Reasons for WR at 19

[Ram_Rally]

I don't believe a guy who was told to stop playing football is a smart investment. Fans are pissed because Noteboom "is made of glass"? Nobody knew that prior to the draft. How are they gonna feel knowing that Latu was told to quit football for his own good but gets drafted in the first round anyway, then plays a year and a half before he's done? Sometimes, I don't get the "logic". TLew might have been a better investment than this kid is gonna be.

From the draft pundits I listened to his medical concerns were more about liability than availability. There was a player a few years ago, Jaelen Phillips, who got a medical diagnosis because of his concussions or something? And so people are comparing Latu to him. But from what I've read he doesn't actually have a long injury concern. He just had a very serious injury over 4 years ago that scared off the team he was on.

 

[dieterbrock]

I don't believe a guy who was told to stop playing football is a smart investment. Fans are pissed because Noteboom "is made of glass"? Nobody knew that prior to the draft. How are they gonna feel knowing that Latu was told to quit football for his own good but gets drafted in the first round anyway, then plays a year and a half before he's done?

I don’t know how much of his injury concern is just media embellishment.
Sure he was scared and took time off, but he was fully medically cleared and rebounded with 2 monster seasons.
If he's still on the board when they hit the teens, Rams should full bore attempt to move up and get him

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

From the draft pundits I listened to his medical concerns were more about liability than availability. There was a player a few years ago, Jaelen Phillips, who got a medical diagnosis because of his concussions or something? And so people are comparing Latu to him. But from what I've read he doesn't actually have a long injury concern. He just had a very serious injury over 4 years ago that scared off the team he was on.

I think he had a neck injury didn’t he? The way refs allow tackles to wrap there arm around a pass rushers neck could be a concern.

Robert Quinn didn’t have a neck injury but all of that hooking caused him to have one.

 

[Ram_Rally]

I think he had a neck injury didn’t he? The way refs allow tackles to wrap there arm around a pass rushers neck could be a concern.

Robert Quinn didn’t have a neck injury but all of that hooking caused him to have one.

Yes he had to get a neck fusion or something like that? Something to monitor for sure.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Two edge players I think the Rams would consider are Austin Booker from Kansas and Masson Smith from LSU.

Booker has potential with a huge wingspan and good athleticism but he is raw and will need developed. But his highlights look very good.


View: https://youtu.be/zAnIWly25ps?si=TtEFcBJ2smTxigos


Masson Smith was a five star recruit and after his first camp his coaches were raving about how dominant he was. Then he got injured (acl). After he recovered he was suspended. So he, like Booker had limited college time. But it’s easy to see his ability to dominate. He’s very good at setting the edge to contain running QBs. He played DE, but the Rams played a DE at edge last year, so who knows.


View: https://youtu.be/MJ4eRN38-Ro?si=RYapliOwFha2SLWx


A limited amount of college games should push both down to rounds three or likely even later. Add in Smiths ACL and He should be round 5 or later. I don’t advocate taking previously injured players but in round 6-7 he’s worth the risk imo

 

[MachS]

Maybe but you're talking about the same HC that was able to have a successful working relationship with personalities like OBJ and Mayfield

True. I think if McVay knows a player truly loves football and loves to compete, some of the extra curricular stuff he'll ignore. OBJ by all accounts a good dude, but Talib, Peters, Suh... there's been a few guys McVay brought in with question marks off the field.

All the draft simulators I've bee doing show theres gonna be a monster for us at 19.

 

[muggmeister]

The only ones worth moving up for are Turner (edge) and Alt/Fashanu (LT).

I would say we’d have to move as high as five or six to be sure of our guy, so we would have to give up next year’s first as well as our second this year.

Not sure we can afford to do that, given that we are soon going to need to replace AD/Kupp/Stafford.

I’d stay at 19 and see who falls to us. If all the top guys are gone and we feel the value isn’t there, trade down.

A trade down always sounds so good to recoup additional picks. However, the only 3 positions worthy of a trade up from those behind us would be LT, CB, and edge, the same 3 positions we would be targeting so why the hell would we trade down at that point? There are about 15 players that will be unavailable to us so I could imagine a minor trade-up before a trade-down. Edge is crucial in round 1 thanks to the Williams signing and A. Jackson tender, so if Verse or Latu is available around 15-16 I would be happy as hell to throw in a 3rd. Just my logic, no rhyme and only my personal reasoning.

 

[dang]

Two edge players I think the Rams would consider are Austin Booker from Kansas and Masson Smith from LSU.

