OldSchool mock draft 1.0

[OldSchool]

Players will rise and fall along the draft board as we get closer to the draft with workouts and prodays and the normal rumor mill. The Rams can and will create cap space as needed with this free agency. Also I'm trying to not grab free agents others have signed or draft the same players but it'll happen. There have been some really interesting free agents and some draft picks I love but trying for a little variety.

Free Agency:

Re-sign:

Alaric Jackson. I think he gets a 3 year deal around market value in the low $20 million range play with the numbers as you like.
Akhello Witherspoon. Gets a 2 year deal for what will end up a battle at CB2/CB3
Neville Gallimore resigned for depth along the front line.

DeMarcus Robinson. Keeping a vet that has done well as a 3rd or 4th and knows the offense.

McDermott, Murchison and McMahon all resigned for depth at the minimum.

Sign:

Chavarius Ward CB Niners. Estimates I've seen range from $15-18 million a year to come in as our CB1. I'm not interested in Greenlaw but bringing Ward in to be CB1 is a win.

Jamien Sherwood ILB NYJ. For those that are fans of the site PFF likes this guy a lot. He's good in coverage, most places I've seen has him as a top 5 coverage ILB, and at tackling. He's got sideline to sideline range. Size will be a concern to some but his time starting in NY has been good. Here's a brief clip of Baldy talking about him.


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Rp4qUuAlXH4


Justin Skule OT Tampa Bay

Skule is a veteran swing tackle. He's started both OT positions and done it well in Tampa and SF over the last 5 years. He's a vet presence behind AJax and Big Rob and shouldn't break the bank.

Draft:

Rams trade pick Round 1 pick 26 and Round 6 pick 26 to New England (moving up for an OT) for Round 2 pick 6(38) and Round 3 pick 13(77)

Round 2 pick 6(38) the Rams select:
Deone Walker NT Kentucky
Massive man at 6'7" 340 lbs to come in and play between Fiske and Turner. This is a spot that completely changes our defense. Here is a breakdown of him at the Senior Bowl.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itzUEpvvnBc&ab_channel=TheFootballScout


Round 3 pick 13(77) the Rams select:
Mason Taylor TE LSU
This is a loaded TE class and the rankings of them can fluctuate and this might be too late for him but with Arroyo and Gadson rising we could see Taylor fall in to our lap. Great hands good size and a chain mover.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZmWk4Qvwe8&t=23s&ab_channel=hyperhighlights



Round 3 pick 26(90) the Rams select:
Hollin Pierce OT Rutgers
Stealing this one obviously, a massive swing OT to develop and could end up being the heir to Big Rob.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzhXtwCmYLI&ab_channel=BigTenFootball



Round 3 pick 36(100) the Rams select:
Tory Horton WR Colorado St. Tall skinny X receiver with 4.45 speed. One of the better X in the draft at tracking the ball combine that with good short area acceleration and he's a dangerous X to add to the TE's and Puka/Kupp.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQEqucbaNwY&ab_channel=hyperhighlights


Round 4 pick 25(126) the Rams select:
Bhayshul Tuten RB Virginia Tech
Here's our game changer RB. At 5'11" 209 lbs he is every bit as fast as his 4.32 40 time. Will need to grow as a pass blocker but he's RB3 behind Williams and Corum. Also could see time in the return game.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-32q8DjMgkU&t=100s&ab_channel=ACCDigitalNetwork


Round 6 pick 14(192) the Rams select:
Tommi Hill CB Nebraska
One of the ways they could create some more cap space is to release DK so I'm adding another young CB to the room. Hill a WR converted to CB has had some huge hype at times but seems to settle in around the 200 pick range in most all projections. More of a zone CB he's likely a PS guy or ST guy with time to develop.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHydRka1LkM&ab_channel=Jayyrnnn


Round 6 pick 25(203) the Rams select:
QB Taylor Elgersma Laurier
Wasn't on many draft boards prior to the Senior Bowl and he was very impressive here. Truly don't know much about him but I can see the Rams picking a day 3 QB up this year so why not?


