So let's hear your top 13

[Merlin]

By now the Rams have the top 13 of their board (and of course much more than that) all finished up I am sure. And will undoubtedly know who the pick will be depending on how it goes no matter what the scenario is. So I'm curious what your boards look like. If you had to stack one, where you would follow that priority come hell or high water by selecting the top name on it, what would your board be.

Gonna put mine up, which of course looks nothing like any of the teams I am sure, nor does it look like any of the media boards that I know of. Not that I'm reading those sites. I really don't but here we go. Also to the colors: Blue Chip, Top 15, Bottom 15 in the first round of a draft of good quality throughout.

1. QB Mendoza (remarkable consistency, all the tools)
2. RB Love (rare talent with production)
3. ILB Styles (rare talent with production)
4. Edge Bailey (on the bubble as a blue chip but his tape is great)
5. S Downs (he's gonna be a box safety)
6. Edge Bain (arm length knocks him down)
7. CB Delane (definite top 15 type)
8. WR Tate (mid first type so on bubble to my eye as a top 15)
9. S Thieneman (has top end tape ranging the middle which is harder to find than box safeties)
10. OT Freeling (he's here because I think he has a chance to LT in the NFL)
11. OG Ioane (I would take him before the OT conversions in Fano and Mauigoa who are also going to be OGs)
12. ILB Reese (he's here on the strength of his athletic profile, i.e. upside plus versatility)

Let me say first I'm over all these fucking Edges with short arms. I like some who are on the board here but I don't want another Edge who can't finish. Also I penalized the injury risk types and they're not in the mix for me at 13.

If McVay wants a WR: I would go Boston. Won't cry if it's Lemon or Cooper but not the way I'd go.

If McVay wants a DL: I would go Miller or McDonald. Miller can 5T for you so I'd give him the nod. McDonald is better at just destroying the interior blocking schemes. But both these guys shut down run games on the interior at a high level and that is something we need to free up previous investments in that defensive front.

If McVay wants a swing OT who can move to OG to replace Avila after the season: I would go Mauigoa or Fano. Both have a chance to be excellent OGs. By the way this OG group as a whole is really good, given the short arm pandemic in this draft with some of the better OT options likely moving inside on top of a strong group. So you don't have to go OG early unless you really like one of these dudes. Lastly Proctor is a massive OT but I think he's going to be a very good RT in the NFL. I don't think he's a blind sider.

If McVay wants a QB: I would try to dissuade him from taking Simpson at 13.

 

[bwdenverram]

Don't really disagree with your list man. The only one that surprises me (even though I know you're high on Styles) is how much better you think he is than Reese. I'm the opposite. I haven't watched a ton of OSU games, but just watching the highlights of both, Reese stands out way more (at least to me) than Styles. I'd be happy with either (which unless we trade up isn't likely).
What is about Reese that you don't like in comparison?

I'm also a Cooper homer I guess. His tape screams stud to me and a perfect fit for us. I'm not on the Lemon train like most. Something about his interviews gives me character concerns. I'm sure it's nothing just my gut feeling. Tyson (even with injury concerns) or Cooper are my two favorite. But fine with Tate, etc.

I also agree on McDonald, think he's a great fit also.

Will be interesting how it all shakes out.

 

[jjab360]

1 QB Mendoza
2 RB Love
3 Edge Bailey
4 Edge Bain
5 WR Tate
6 WR Tyson
7 WR Cooper, Jr.
8 TE Sadiq
9 WR Boston
10 WR Lemon
11 CB McCoy
12 CB Delane
13 WR Concepcion

My board would probably look something like that with need and positional value factored in.

 

[Merlin]

Don't really disagree with your list man. The only one that surprises me (even though I know you're high on Styles) is how much better you think he is than Reese. I'm the opposite. I haven't watched a ton of OSU games, but just watching the highlights of both, Reese stands out way more (at least to me) than Styles. I'd be happy with either (which unless we trade up isn't likely).
What is about Reese that you don't like in comparison?

I list him based on being an ILB. Too much of his slotting is projection based on Edge usage, and if you're gonna look at him as an Edge he's got a ways to go. As an ILB who offers flexibility plus he's a freak I think he's intriguing but not a bluechip type.

Styles is the dude who is going to plug into ILB and anchor your defense for a long time. There's none of that try him here and there BS.

 

[dang]

I list him based on being an ILB. Too much of his slotting is projection based on Edge usage, and if you're gonna look at him as an Edge he's got a ways to go. As an ILB who offers flexibility plus he's a freak I think he's intriguing but not a bluechip type.

Styles is the dude who is going to plug into ILB and anchor your defense for a long time. There's none of that try him here and there BS.

