OldSchool Christmas mock

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OldSchool

OldSchool

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The first of the season as I'm bored on Boxing day. Rankings will change players will rise and fall. This is mostly what I think would work and be better for the team. Subject to change as always. In a future mock I'll look at a day 2 or 3 QB to draft as I'm not sure Jimmy comes back.

Re-Sign:
S Quinten Lake
CB Roger McCreary
CB Decobie Durant
G Justin Dedich
T DJ Humpries (serves as #2 LT)
QB Jimmy G

Free Agents:
S Andre Cisco (depth and ST)
G Evan Neal (G and T depth)
ILB Quay Walker

Extend: (2027 free agents)
Kevin Dotson
Byron Young
Kobie Turner
Puka Nacua
Warren McClendon


I'm using a lot of our cap money on extending in house guys. I've weighed whether to extend McClendon or draft a beast at RT and for this one I'm extending him. The rest are pretty simple IMO.

Round 1(a) ATL Pick:

Mansoor Delane CB LSU

Pretty simple we need a CB1 and he provides that skill set. Comes with 4.4 speed at 6' 190 lbs he's good at both man and zone schemes and he's a monster against the run definitely not afraid to tackle an RB.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrphT6qWerE


Round 1(b):

WR Chris Brazzell Jr Tennessee

Taller WR who runs good routes which we know is key to McVay. He's slender at 6'5" 200 lbs but has 4.5 speed. In the Tennessee offense he wasn't asked to run a diverse route tree but he seems to have a knack for finding the soft spots in zone coverage especially. Has good short area burst and he's good at contested catches.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeDipFZpGJ4


Round 2:
Kamari Ramsey S USC
When I watch him I see Quinten Lake 2.0. Capable of playing the slot/nickle roll in coverage but an absolute gamer in run defense.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2Tg7Xm0_Ms


Round 3:
Iapani Laloulu C Oregon
A monster in the middle at 6'2" 329 lbs listed size. I've wanted this guy for a long time now he's my draft crush of 2026. He gives you everything you want good anchor strong punch and great hand placement. Biggest knock is smaller arm length which will turn some off to him but the guy creates space in the middle in the run game and protects his QB well.

Round 5:
Joe Royer TE Cincinnati
Another player I like this draft cycle. His draft profile is almost identical to Ferguson last year in height weight speed and hands. Good route runner that's still developing as a blocker as well. He'll have a year to learn blocking as our 4th TE with Higbee IMO retiring. Like Ferguson this guy is all upside and will get more time as his blocking develops but he's a similar route runner and receiver to Ferguson.

Round 6 Titans pick:
Logan Parr G SMU
Depth OG here with good size and is a good pass blocker but needs a bit of work on his run blocking game.

Round 6 Texans Pick:
Xavier Nwankpa S Iowa
Another safety excelling in run support with good coverage skills. IMO starts off on special teams and works his way into the Defense like our guy Nick Scott did.

Round 6:
Stephen Dix Jr ILB Arkansas
Another guy for ST but brings good size at ILB and good lateral movement.

Round 7 Ravens pick:
Tony Grims Jr CB Purdue
Boundry CB with good size and 4.3 speed. Needs work but brings the size and speed needed. Like Nwankpa he'll contribute on teams to start and work his way up.

Round 7 Comp pick:
Trey Moore Edge Texas
Another guy that likely starts his career as a special teams contributor. That said he has excellent size at 6'3" 249 lbs and some good pass rush moves that need refining. He'll be 4th on the depth chart so he'll have time to work his way in.


Offense:
WR1a: Adams
WR1b: Nacua
WR3: Brazzell Jr/Mumpfield/Whittington
TE: Parkinson/Ferguson/Allen/Royer
LT: Jackson/Humpphries
LG: Avilla/Parr
C: Shelton/Laloulu
RG: Dotson/Dedich
RT: McClendon/Quessenberry
QB: Stafford/Garoppolo/Bennett
RB: Williams/Corum/Rivers/Hunter

Defense:
DE Fiske/Johnson
NT: Ford/Davis
DE: Turner/Hamilton
OLB: Young/Stewart
ILB: Landman/Dolac
ILB: Walker/Speights/Dix JR
OLB: Verse/Moor
CB: Delane/Williams
CB: Durant/Wallace
CB: Forbes/Kendrick
S: Lake/Ramsey
S: Kinchens/McCollough

Have at it
 
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Love the mock, but to me, signing a lot of those extensions (even they started next year) would make it extremely difficult - if not outright impossible - to sign both Lake and McCreary (they're both estimated in the double-digit millions according to Spotrac's estimates) as well as Durant, all of whom would likely seek a big payday (although I could see McCreary sign a one-year deal and bet on himself next year with his age). I'd have to assume that D-Will, Shelton, and/or Parkinson are either dealt or cap casualties in that scenario.