View: https://youtu.be/x9dMjVRHeUw?t=264


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du143pttGBE&ab_channel=KerryMartin



Have at it! Added a NT to take the front 7 to another level with a veteran ILB behind him. A CB1 along with another young guy for the room. Added an X WR we all know is needed, at TE to help Higs move the chains, a game changing RB along with the future RT and a vet swing tackle. I really got there to the 3rd round and at this point it's hard to tell who will or won't be there and what direction I wanted to go. Initially I was thinking pick 77 was going to be a CB but signing Ward changed that and allowed to focus on the offense.

 

[Memphis Ram]

The Rams recent free agency excursions leave a lot to be desired so I'm a bit leery on anything greater than a 2nd or 3rd wave bargain signing.

Walker to me is an enigma. A boom or bust type deal.

Almost forgot about Torry Horton after his injury.

Tommie Hill seemed to be being picked on during that Senior Bowl.

Not sure the Rams should even waste a selection on that Canadian QB who is said will be the #1 overall selection in the CFL Draft.

 

[fanotodd]

Thought your three 3rd round picks were solid. The Rams have a glaring need for all three of those positions. Following them up with Tuten in the 4th was good pick too. He seems to fit the consensus for a desired RB. The offense in general could use more speed.

I know you wanted to make sure the CB1 was solidified before the draft so the Rams didn’t have to choose one early, but I just hate the idea of it being a 9er. Lol. I guess that says more about me than your mock, right?

If I’m drafting a QB that late, I’m grabbing the kid out of Indiana.

Like your idea of signing sherwood and bringing back Robinson, but if you COULD land Pierce in the 3rd, you wouldn’t have to spend the $$ on skule.

Just curious, but why are you willing to pay Gallimore and Murchison to rotate in, but not BB3? Davis and him could form a sensational rotation with newly drafted Walker.

 

[OldSchool]

Thought your three 3rd round picks were solid. The Rams have a glaring need for all three of those positions. Following them up with Tuten in the 4th was good pick too. He seems to fit the consensus for a desired RB. The offense in general could use more speed.

I know you wanted to make sure the CB1 was solidified before the draft so the Rams didn’t have to choose one early, but I just hate the idea of it being a 9er. Lol. I guess that says more about me than your mock, right?

If I’m drafting a QB that late, I’m grabbing the kid out of Indiana.

Like your idea of signing sherwood and bringing back Robinson, but if you COULD land Pierce in the 3rd, you wouldn’t have to spend the $$ on skule.

Just curious, but why are you willing to pay Gallimore and Murchison to rotate in, but not BB3? Davis and him could form a sensational rotation with newly drafted Walker.

Skule isn't that much money and the vet swing tackle allows for Pierce to basically red shirt a year which seems to be a common thought with him. He's talented just needs a bit of time, I'd rather have him as the 4th tackle than the 3rd but that's just me. The other thought I had was Lundt in the 4th and pick a RB in the 3rd but I like Tuten.

 

[jrry32]

I like the Ward signing. It's one I've been kicking around. I also like quite a few of your picks. I will say that drafting Walker with our first pick (even in a trade down) isn't what I want. It's a positional value issue. I doubt we're in our base for over 50% of the snaps, so we're drafting a NT whose primary job will be stuffing the run and will play maybe 50% of the defensive snaps. After all, when we go to subpackages, he's not playing over Fiske or Turner unless they need a rest or we need some additional run-stuffing on the field.

Why spend a top 40 pick on that guy when we can grab a run-stuffing big body on Day 3? That's without getting into Walker's red flags.
(For reference, Bobby Brown III only played 50+% of our snaps in 5 games this year. Even if Walker sees more snaps because he's a better pass rusher, we're still not talking about him playing 80% or 90% of our snaps, unless we're putting Fiske on the bench for extended periods of time.)

 

[OldSchool]

I like the Ward signing. It's one I've been kicking around. I also like quite a few of your picks. I will say that drafting Walker with our first pick (even in a trade down) isn't what I want. It's a positional value issue. I doubt we're in our base for over 50% of the snaps, so we're drafting a NT whose primary job will be stuffing the run and will play maybe 50% of the defensive snaps. After all, when we go to subpackages, he's not playing over Fiske or Turner unless they need a rest or we need some additional run-stuffing on the field.

