Deadpool's 2023 Rams draft review

Interesting weekend. Had to pull a calf friday night and missed most of the fun. Then Saturday got ran over and stomped on by an angry momma cow, luckily the x-rays showed no broken anything, maybe a hairline fracture of my wrist. Bruised ribs, bruised and swollen knees and shins, and a trip to the chiropractor. LOL. Where the heck was that rodeo clown when I needed him? First time getting taken by a cow. 30 years of doing it...Dad is 76 and never been trampled. Jerk

Anyhow, as I was saying, interesting weekend. 1st round was mildly interesting. I was surprised by the Levis thing, the CBs dropping and Detroit's weird first round. As for days 2 and 3, it really played out like experts said. That is unpredictable. Most thought the-is would be one of the most unpredictable drafts ever. It was IMO.

I'll get to my review in a minute, but I want to make a couple points really clear:

1. These are my opinions. You don't like them, thats fine. You like them, thats cool as well. I am not an "expert" as 2k would word it when someone didn't like a Rams pick. Gotta love his eternal optimism. I know I do.

2. As for all the other "experts" they do not do 1/10 of what a real NFL scouting dept and front office does. They don't have 1/2 the info NFL teams have. Including medicals (combine or top 30 in house medicals), they don't do background checks on prospects, including taking to college and HS teachers, HS coaches, neighbors in their hometowns, etc. Some of these checks take literal months and 1 guy working for ESPN cannot do that for 500 guys. Nor can I or Alyo or PFF.

3. As far as reaches go, 32 teams, 32 boards. All different with different needs and different ideas on the type of players they want, also different styles of offense and defense requiring different types of players. On top of that, you draft where you draft. If you can trade down and still feel comfortable drafting your guy, great. If you can't find a trade down partner or are scared your target will be gone. Grab him now. Regardless or what Mel Kiper or Deadpool think. Its your job on the line as a GM. Its not my job on the line.

As far as the Rams draft overall:
I really wanted a boundry CB, and they were there for the taking all over the place. They just never grabbed one. I also had Branch as my #1 player on the Rams stacked board. I am really confused by his slide. I'm assuming its the fact he didn't show out at the combine and they are worried about his play strength and fit. If he is a CB, he is slow. I really thought the Rams put blinders on with the Avila pick. Take the BPA, you have holes literally everywhere. Don't force a OL pick. That said. I love the fact that they got a stud OL. Finally, after years of me trying in mocks, they do it in a year I don't mock them one.

On to the picks:

2.36 Steve Avila – IOL – TCU – 6'-3” 332 lbs. - A power blocking OG with an incredible anchor. Could he be an OC? Maybe. Lacks movement skills. OG power blocking scheme.

My 71st overall prospect
My 6th overall IOL.
My #2 overall pure OG (Mauch and Skoronski are OTs probably moving to OG)

Interesting pick with Torrence, Mauch, Schmitz and Tippmann available, as well as Branch, Cam Smith and a ton of edge rushers. I didn't have Avila on my Rams Stacked Draft Board because I didn't think he was a fit. I like him in Gap schemes or inside zone schemes. Rams must think otherwise, and I differ to them. If he doesn't pan out, its due to scheme fit or some weird injury you can never predict. He is a powerhouse with a tremendous anchor, vice grip hands and good length. Seems intelligent, but at times is slow to see stunts and twists. He is unlike any IOL the Rams have had in years. The IOL just got bigger, stronger and nastier. I love it. I agree with Alyo that I don't think he is an OC. TCU agreed, because they moved him from OC to OG when they brought in a transfer to man the pivot.

3.77 Byron Young – EDGE – Tenn. - 6’-2” 250 lbs. - Fluid, fast with a hot motor. He’s a handful from the snap. Needs to get stronger. 24 years old. 34 OLB

My 76th overall prospect
My 13th rated Edge (some of those were 43 DEs and not fits at all)
My 58th ranked player on my Rams Stacked board

From Mock 2.0:
Byron Young - EDGE - Tenn. - 6'-2" 250 lbs. - This guy just competes. He is super bendy and athletic. A bit undersized, but consistently finds his way to the QB. Seems like a super coachable kid as he has elevated himself from JuCo football to Tenn. Thats not by accident. Senior Bowl standout, so that matters to the Rams. If the Rams go EDGE in round 2, they don't go with Young in round 3. If they don't, he is very much still in the conversation.

I obviously love this pick. He just turned 25, so a tad older, but IDC. He plays early and often. I agree with Alyo, high floor, high ceiling. He was the last of my real top flight edge rushers.

3.89 Kobie Turner - DL - Wake Forest - 6'-2" 288 lbs.

He as unranked across all my boards. He fit into the 7th round group but didn't make my board. I really thought this was a weird pick. With a more athletic, more accomplished DL in Adetomiwa Adebawore on the board, he made more sense. There has to be a reason he slid. I'm assuming its positional fit. Turner is 3 double double animal style in and out burgers from 295, so he can work inside and out. Tough, powerful and a bigtime motor. He lacks the length to disengage at times. He had modest production, but I think he is an arrow up type of player. Word is he was climbing boards, but I work with what I have and when I saw him, he was pedestrian. I must have caught him on an off game. A reach? IMO yes. Was it a big reach? Probably not.