Also, from the mocks I'm seeing (assuming we win the Super Bowl in your scenario), Laloulu (whom, honestly, I love just as much as you do; I think he's the best pure center in this class, and he'd make our interior unchallengeable) would go above the range of our third-round pick in a lot of mocks, and I could see him rise into the second and possibly the first with a strong Combine. Believe me, I want him as the pick in the third round as much as you do, but I'm seeing him much higher.

I'm not as much in love with Delane as I am with Jermod McCoy or Chris Johnson, but Brazzell II is my favorite receiver in this draft, and he'd immediately replace Adams when he moves on. Agree that Stafford is likely staying put. Love that you're surrounding him with at least one highly rated offensive player in this draft.

I'd also work to extend Avila first before McClendon (and believe me, I'd love to re-sign McClendon) if at all possible. Both Avila and Dotson are UFAs in 2027, and I absolutely don't want to be in a scenario where we're losing both guys in the middle.

You and everyone else know my thoughts on a Byron Young extension, so I won't dive too deeply into it. I wouldn't mind either way; whatever McSnead believes is best for the team works for me.

Overall, I love the mock, I love the picks, and I love the direction. I just don't know how the expenses play out.
 
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Interesting mock.

Hard to imagine a team that usually doesn't pay ILBs is going to sign Landman and then follow that up with Quay Walker. Methinks the team isn't going to go away from Landman, Speights, Dolac, and a cheap Reeder replacement.

I think Dedich is going to wind up being the future at center.

CB Mansoor Delane looks like a good player and could potentially fill a need at the position. But if that 30 1/8" arm length measurement I saw somewhere is legit, I question if he goes as high as draftnik media has him today.

I like Ramsey, but I'd probably be disappointed in using a 1st rounder on Brazzell Jr., when perhaps a comparable or better talent in Ted Hurst might be had later.

I'm a Royer fan, too. I just lean towards someone who comes in as a good blocker.
 
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Really like the 1rst round formula of CB and WR. I expect that to be a popular one this mock season. I know I’m going that route!

If it were possible to bring back all of those players, the Rams would be practically playing with house $$ going into the draft (much like this year). Let’s hope for the best.

Laloulu is my favorite pick in your mock. I mentioned him a few weeks ago on another thread regarding the OL. He’d be a perfect get for an IOL swing player. Between him and Dedich, the Rams would have a solid Interior with quality in the wings should the Rams be unable to re-sign either Avila or Dotson.
Don’t know when the Rams would have to pull the trigger to land Laloulu, but anytime after the 1rst would work for me.

Another TE? Definitely. Nobody has emerged as an upgrade to the descending, but beloved Tyler Higbee. The Rams don’t necessarily need a superstar, just somebody who can CONSISTENTLY block and catch.

My only knocks on your mock would be:
—drafting a Safety so high. Another Edge is probably more important to a team that seems to have a knack for developing day 3/UDFAs at Safety.
—not drafting an OT to be developed as a swing player. I thought leveston was drafted for this purpose. After redshirting his first year, I thought he looked pretty good this last preseason. I was surprised they let him go for a bag of chips.

Overall, I think you nailed down a lot of needs the Rams are gonna have going into 2026.
 
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fanotodd said:
Really like the 1rst round formula of CB and WR. I expect that to be a popular one this mock season. I know I’m going that route!

If it were possible to bring back all of those players, the Rams would be practically playing with house $$ going into the draft (much like this year). Let’s hope for the best.

Laloulu is my favorite pick in your mock. I mentioned him a few weeks ago on another thread regarding the OL. He’d be a perfect get for an IOL swing player. Between him and Dedich, the Rams would have a solid Interior with quality in the wings should the Rams be unable to re-sign either Avila or Dotson.
Don’t know when the Rams would have to pull the trigger to land Laloulu, but anytime after the 1rst would work for me.

Another TE? Definitely. Nobody has emerged as an upgrade to the descending, but beloved Tyler Higbee. The Rams don’t necessarily need a superstar, just somebody who can CONSISTENTLY block and catch.

My only knocks on your mock would be:
—drafting a Safety so high. Another Edge is probably more important to a team that seems to have a knack for developing day 3/UDFAs at Safety.
—not drafting an OT to be developed as a swing player. I thought leveston was drafted for this purpose. After redshirting his first year, I thought he looked pretty good this last preseason. I was surprised they let him go for a bag of chips.

Overall, I think you nailed down a lot of needs the Rams are gonna have going into 2026.
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Regarding the comments about free agent signings. For the first time ever the Rams have a ton of cap space. Also all of those in the extend are free agents in 2027 and don't have to be done this year. That said we have $94 million in cap space currently heading into free agency. We have money to do a lot of not all of these plus we don't know how much some of those guys will actually get, a few will be high end and I doubt some of them are so we'll see.
 
I love this draft. Great job.