Why spend a top 40 pick on that guy when we can grab a run-stuffing big body on Day 3? That's without getting into Walker's red flags.
(For reference, Bobby Brown III only played 50+% of our snaps in 5 games this year. Even if Walker sees more snaps because he's a better pass rusher, we're still not talking about him playing 80% or 90% of our snaps, unless we're putting Fiske on the bench for extended periods of time.)

I agree about the NT and get what you're saying. I guess it's just a fascination with that kind of player along with what we already have up front.

My first thought on this mock was a WR with that pick and a guy like Stackhouse or Hemi away later.

 

[Merlin]

Going negative side first I'd say my biggest complaint is I'm not sure how much better the secondary would be. Also I always knew you loved Spoon.

On the positive side I can't stand Bobby Brown's half season bullshit, so to see a new DT who is a real "ass kicker" come in to this DL group is a big win. The reason we need this is because I am tired of watching these boys get pushed around on early downs. This addition fixes that, and the depth for rotation is key in the big playoff battles ahead when we face a top OL.

Haven't really watched Sherwood. But I don't hate the idea of an under the radar pairing addition for Speights with the DL upgraded to protect them.

Pierce is interesting. Feels like a higher bust chance, him being a potential to balloon out any given offseason. But 6'9" and 340 as a lean playing weight... Probably worth the risk. I'm ok with that.

Like the Canadian QB late round too. Dude had stars in his eyes in the Senior Bowl. But he has raw talent, park him behind the soul taker and let him soak it up.

 

[jrry32]

Going negative side first I'd say my biggest complaint is I'm not sure how much better the secondary would be. Also I always knew you loved Spoon.

On the positive side I can't stand Bobby Brown's half season bullshit, so to see a new DT who is a real "ass kicker" come in to this DL group is a big win. The reason we need this is because I am tired of watching these boys get pushed around on early downs. This addition fixes that, and the depth for rotation is key in the big playoff battles ahead when we face a top OL.

Haven't really watched Sherwood. But I don't hate the idea of an under the radar pairing addition for Speights with the DL upgraded to protect them.

Pierce is interesting. Feels like a higher bust chance, him being a potential to balloon out any given offseason. But 6'9" and 340 as a lean playing weight... Probably worth the risk. I'm ok with that.

Like the Canadian QB late round too. Dude had stars in his eyes in the Senior Bowl. But he has raw talent, park him behind the soul taker and let him soak it up.

Adding Ward as the #1 CB should do quite a bit for the secondary. He's a very good CB.

 

[OldSchool]

I agree about the NT and get what you're saying. I guess it's just a fascination with that kind of player along with what we already have up front.

My first thought on this mock was a WR with that pick and a guy like Stackhouse or Hemi away later.

Typing on the phone is always fun for me.

That was supposed to be add a guy like Tonka Hemingway later.

 

[dieterbrock]

Not sure the Rams should even waste a selection on that Canadian QB who is said will be the #1 overall selection in the CFL Draft.

Even so, he'd make twice as much money (if not more) on an NFL rookie contract and would easily find a suitor up north if he didnt cut it in the NFL

 

[JonRam99]

I quite like this draft, though I tend to agree w/ jrry that NT is a bit of a value miss.
The deep threat with Horton is OK, but if we get one in the 2nd round, maybe this pick is spent on an NT? I'm 100% convinced that we need 1. a lock-down CB1 and 2. a deep-speed vertical threat WR1b (to Puka's WR1a). A WR lineup of Puka - WR1b - Demarcus/Whittington will be pretty solid. If we can't get Tee H. in F/A, we really need to get that vertical threat.
I really like that RB kid. Those are the highlight reels I wanna see, with CB's trailing him. We need an RB with wheels, because this also forces the defense to respect the whole field. D's were stacking the box imho because a. no deep threat and b. no homerun threat in the backfield. So this kid would be a great pickup.
I also really like the F/A's you picked, a CB1 of course but also an ILB with proven sideline-to-sideline coverage to complement Speights, who will be a beast in year 2.
Thanks for the Mock!