Booker has potential with a huge wingspan and good athleticism but he is raw and will need developed. But his highlights look very good.


View: https://youtu.be/zAnIWly25ps?si=TtEFcBJ2smTxigos


Masson Smith was a five star recruit and after his first camp his coaches were raving about how dominant he was. Then he got injured (acl). After he recovered he was suspended. So he, like Booker had limited college time. But it’s easy to see his ability to dominate. He’s very good at setting the edge to contain running QBs. He played DE, but the Rams played a DE at edge last year, so who knows.


View: https://youtu.be/MJ4eRN38-Ro?si=RYapliOwFha2SLWx


A limited amount of college games should push both down to rounds three or likely even later. Add in Smiths ACL and He should be round 5 or later. I don’t advocate taking previously injured players but in round 6-7 he’s worth the risk imo

Masson Smith Looks to be a DT/DE more than OLB/ Edge. Hoecht at Edge wasn’t successful last year so I don’t see trying that again.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Masson Smith Looks to be a DT/DE more than OLB/ Edge. Hoecht at Edge wasn’t successful last year so I don’t see trying that again.

I don’t know if they would try to slim him down to play edge but he moves much better than Hoecht does

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Yes he had to get a neck fusion or something like that? Something to monitor for sure.

I’ve seen Latu compared to TJ Watt. I have a few vertebrae fused in my neck. Knowing my own limitations, it would scare me off of Latu.

 

[Merlin]

Latu isn't yoked up. He's not a roid boy. Not a workout warrior. Just a natural pass rusher with the hand skills and slipperiness off that edge that teams covet. Teams are gonna look at other edges and convince themselves they don't want to take a chance on him. And hey maybe that medical side is really a concern, who knows, though I think if that was the case word would have gotten out to the media parrots who would be squawking while they slide him down their "boards."

I think he's gonna be a star. He'll come in year one and eat QBs for the lucky team who takes him. He'll disrupt and affect QBs at a high rate with pressures because that's what he does. To me there is no "slide" with a guy like this. He is either not a medical concern in which case you don't let him get by you in the draft. OR he's a medical concern and you don't touch him because nobody wants a guy dying on their field.

Five years from now after he gets the full benefit of pro training and regimen and builds his frame, this guy is going to be an absolute beast.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPSHrK12TFY

 

[PhillyRam]

A trade down always sounds so good to recoup additional picks. However, the only 3 positions worthy of a trade up from those behind us would be LT, CB, and edge, the same 3 positions we would be targeting so why the hell would we trade down at that point? There are about 15 players that will be unavailable to us so I could imagine a minor trade-up before a trade-down. Edge is crucial in round 1 thanks to the Williams signing and A. Jackson tender, so if Verse or Latu is available around 15-16 I would be happy as hell to throw in a 3rd. Just my logic, no rhyme and only my personal reasoning.

If the Rams feel the top guys are gone, then trade back and get the 2nd tier guy at CB, Edge, or OT.

For example, let's say they feel only CB's Arnold & Mitchell are worthy at 19, but they are gone. Same with Turner & Verse at edge, or similar with the top 3 OTs.

Well, since all 3 positions are needs, they may be content to move back 5 spots and grab a guy from the 2nd pod of those position group's.

 

[Flatlyner]

Latu isn't yoked up. He's not a roid boy. Not a workout warrior. Just a natural pass rusher with the hand skills and slipperiness off that edge that teams covet. Teams are gonna look at other edges and convince themselves they don't want to take a chance on him. And hey maybe that medical side is really a concern, who knows, though I think if that was the case word would have gotten out to the media parrots who would be squawking while they slide him down their "boards."

I think he's gonna be a star. He'll come in year one and eat QBs for the lucky team who takes him. He'll disrupt and affect QBs at a high rate with pressures because that's what he does. To me there is no "slide" with a guy like this. He is either not a medical concern in which case you don't let him get by you in the draft. OR he's a medical concern and you don't touch him because nobody wants a guy dying on their field.

Five years from now after he gets the full benefit of pro training and regimen and builds his frame, this guy is going to be an absolute beast.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPSHrK12TFY

Agree with everything you said here. To me he's the best defensive player in the draft. It would be highway robbery to get him at 19.

Its not apples to apples but, it has some similarity to the 2022 draft where the Jags were considering Walker or Hutch. To me, it was a no brainer that Hutch was the better player, but, Walker was an athletic freak. IMO, Hutch is and was the better player. Its similar to Turner/Latu this year, although not at the very top of the draft.