Personally, I’d only change: adding back end draft thick DT (320-340) to develop.

Also, after last night game, I think we need to upgrade our backup OT. Maybe that 2nd round pick.
 
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Ram Ts said:
I love this draft. Great job.

Personally, I’d only change: adding back end draft thick DT (320-340) to develop.

Also, after last night game, I think we need to upgrade our backup OT. Maybe that 2nd round pick.
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LOL Yeah I forgot to come on here and post after last night no resign for Humphries :D I still think C is a huge need and agree though a swing tackle whether a draft pick or a vet is needed.
 
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I say good job. Looks like that took at least an hour to post. But.............are you sure you want to resign Humphries?
 
Interesting stuff!!

What are your thoughts about trading back with one of those first rounders.. and trying to end up with 6 picks in the first 100.. and maybe add a 4th rounder through a trade up/back combination?

Maybe end up with 2 firsts.. 2 seconds and 2 thirds? Maybe.. maybe 1 first, three seconds and two thirds.

I just think it's an opportunity to load up.

Not in any order.. I'd be going CB, OT, WR, G/C, CB and Edge.
 
Pupped said:
Interesting stuff!!

What are your thoughts about trading back with one of those first rounders.. and trying to end up with 6 picks in the first 100.. and maybe add a 4th rounder through a trade up/back combination?

Maybe end up with 2 firsts.. 2 seconds and 2 thirds? Maybe.. maybe 1 first, three seconds and two thirds.

I just think it's an opportunity to load up.

Not in any order.. I'd be going CB, OT, WR, G/C, CB and Edge.
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I'm at the point I want a CB1 and I'm grabbing one with the 13th pick. If they trade back sure fine but we have 10 picks already. Another 3rd rounder has about as much chance of succeeding from Snead as a 5th or 6th rounder tbh.
 
OldSchool said:
I'm at the point I want a CB1 and I'm grabbing one with the 13th pick. If they trade back sure fine but we have 10 picks already. Another 3rd rounder has about as much chance of succeeding from Snead as a 5th or 6th rounder tbh.
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I get where you're coming from.. I just prefer quantity.. and, I get what you're saying about having many picks.

I just like the idea of having six of the top 100 picks.
But.. 4 in the first three rounds and having two fifths and two sixths could be fun.
 
Pupped said:
I get where you're coming from.. I just prefer quantity.. and, I get what you're saying about having many picks.

I just like the idea of having six of the top 100 picks.
But.. 4 in the first three rounds and having two fifths and two sixths could be fun.
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You're describing quality over quantity. We already have quantity in 10 picks instead of 7 we're given before trades. And we already have quantity with 4 in the first 3 rounds 2 1sts a 2nd and a 3rd. Then 2 in the 5th 6th and 7th. We're in great shape this year with that draft capital and $93.5 million in cap space.
 
OldSchool said:
You're describing quality over quantity. We already have quantity in 10 picks instead of 7 we're given before trades. And we already have quantity with 4 in the first 3 rounds 2 1sts a 2nd and a 3rd. Then 2 in the 5th 6th and 7th. We're in great shape this year with that draft capital and $93.5 million in cap space.
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Well.. I don't know if it's that simple.
You're going to have a MASSIVE contract with Puka.. and pretty damn big ones with Kobie and Verse.
What will that mean for the cap situation, overall?

I'm not saying I think your wrong, your whole plan is well thought out. I just would be tempted to do it a different way. Ultimately, I do think that they would have the positions in the first round flipped from what you have, based on their overall approach and the fact that we've heard of McVay wanting to trade up in recent years for three specific players.. Bowers, Tet and Byron Murphy. I think he values those offensive playmakers and guys who can pressure the QB more than CBs.
 
Pupped said:
Well.. I don't know if it's that simple.
You're going to have a MASSIVE contract with Puka.. and pretty damn big ones with Kobie and Verse.
What will that mean for the cap situation, overall?

I'm not saying I think your wrong, your whole plan is well thought out. I just would be tempted to do it a different way. Ultimately, I do think that they would have the positions in the first round flipped from what you have, based on their overall approach and the fact that we've heard of McVay wanting to trade up in recent years for three specific players.. Bowers, Tet and Byron Murphy. I think he values those offensive playmakers and guys who can pressure the QB more than CBs.
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As I said above all those extensions are future contracts mostly in 2026 and they get what they can with the cap done this year. But adding more higher end rookie contracts in more top 100 picks isn't going to help those picks.

As for wants I don't think narrowing it down to positions is the true end game for the Rams. It's playmakers who can come in and make those plays more than specific positions. We got a TE eventually just a round and year later same with a guy like Murphy. Maybe Tet's like player is the end of the 1st round this year or the 2nd. Maybe it's Adams in a short term until we get him this year? I stopped trying to guess what they want to do and just guess more so now what I think is best with some flavor added in from their past moves.
 
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