 

[TheTackle]

I watched a number of ex scouts and player personnel men discuss Deone Walker at the senior bowl. There seems to be a consensus that he will not hold up as a 3-4 NT despite his size

He may fall in the draft if teams decide he has to play 4-3

 

[OldSchool]

I watched a number of ex scouts and player personnel men discuss Deone Walker at the senior bowl. There seems to be a consensus that he will not hold up as a 3-4 NT despite his size

He may fall in the draft if teams decide he has to play 4-3

Could be and like i said a monster NT is just a selfish dream. Future mocks will likely keep free agency the same but have a wr, te or ot with the first pick. I like Jerry's guy Golden a lot but we might have to stay in the first to get him.

 

[Flatlyner]

Pretty solid offseason and draft, however, I share the concerns with taking a 50% of the time on the field player with our first pick. Could address a WR/CB would be contributing more and also saving a lot of cap in signing one.

Also, not so sure I'd feel good about Bennett and Laurier as the backups to Staff. I don't think McVay would feel good about that either. No confidence in Bennett coming in and winning games and Laurier not much different, likely less confident.

One of the great parts about going into last season was having a vet back up QB, who has won big games, backing up Staff. I'd be terrified with them backing him up.

 

[Memento]

I love Deone Walker as a prospect...but like everyone else, I'm not sure about taking a nose tackle who won't play much with Turner and Fiske on third downs, and I'd rather not do base defense all the time.

Thanks for stealing Hollin Pierce's selection. Again, credit where credit is due.

Love the Taylor and Tuten picks. Haven't seen enough of the Canadian quarterback, but he seems like a better option than most of the late quarterbacks, and who knows? Maybe we have our own Jordan Mailata in that quarterback - a kid who comes out of absolutely nowhere and becomes a star.

Not much of a fan of Tony Horton. He reminds me of Van Jefferson - both good and especially bad. Not much of a "dawg" for the X, even though he's a solid speed threat. I'd rather take a chance on a more physical receiver that has that speed (and there are a lot of them in this class), even if he has to sit a bit to learn the offense.

 

[methomas50]

Getting mixed reviews on Walker. Proto type D Lineman size to play virtually anywhere on the D Line. Read some possible issues with effort and production. One of my favorite players in the draft before the season. I think he tests well at the combine but could be available later in the draft. Still think the Rams first pick will be offense FWIW.

 

[TheTackle]

Could be and like i said a monster NT is just a selfish dream. Future mocks will likely keep free agency the same but have a wr, te or ot with the first pick. I like Jerry's guy Golden a lot but we might have to stay in the first to get him.

Around the 18 minute mark they discuss two NT types, Phillips and CJ West, impressing at the Shrine Bowl


View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ygifMNavBig&pp=ygUQRWFzdCB3ZXN0IHNocmluZQ%3D%3D

 

[TheTackle]

On Monday, Maryland defensive lineman standout Jordan Phillips was recognized as one of the standout players from the East-West Shrine Bowl. The 6-3, 320 pound defender looked impressive throughout the bowl prep and certainly received plenty of attention from NFL scouts

Maryland Football: Jordan Phillips recognized as standout player for East-West Shrine Bowl

On Monday, Maryland defensive lineman standout Jordan Phillips was recognized as one of the standout players from the East-West Shrine Bowl. The 6-3, 320 pound

www.si.com

 

[TheTackle]

Here’s a player that I am watching as he looks like a great fit for what we do up front. I can’t get a clear picture of where he might be drafted as sites have him listed all over the board

This report has me salivating as I agree that a stout NT could transform how we play the run

Chiefs scouting report: Oregon Ducks NT Jamaree Caldwell

The Kansas City #Chiefs could look to select a player like Oregon #Ducks nose tackle Jamaree Caldwell in the 2025 NFL draft.

chiefswire.usatoday.com

 

[OldSchool]

I'm aware of Phillips