Rams to host Oklahoma OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo for visit

[BonifayRam]

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/20...draft-prospect-ogbonnia-okoronkwo-visit-2018/

After trading away Robert Quinn and potentially letting Connor Barwin leave in free agency, the Los Angeles Rams have a gaping hole at outside linebacker. The market has dried up at that position with teams refusing to let pass rushers hit free agency, which has the Rams turning to the draft.

One player who could fit well in Wade Phillips’ scheme is Oklahoma linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo. According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Rams will host him for a visit this offseason.
Okoronkwo was the co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 12, sharing the honor with Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson. He recorded 76 tackles, eight sacks, three forced fumbles and 17.5 tackles for loss in 2017 alone.

Although he doesn’t have great size for the position (6-foot-1, 253 pounds), he can contribute as a pass-rush specialist. That’s where he was best at Oklahoma, as evidenced by his eight sacks.In Phillips’ scheme, he’d likely be a weakside outside linebacker, rushing against the left tackle. That would keep him away from the more powerful right tackles and chips from tight ends, providing him more one-on-one matchups.

This Edge Rusher would appear to be in for consideration with either our #111 or #135 selections in the 4th round.

 

[Merlin]

He's in play in round 3 too I think Boni. Dude's gonna be a very good player in the NFL and he's a fit.

Not huge upside, but guys like him on a roster make a winner.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I really like Okoronkwo. Odd report though. I thought his pass rush ability was limited but he could play the run well.

 

[BonifayRam]

@Merlin

I have been waiting on the Pro Day work outs on Edge Rusher/OLB Josh Sweat FSU This might be a better 3rd round selection #87 if were looking for a ER.If we miss on a NT in the first round NT Derreck Nnadi would have an higher priority if he was still on the board.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...pping-block/os-sp-fsu-pro-day-0321-story.html

...........Sweat said he has had lengthy discussions with the Seahawks and Buccaneers, but he feels the Rams are showing the most interest in him. He also had private workouts set up with the Rams, Giants and Titans, along with visits to other NFL teams scheduled for the coming weeks.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/josh-sweat?id=2559816

 

[OldSchool]

@Merlin

I have been waiting on the Pro Day work outs on Edge Rusher/OLB Josh Sweat FSU This might be a better 3rd round selection #87 if were looking for a ER.If we miss on a NT in the first round NT Derreck Nnadi would have an higher priority if he was still on the board.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...pping-block/os-sp-fsu-pro-day-0321-story.html

...........Sweat said he has had lengthy discussions with the Seahawks and Buccaneers, but he feels the Rams are showing the most interest in him. He also had private workouts set up with the Rams, Giants and Titans, along with visits to other NFL teams scheduled for the coming weeks.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/josh-sweat?id=2559816

Both these edge guys are real possibilities imo in the 3rd or 4th.

 

[Merlin]

@Merlin

I have been waiting on the Pro Day work outs on Edge Rusher/OLB Josh Sweat FSU This might be a better 3rd round selection #87 if were looking for a ER.If we miss on a NT in the first round NT Derreck Nnadi would have an higher priority if he was still on the board.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...pping-block/os-sp-fsu-pro-day-0321-story.html

...........Sweat said he has had lengthy discussions with the Seahawks and Buccaneers, but he feels the Rams are showing the most interest in him. He also had private workouts set up with the Rams, Giants and Titans, along with visits to other NFL teams scheduled for the coming weeks.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/josh-sweat?id=2559816

I do think Sweat will last a big longer due to injury concerns. We don't have that piece so hard to say, but yeah both are good examples of this class and why the Rams made the moves they made.

We're going to have some young, fresh legs added to our LB corps. Can't wait to see camp this year man.

 

[BonifayRam]

I do think Sweat will last a big longer due to injury concerns. We don't have that piece so hard to say, but yeah both are good examples of this class and why the Rams made the moves they made.

We're going to have some young, fresh legs added to our LB corps. Can't wait to see camp this year man.

This NFL.com Mock has Sweat going to Carolina in the first round @ #24.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...aft-buffalo-bills-trade-up-for-baker-mayfield

 

[Ram_Rally]

This NFL.com Mock has Sweat going to Carolina in the first round @ #24.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...aft-buffalo-bills-trade-up-for-baker-mayfield

This is more accurate to me . No later than the second

 

[Merlin]

I suspect his knee being a concern, plus some excellent OLB positional depth will work against Sweat going too early. I would say round 3 at the earliest, of course that's a rough estimate since admittedly I am only nuking the positions the Rams need and don't have the full picture wrt the other positions or the medical information on Sweat.

If it were me, I would not touch him until at least round 4. But who knows, maybe the medical stuff on his knee cleared all concerns.

 

[Merlin]

I listed other options a while back in the OLB thread to keep an eye on for the Rams that IMO they could be very high on, guys we haven't discussed too much here like Chad Thomas. Didn't go too deep putting up links on them, but there are a lot of athletic options when you get to the raw types too, ones that a great staff like we have might be able to convert into something special.

ILB is deep for our purposes too in the same way. There are difference makers up high and then guys who can just come in and execute scheme for us later on. I think OLB is a greater need, and that would lead me to think that the Rams will go that route at 23, but the ILB options that might be there could very well end up graded higher on the Rams board so who knows. There are guys, to include some I listed in the ILB thread, that will come into value in round two, like Malik Jefferson.

I just can't remember a complete LB class (ILB & OLB) that has been so deep as this one from the big/gifted athlete perspective. There are a lot of ways the Rams can go, and I do trust that they'll get it right with a couple of them at least, so it's exciting stuff.

 

[BonifayRam]

I listed other options a while back in the OLB thread to keep an eye on for the Rams that IMO they could be very high on, guys we haven't discussed too much here like Chad Thomas. Didn't go too deep putting up links on them, but there are a lot of athletic options when you get to the raw types too, ones that a great staff like we have might be able to convert into something special.

ILB is deep for our purposes too in the same way. There are difference makers up high and then guys who can just come in and execute scheme for us later on. I think OLB is a greater need, and that would lead me to think that the Rams will go that route at 23, but the ILB options that might be there could very well end up graded higher on the Rams board so who knows. There are guys, to include some I listed in the ILB thread, that will come into value in round two, like Malik Jefferson.

I just can't remember a complete LB class (ILB & OLB) that has been so deep as this one from the big/gifted athlete perspective. There are a lot of ways the Rams can go, and I do trust that they'll get it right with a couple of them at least, so it's exciting stuff.

Would seem to me that Sweat & Key have switched rankings since February. Key is in free fall @ the moment. Sweat after yesterdays pro day is rising just as fast. I agree that knee would keep me from consideration until #87 slot.