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Final Mock Draft Roundup
By Myles Simmons
View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Final-Mock-Draft-Roundup/29532410-c895-44d1-94af-54ffe064ea44
We’ve finally arrived at draft week, and the next few days are certain to be filled with intrigue leading up to the first round on Thursday night. With the main event coming ever closer, more analysts are going further in their mocks. In this edition of the roundup, we’ve got analysts teaming up for both a seven- and three-round mock, one analyst makes two-rounds of selections, and two Rams beat writers make a pick for national publications.
Let’s start off with the mock with the most picks, which comes from NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein and Chad Reuter. The duo put together a seven-round mock, encompassing each of St. Louis’ six picks.
In the first round, Zierlein and Reuter have the Rams selecting Stanford offensive tackle Andrus Peat. And in this scenario, St. Louis would be choosing Peat over heralded Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff. It’s a move in part based on flexibility, as Zierlein and Reuter write that Peat has the ability to play both on the right or left side of the line.
Then in round two, the mock projects that the Rams will pick Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty, in part to give the team a stronger backup option at the position.
With the first two picks focusing on offense, Zierlein and Reuter have St. Louis strengthening its secondary with Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu at No. 72.
“The Rams have taken risks on smaller defensive backs in the past (see Janoris Jenkins, Lamarcus Joyner) and generally like the result,” the pair remark. “When healthy, Ekpre-Olomu could shadow receivers as well as any corner in college football.”
While Zierlein and Reuter don’t make comments on the rest of the selections, you can see them and view their NFL.com draft profiles in the links below.
4-20-119 (From PHI): Jamon Brown, G, Louisville
6-40-215 (Compensatory): Gavin Lutman, WR, Pittsburg St. (Kansas)
7-10-227: Josh Harper, WR, Fresno State
Next up, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay did a back-and-forth mock draft where the two analysts alternated picks for three rounds. (Insider subscription required - $$) Kiper had the Rams’ selection at No. 10 and went with Louisville wide receiver DeVante Parker.
“Parker is a perfect fit at a need position,” says Kiper. “Easy call. Length, catch radius, explosiveness.”
Though he’s often the third wideout mentioned in the incoming class, Parker is still regarded as an immensely talented receiver. He missed much of the 2014 season with a foot injury but still tallied 855 yards receiving in just seven contests.
For No. 41, McShay has the Rams grabbing Duke’s Laken Tomlinson, commenting that the lineman can add some physicality to the offensive front. And then like Zierlein and Reuter, Kiper has St. Louis taking a cornerback at No. 72 -- but the ESPN analyst mocks Louisville cornerback Charles Gaines to St. Louis.
“The Rams got a steal with E.J. Gaines in last year's draft, and I'm getting them another Gaines today,” says Kiper, adding that Charles Gaines provides depth at the position.
Moving on to the one-analyst mock drafts, Dane Brugler of CBS Sports and NFLDraftScout.com has the Rams taking Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper at No. 10 in his latest projection.
“Although wide receiver isn't the Rams' No. 1 need on the roster, Cooper might be the top player on St. Louis' draft board at No. 10,” Brugler writes. In this particular scenario, Kevin White, Brandon Scherff, and -- somewhat surprisingly -- running back Todd Gurley are already off the board. Gurley has been rising on plenty of mocks lately.
Then in the second round, Brugler concurs with Zierlein and Reuter at No. 41, as he has the Rams picking Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty.
“The Rams traded for Nick Foles this offseason, but he is a free agent after the season and Petty would offer a development option at quarterback,” Brugler writes.
While Petty was the 2013 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, he arguably took a step back with his performance in 2014. While Petty’s back may be an injury concern, he will also simply need time to adjust to the rigors of being a pro quarterback. Coming from Baylor, Petty never had to huddle or call plays at the college level. All those elements make him more of a project than immediate starting candidate.
Rams beat writers Jim Thomas (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) and Nick Wagoner (ESPN) each participated in mock drafts for national publications over the last week, and both came away with the same selection: Stanford’s Andrus Peat.
Thomas made St. Louis’ pick in longtime NFL reporter Sam Farmer’s media mock draft in the LA Times. On Peat, Thomas comments that the Stanford product “is a big, athletic guy who could step in right away.”
Wagoner’s pick came on Monday for ESPN’s NFL Nation mock draft. He writes that “Pete’s combination of polish and upside” would be beneficial to the Rams’ offense.
“Peat has some work to do, and I wonder if his lack of mean streak concerns the Rams,” Wagoner adds in a separate post. “But he comes from a power-run-heavy offense at Stanford not much different than what the Rams run. Peat is a polished pass protector but still comes with the type of upside the Rams seem to lean toward on draft day.”
