I decided 2 years I was going to change the way I operated as far as my half assed scouting. I would still do 3 mocks, but it would be post senior bowl, post combine, and pre-draft. Im not a website, so I don't need hits so I don't need to change my rankings or my mocks week to week for ad revenue. And to be honest, anyone that gets the draft process knows that players don't "rise" and "fall" week to week. Personal stuff might come up though team investigations of a player that make them slide (watch carefully on Arden Key this season ) or medical stuff. The senior bowl answers some questions, like can a D2 player compete with the big guys. How do they handle a pro style offense? How do they interview? The combine can confirm some stuff you think you see or don't see, but the combine is more for the interviews, drug tests and weigh ins.
As with any mock some assumptions have to be made. Here are mine:
1. Suh does not resign.
2. Joyner does not resign.
3. Barron is cut.
4. Peters and Talib are safe for another year.
5. Fowler does not resign
6. Saffold and Littleton are resigned.
7. I will include the supplemental picks, for now. 2-3rds, 1-7th
8.FA acquisitions - Shaq Barrett-edge-Has experience with Wade and is blocked behind Chubb and Miller., Tyler Eifert-TE-Rams tried to get him last year. At some point he has to stay healthy right?
Just an FYI, 2 years ago Snead/McVay drafted 6 senior Bowl kids, last year they drafted 3 Senior Bowl kids (Noteboom, Obo and Demby) and 1 East West Shrine kid (Lawler) so again I would pay close attn to those rosters.
1. Mack Wilson - ILB - Alabama - 6'-2" 240 lbs, sideline to sideline finisher with some thump and is the top cover ILBer in the draft. He diagnoses well, is athletic and fluid in his movement with plnety of upside.
This pick could have went with any of my top 3 S (
Nasir Adderley, Deionte Thompson or
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson) or any of 3 TEs (
Noah Fant, Irv Smith Jr., TJ Hockenson) or either Clemson DT (
Christian Wilkins or
Dexter Lawrence)
Jachai Polite @ edge if he dropped would be intriguing. So would
Byron Murphy, CB.
3a.Erik McCoy - IL - Texas A&M - 6'-4" 315 lbs, a zone blocking OC or OG, take your pick. Gives the Rams some options along the inside of their line. Has played OG as well being an OC this year. His lack of strength may push him into the 3rd round, but he is 1 or 2 zone fit start quickly OCs in the draft. The other being NCST
Garrett Bradbury, but you better go get him early in the 2nd. This pick could go EDGE, OG, TE, OT or S. But need meets value with McCoy. I think if
Christian Miller slides this far or
Oshane Ximines would look good on the edge for the Rams.
3b. Khalen Saunders - IDL - Western Illinois - 6'-1" 315 lbs, - A FCS favorite of mine. Excellent athlete for his size with power. Can get worn down, but you cannot teach his size/athletic profile.He fits what the Rams are looking for, he can play up and down the line, and his conditioning won't be an issue in a rotation. The other names that keeps popping up are
KeeSean Johnson and
Davis Stills, for WR depth. Saunders had a great Senior bowl.
4. Justin Hollins - Edge - Oregon - 6'-4" 245 lbs, a Quick and athletic, speed to power converter that just needs to get more aggressive. This pick feels like more of the same with the Rams with Obo and Ebukam, mid to later round pick they will need to develop, but you have to build some depth and hope one becomes a star. east/west shrine standout
5. CJ Conrad - TE - Kentucky - 6'-4" 250 lb. TE that can block in line, on the move and can work the short middle of the field. Could compliment Everett in 12 personnel. I would love to get a more athletic TE, but then you have more of Everett. So I went with a guy that can block and catch. And his catches come in the middle of the field. Rams interviewed him at east/west shrine.
6. Will Harris - S - Boston College - 6'-2" 210 lbs, I think pairing him up with another BC Eagle could make for a nice pairing. After the top 3 safeties, I am not a huge fan of anyone in the middle rounds, so I didn't force one. I think he would be a steal here. Senior Bowl
7. Alijah Holder - CB - Stanford - At 6'-1" 195 lbs, he's a bigger press corner that could learn behind Talib for a year, and in the meantime, provide depth. Lets be honest, its the 7th round, if you find a guy that sticks after the 5th round you are doing well.
Before FA begins, it seems like a team in the SB shouldn't have as many holes as they have, but upgrades or replacements at RG, OC, TE could be made on offense and IDL, Edge, ILB and S on defense. Thats 7 holes plus they could use more CB depth and maybe a WR.
I think a few of these holes wil get filled in FA, but a trade back into the 2nd to pick up some extra picks makes way too much sense.
I also know what DZ is going to say on drafting an ILB in the first: Wade doesn't draft ILBer in the first. I would reply with: "Wade isn't picking, just like when Denver took Shane Ray, whom was on the trade block this season and it was reported Wade had no interest." But since I respect DZs opinion, lets go over this:
According to DZs Wade tendencies, the Rams won't draft a S, ILB or IDL with the first pick. That leaves OG (the only 1st round OG will be gone), OC (no one worth a 1st) TE (probably 2 or 3 could go in round 1 so you might have your choice) edge, or CB depth. IMO CB depth makes more sense then forcing an edge rusher pick.
In that scenario I would pray for
Byron Murphy or
Deandre Baker to be there at 31. Then draft a ILB somewhere between 3 and 5. I would be looking at
Cam Smith or
TJ Edwards in that scenario.
Anyhow, this is late due to the Rams being in the SB and me dealing with some kind of polar vortex thing or a sub zero apocalypse. Take your pick. There will be 2 more of these, 1 more after the combine and 1 in the week leading up to the draft.
Questions or comments always welcome.
Don't waste your time looking back, you're not going that way. - Ragnar Lothbrok