I’d prefer the Rams to trade down from R1.13. But If the Rams were to trade up I would hope it would be for Love or Styles.
Admittedly, what I know about Styles I’ve read or saw his Combine results. I’ve never watched him play. He’s obviously a superior athlete but is there a NFL LB (past or present) that he compares to or is he a unicorn?

 

[FrantikRam]

Don't really disagree with your list man. The only one that surprises me (even though I know you're high on Styles) is how much better you think he is than Reese. I'm the opposite. I haven't watched a ton of OSU games, but just watching the highlights of both, Reese stands out way more (at least to me) than Styles. I'd be happy with either (which unless we trade up isn't likely).
What is about Reese that you don't like in comparison?

I'm also a Cooper homer I guess. His tape screams stud to me and a perfect fit for us. I'm not on the Lemon train like most. Something about his interviews gives me character concerns. I'm sure it's nothing just my gut feeling. Tyson (even with injury concerns) or Cooper are my two favorite. But fine with Tate, etc.

I also agree on McDonald, think he's a great fit also.

Will be interesting how it all shakes out.

As an Ohio St fan that watched just about every game Styles played....I will tell you that I was shocked by his testing numbers.

He was a good player, don't get me wrong - and if he was there at 13, I would take him because it finishes this defense.

But his play didn't match how he tested. Reese's did. He dominated. Styles had a dominant DL in front of him, Caleb Downs behind him and he was just sort of lost in that mix...never really stood out too much

 

[jjab360]

I’d prefer the Rams to trade down from R1.13. But If the Rams were to trade up I would hope it would be for Love or Styles.
Admittedly, what I know about Styles I’ve read or saw his Combine results. I’ve never watched him play. He’s obviously a superior athlete but is there a NFL LB (past or present) that he compares to or is he a unicorn?

I'm going to go against the grain here and say I haven't seen anything special out of either Styles or Reese other than just being really athletic chasing players down in the open field. There's a lot of projection there with both of those guys.

And with Styles' positional value as an ILB I don't think I'd take him even if he was there at 13. I've been wrong before though.

 

[DzRams]

1 QB Mendoza
2 Edge Bailey
3 LB Styles
4 LB Reese
5 Edge Bains
6 RB Love
7 WR Tate
8 OG Ioane
9 OT/OG Fano
10 OT / OG Mauigoa
11 S Downs
12 DL Faulk
13 QB Simpson

Need and positional value are heavily factored in here.

 

[FrantikRam]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say I haven't seen anything special out of either Styles or Reese other than just being really athletic chasing players down in the open field. There's a lot of projection there with both of those guys.

And with Styles' positional value as an ILB I don't think I'd take him even if he was there at 13. I've been wrong before though.

Reese was a monster last year. He was what made the Ohio St defense one of the best in recent college football memory. He played all over the field but I think edge will be his best position....I really think he could end up being as good as Parsons

 

[bwdenverram]

As an Ohio St fan that watched just about every game Styles played....I will tell you that I was shocked by his testing numbers.

He was a good player, don't get me wrong - and if he was there at 13, I would take him because it finishes this defense.

But his play didn't match how he tested. Reese's did. He dominated. Styles had a dominant DL in front of him, Caleb Downs behind him and he was just sort of lost in that mix...never really stood out too much

That's kinda what I thought watching the tape. But hey if we get him and it works I'm all for it. I just don't see it on film

 

[Fire Ants]

Can't really argue with the OP's list or commentary - looks pretty spot on to me.
The orange guys in his comments (considering there are about 7 of them) leads me to believe a trade back may be likely.
Personally, I would love to see Cooper in horns.

 

[Flatlyner]

Reese was a monster last year. He was what made the Ohio St defense one of the best in recent college football memory. He played all over the field but I think edge will be his best position....I really think he could end up being as good as Parsons

I saw this as well. There hasn't been a ton of talk about it, but I think he would thrive there myself.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

1. Mendoza
2. Love
3. Bailey
4. Bain
5. Reese
6. Styles
7. Mauigoa
8. Downs
9. Delane
10. Thieneman
11. Tate
12. McCoy
13. Cooper

*Honorary mention: Tyson (only if deemed healthy which sadly isn't looking good at the moment hahahahaha)

 

[jjab360]

Reese was a monster last year. He was what made the Ohio St defense one of the best in recent college football memory. He played all over the field but I think edge will be his best position....I really think he could end up being as good as Parsons

That might be the case and he played some edge last year but he doesn't really have a pass rush skillset right now.

That being said, edge is the main position where athleticism often trumps college production so you could certainly be right... Parsons comparisons seem premature though.

I will say the consensus opinion that he goes to NY at 2 is a bit of a headscratcher for me when you have a proven pass rush specialist like Bailey with similar athleticism on the board.