 

[Merlin]

Agree with everything you said here. To me he's the best defensive player in the draft. It would be highway robbery to get him at 19.

Its not apples to apples but, it has some similarity to the 2022 draft where the Jags were considering Walker or Hutch. To me, it was a no brainer that Hutch was the better player, but, Walker was an athletic freak. IMO, Hutch is and was the better player. Its similar to Turner/Latu this year, although not at the very top of the draft.

Yeah and what's funny is all you hear as knocks on him are "medical medical medical" but that stuff is going to be taken care of by team docs so if he goes round 1 then that stuff is cleared. Unless as a fan you are a professional spine expert plus have some psychic abilities to read his medical records.

If I was going to critique his game it would be his anchor vs the run. Bigger tackles can push him. So he needs to get stronger. He might be a third down rusher initially, but his skills are so strong in that regard that whoever gets him will benefit greatly.

My opinion on what the Rams are going to do at 19 has jumped from LT to Edge to CB to WR and now back to LT. So of course I have no idea. But given the OL moves I feel like LT is the ideal option. If that's not there for them though then Edge feels likely. Comes down to who falls of course. If it's Latu though and the Rams take him I am going to presume they vetted his health.

 

[Ram_Rally]

I’ve seen Latu compared to TJ Watt. I have a few vertebrae fused in my neck. Knowing my own limitations, it would scare me off of Latu.

I think that's fair. Maybe corner is more the option for round 1

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

Five years from now after he gets the full benefit of pro training and regimen and builds his frame, this guy is going to be an absolute beast.

Five years from now is when he's due for his first contract extension. Is that going to be an issue? For a first round pick, I don't want to wait for him to develop like a mid-round lineman.

Also, your description of him not being a workout warrior concerns me. Are you saying he's a naturally gifted guy that's lazy? Donald's peak is as long as it is because he works off the field.

 

[Merlin]

Five years from now is when he's due for his first contract extension. Is that going to be an issue? For a first round pick, I don't want to wait for him to develop like a mid-round lineman.

Also, your description of him not being a workout warrior concerns me. Are you saying he's a naturally gifted guy that's lazy? Donald's peak is as long as it is because he works off the field.

Just pointing out that who I think he is, his strengths and weaknesses, aren't portrayed that well in the media. Watch that matchup with him and Oregon State and he gets some pressures but gets blown off the LOS a bit. So I think he's a blindside guy, he won't be able to line up on the left in the NFL right away. And vs some teams he may be a third down rush specialist until he puts more meat on his bones.

But I could be wrong on that count as that's a projection. A lot of evals I've seen on him they say he's good vs the run. I think he's suspect there but his natural rush ability makes up for it and then some. This is a guy who teams probably have to scheme for as a rookie. IMO. Guessing they will run at him too. But on third down he's gonna get his chances.

 

[fanotodd]

I’ve seen Latu compared to TJ Watt. I have a few vertebrae fused in my neck. Knowing my own limitations, it would scare me off of Latu.

What took you so long?
That’s ok, though.
I’m just appreciative that someone with real experience in this spoke up. It just seems dicey to me.

Furthermore, has anyone really looked at his production? Did he beat up bad teams and disappear versus the good ones? That’s something that isn’t talked about enough when it’s time to evaluate these guys. I had read something about that scared me off of him because of that too.

I’m just not liking this one.

 

[Memphis Ram]

View: https://twitter.com/RossTuckerPod/status/1768248144553521281

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Yeah and what's funny is all you hear as knocks on him are "medical medical medical" but that stuff is going to be taken care of by team docs so if he goes round 1 then that stuff is cleared. Unless as a fan you are a professional spine expert plus have some psychic abilities to read his medical records.

If I was going to critique his game it would be his anchor vs the run. Bigger tackles can push him. So he needs to get stronger. He might be a third down rusher initially, but his skills are so strong in that regard that whoever gets him will benefit greatly.

My opinion on what the Rams are going to do at 19 has jumped from LT to Edge to CB to WR and now back to LT. So of course I have no idea. But given the OL moves I feel like LT is the ideal option. If that's not there for them though then Edge feels likely. Comes down to who falls of course. If it's Latu though and the Rams take him I am going to presume they vetted his health.

It’s more likely that they have a group of players that include all of the positions that you mention and they will see who, or how many drop to 19.

This draft is a bit hard to predict imo. We could see a run on WR or Tackles early, after the QBs and the Rams will have some great options to choose from. I think the least likely thing to happen is that none of the players in their top group fall to them. I guess it’s possible but it would seem, barring character issues that they should have many options.