frame to bulk up more without losing speed. Speaking of speed, he has that in spades; he's just as fast in pads as he was at the Combine. He is a true deep threat at Tennessee, but he has the ability to run all of the routes. His hands are solid, his leaping ability is unmatched, and he is a very positive influence in the locker room - which was needed at Tennessee after multiple players got kicked off the team. He reminds me of a much lesser Randy Moss, but without the attitude and apathy issues.
#46 - Larry Warford / RG / Kentucky.
A guard before an offensive tackle may sound a bit odd, but I didn't see any decent offensive tackles that would be there when we pick at this juncture. Besides, we need a right guard just as much as an offensive tackle, seeing as Harvey Dahl has likely played his last season in St. Louis.
Warford is simply one of the most dominant guards I have ever watched on tape. I love this kid as a player, and after
you see him in action, you will as well. He is an absolute monster in the run game with an amazing amount of mobility for a man of his size (6'2", 333 lbs). He can pull, get to the second level, and bulldoze anyone in his way. Not even defensive tackles like John Jenkins (Georgia), Daniel McCullers (Tennessee), Sharrif Floyd (Florida), and Sheldon Richardson (Missouri) could make any sort of impact against him. His pass-protection impressed me even more. Richardson had no impact on Kentucky in any facet of the game when he was matched up against Warford. To compare, he had a sack against Alabama when matched up against Warmack. For such a big guard to be that nimble and be able to stop any sort of penetration is almost unheard of. If we take Warford, we will not regret it.
#78 - Bacarri Rambo / FS / Georgia.
Another similar pick to jrry's mock, but again, it's a pick that I think is necessary. We need that ball-hawking free safety more than anything else on our defense. Even if he gets burned a few times while gambling, we need to produce turnovers, and this guy can do just that.
Rambo...it's the name of a man who was born to be a Ram. On a serious note, Rambo was quite impressive at the Senior Bowl, and the Rams were interested in him. He makes a few mistakes when gambling, and his run defense needs a lot of work, but nobody can deny that he can produce turnovers better than almost anyone else in this class. More importantly, the times he gets beat is not because of any lack of athleticism on his part or because he's poor in coverage; it's because he will gamble in the hopes of getting a turnover and lose. It's something that Darren Sharper, Earl Thomas, and even Ed Reed have struggled with in their careers, but it can be coached, and the player can learn when and when not to gamble with experience.
#110 - Marcus Lattimore / RB / South Carolina.
Well, it's official: Steven Jackson has played his last game as a Ram. Even Richardson and Pead isn't going to be enough to replace him entirely. We'll need another power back (as I don't entirely trust Ganaway), so why not take the back who has the most similar rushing style?
Lattimore is an utter steal at this point. He was projected to be a mid-first round pick, even with his prior injury. One injury later, and people start losing their minds. Lattimore is a back who can do just about everything on a football field. Run with power? He can do that. Run away from defenders? He can do that too. Catch and block? Why wouldn't he? He reminds me so much of Steven Jackson, except he's more mature than Jackson was at that age.
#142 - Chris Faulk / OT / LSU.
So now you take an offensive tackle, Memento? What the hell is wrong with you? Well, you're right. In all honesty, I would take Lane Johnson over Jarvis Jones at this point. I just don't think he'll be there. But it's not like this guy is a terrible consolation prize.
Faulk is another big mauler in the run game who has surprisingly quick feet for a man his size (6'6", 330 lbs). He has the ability to play left tackle in a pinch, but his best position will be right tackle. He's quick enough to handle pass-rushers coming from the right side, but left tackle may be too much to trust him with. But I get the feeling that when he recovers from his injury, he'll be a very solid option for us. He'll certainly be better than Richardson or Hunter, that's for sure.
#174 - Cooper Taylor / SS / Richmond.
We double-dip at safety, but this time, I'm going with a sleeper pick. A deep sleeper pick.
Taylor is not your typical strong safety. He's more like a Kam Chancellor-type: a huge safety who can lay the wood and come up with huge stops in the running game. Hell, Taylor's size is more like that of a linebacker's than a safety's at 6'5", 235 lbs (and yes, folks, that's even bigger than Chancellor is). So why am I putting him at strong safety? Because he's shown that he can handle even the faster tight ends that come up. He is very fluid and natural in coverage; it's rare to see him get beat. He was easily Richmond's best player on defense, and he constantly made splash plays in every aspect of the game (four interceptions, three forced fumbles, five tackles for a loss, and nine pass deflections to go along with seventy-seven tackles). He's raw and unpolished, a developmental player for certain. But if you put him behind Stewart and Daniels and let him learn more about the NFL, I am of the opinion that he'll pan out to be a great player.
#206 - T.J. Moe / WR / Missouri.
Homer pick! ...Or maybe not.
Moe is a slot receiver and a returner at the next level. Fortunately, he's shown an afinity for all of those things, and he reminds me a bit of Amendola, especially on punts. He won't get touchdowns very often, but he will always get you solid yards and good field position. He's a smart player (used to be a quarterback in high school) with hands of pure glue; I don't think I've ever seen him drop a pass or get alligator arms. He also has very deceptive speed; his forty time may have been poor, but he is much, much faster in pads. He doesn't have to replace Amendola. Quite frankly, I'd rather see Amendola resigned before drafting Moe. But we do need a slot receiver who can provide the same things, and we need someone who can take punts and kicks aside from Amendola and Givens.