Finally, we’ll wrap up this edition of the roundup with a conventional one-round, one-pick projection. In his second mock draft, Sports Illustrated’s Doug Farrar has the Rams selecting Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff at No. 10. Farrar says that like St. Louis’ top pick in 2014, Greg Robinson, Scherff “has the potential to be a great left tackle, but could also move to guard. “
By Myles Simmons
View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Final-Mock-Draft-Roundup/29532410-c895-44d1-94af-54ffe064ea44
We’ve finally arrived at draft week, and the next few days are certain to be filled with intrigue leading up to the first round on Thursday night. With the main event coming ever closer, more analysts are going further in their mocks. In this edition of the roundup, we’ve got analysts teaming up for both a seven- and three-round mock, one analyst makes two-rounds of selections, and two Rams beat writers make a pick for national publications.
Let’s start off with the mock with the most picks, which comes from NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein and Chad Reuter. The duo put together a seven-round mock, encompassing each of St. Louis’ six picks.
In the first round, Zierlein and Reuter have the Rams selecting Stanford offensive tackle Andrus Peat. And in this scenario, St. Louis would be choosing Peat over heralded Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff. It’s a move in part based on flexibility, as Zierlein and Reuter write that Peat has the ability to play both on the right or left side of the line.
Then in round two, the mock projects that the Rams will pick Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty, in part to give the team a stronger backup option at the position.
With the first two picks focusing on offense, Zierlein and Reuter have St. Louis strengthening its secondary with Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu at No. 72.
“The Rams have taken risks on smaller defensive backs in the past (see Janoris Jenkins, Lamarcus Joyner) and generally like the result,” the pair remark. “When healthy, Ekpre-Olomu could shadow receivers as well as any corner in college football.”
While Zierlein and Reuter don’t make comments on the rest of the selections, you can see them and view their NFL.com draft profiles in the links below.
4-20-119 (From PHI): Jamon Brown, G, Louisville
6-40-215 (Compensatory): Gavin Lutman, WR, Pittsburg St. (Kansas)
7-10-227: Josh Harper, WR, Fresno State
Next up, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay did a back-and-forth mock draft where the two analysts alternated picks for three rounds. (Insider subscription required - $$) Kiper had the Rams’ selection at No. 10 and went with Louisville wide receiver DeVante Parker.
“Parker is a perfect fit at a need position,” says Kiper. “Easy call. Length, catch radius, explosiveness.”
Though he’s often the third wideout mentioned in the incoming class, Parker is still regarded as an immensely talented receiver. He missed much of the 2014 season with a foot injury but still tallied 855 yards receiving in just seven contests.
For No. 41, McShay has the Rams grabbing Duke’s Laken Tomlinson, commenting that the lineman can add some physicality to the offensive front. And then like Zierlein and Reuter, Kiper has St. Louis taking a cornerback at No. 72 -- but the ESPN analyst mocks Louisville cornerback Charles Gaines to St. Louis.
“The Rams got a steal with E.J. Gaines in last year's draft, and I'm getting them another Gaines today,” says Kiper, adding that Charles Gaines provides depth at the position.
Moving on to the one-analyst mock drafts, Dane Brugler of CBS Sports and NFLDraftScout.com has the Rams taking Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper at No. 10 in his latest projection.
“Although wide receiver isn't the Rams' No. 1 need on the roster, Cooper might be the top player on St. Louis' draft board at No. 10,” Brugler writes. In this particular scenario, Kevin White, Brandon Scherff, and -- somewhat surprisingly -- running back Todd Gurley are already off the board. Gurley has been rising on plenty of mocks lately.
Then in the second round, Brugler concurs with Zierlein and Reuter at No. 41, as he has the Rams picking Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty.
“The Rams traded for Nick Foles this offseason, but he is a free agent after the season and Petty would offer a development option at quarterback,” Brugler writes.
While Petty was the 2013 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, he arguably took a step back with his performance in 2014. While Petty’s back may be an injury concern, he will also simply need time to adjust to the rigors of being a pro quarterback. Coming from Baylor, Petty never had to huddle or call plays at the college level. All those elements make him more of a project than immediate starting candidate.
Rams beat writers Jim Thomas (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) and Nick Wagoner (ESPN) each participated in mock drafts for national publications over the last week, and both came away with the same selection: Stanford’s Andrus Peat.
Thomas made St. Louis’ pick in longtime NFL reporter Sam Farmer’s media mock draft in the LA Times. On Peat, Thomas comments that the Stanford product “is a big, athletic guy who could step in right away.”
Wagoner’s pick came on Monday for ESPN’s NFL Nation mock draft. He writes that “Pete’s combination of polish and upside” would be beneficial to the Rams’ offense.
“Peat has some work to do, and I wonder if his lack of mean streak concerns the Rams,” Wagoner adds in a separate post. “But he comes from a power-run-heavy offense at Stanford not much different than what the Rams run. Peat is a polished pass protector but still comes with the type of upside the Rams seem to lean toward on draft day.”
Finally, we’ll wrap up this edition of the roundup with a conventional one-round, one-pick projection. In his second mock draft, Sports Illustrated’s Doug Farrar has the Rams selecting Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff at No. 10. Farrar says that like St. Louis’ top pick in 2014, Greg Robinson, Scherff “has the potential to be a great left tackle, but could also move to guard. “