4.128 Stetson Bennett – QB – Georgia – 5'-11” 192 lbs. - Ok arm, Undersized, mobile, not a dual threat. Just a gamer, can’t count him out.

My 256th overall prospect
My 14th ranked QB
Unranked on my Rams Stacked Board

Not a fan of this pick. He is undersized. He got a public intoxication and then "you know who I am" to the cops. He skipped the Senior Bowl when he had plenty to prove yet. He needs to get his head right or he won't last long. Beyond that stuff. he has a good enough arm. He is accurate, very mechanically sound. Can manipulate the pocket. His size may be an issue, but Georgia has always had huge OLs, so I'm not so worried about that. His size and ability to withstand punishment worries me more (same goes for Haener and Young TBH) It'll be interesting to see how he does when not surrounded by an allstar cast. The run on mid tier QBs started with Haener right in front of the Rams, then Stetson, DT-R, Tune, Clifford (yuck) and Hall. So I doubt the Rams were getting him in the 6th round, let alone the 7th. So even though he was a reach on my board, he wasn't a reach in the draft IMO. I preferred Tune and his upside, but Bennett should work as a career backup with spot starter upside, and maybe as a starter for a year or 2 until the Rams get their next franchise QB.

5.161 Nick Hampton – EDGE – App. State – 6'-2” 236 lbs. - Bendy, fluid and has an explosive first step. Run defense is not his forte due to size. 34 OLB.

My 134th overall prospect
My 23rd ranked EDGE
My 106th ranked player on my Rams Stacked Board

Love the value of this pick. He will start as a situational pass rusher until he gets bigger and stronger. He is an absolute tasmanian devil on the field. He's an absolute playmaker. He's long with a decent pass rush arsenal. And a red hot motor. Looks like a great STer early. Run defense lacks, thats why he is a situational pass rush specialist. But those types are in demand. This is where the Rams got back on track IMO (at least according to my board)

5. 174 Warren McClendon – OT – Georgia – 6'-4” 306 lbs. - Good/ not great size, aggressive, good mover with good power. Not a technician. RT in any scheme.

My 153rd overall prospect
My 13th ranked OT (4th RT)
My 121st ranked player on my Rams Stacked Board

Again, great value. Did I hear they want him as an OC? That's interesting. I wouldn't discount him as a RT. And Havs eventual replacement. He was the alpha dog and a line that had 5 studs (their OC is went back to school, but is a highly ranked OC).He' a hard worker, intelligent and a technician. Needs to add strength and maybe some good weight (depending on where they slot him on the line. I think he can play OC, RG or RT and his floor is super sub, active on gamedays not too far down the road.

5.175 Davis Allen – TE – Clemson – 6'-6” 245 lbs. - Clemson played him everywhere or he’s versatile, smooth athlete with good hands. I’d can him an average blocker for the position.

My 103rd overall prospect
My 7th ranked TE
My 82nd ranked player on my Rams Stacked Board

Super value and personally the most under rated TE in a stacked TE draft. Rare TE with great size with amazing ball skills that can actually block well for the position. If the ball is coming his way, its his. He isn't a dynamic TE, but he catches everything, is a great blocker and a really good redzone threat. He is completely different from every other TE the Rams have had in a while. He could be TE 2 early on. Esp in 12 personnel. His QB play was spotty at best, so Stafford could really elevate his game.

5.177 Puka Nacua – WR – BYU – 6'-2” 201 lbs. - Physical, as a pass catcher and blocker. Also has linear speed. Not a good route runner. Possession WR.

My 172nd overall prospect
My 26th ranked WR
My 137th ranked player on my Rams Stacked Board

So let me get this straight. I ranked him 172, and he went 177...very cool. I think he is a steal IF he can stay healthy. He has been dinged constantly. Health is the key factor in whether or not he makes it. I personally knocked him a solid round due to injuries, otherwise he is a solid late 3rd to 4th round guy on my board. Not a HR hitter over the top, but extremely dangerous with the ball in his hands. Good ball skills, plays a physical rand of football and had 5 rushing TDs last year. He's a real good jet sweep option and not afraid to block. I think fans will like his style of play.

6. 182 Tre’vius Hodges-Tomlinson – CB – TCU – 5'-8” 177 lbs. - Super fluid, athletic CB with speed to burn. His size is his only limitation. Scheme diverse, prefer man.

My 74th overall prospect
My 13th ranked CB
My 57th ranked player on my Rams Stacked Board

Amazing value. The top CB in the country award winner this year. Size is his issue. Highly athletic, great ball production and aggressive as all get out. He allowed less than 35% completion rate last year which is elite. He looks like a slot/nickel back early on. Has to cut down on his penalties. Solid against the run. Should be a fan favorite. And no, he is not a clone of Burgess.

6.189 Ochaun Mathis - EDGE - Nebraska - 6'-5" 250 lbs.
Unranked on all my boards

They lost me with this pick. With already 2 edge rushers on board, why not target another position? He has a 7th to UDFA grade from me. Reasoning is his production kept slipping every year, even after transferring. So I think this is a case of the Rams buying low and hoping they can return him to 2020 form. He is a situational pass rusher for now (so redundant with hampton). He has great size and length for the position. He needs to get stronger to defend the run and to help with his long armed rush attack. Bendier than he looks.

6.215 Zach Evans – RB – Ole Miss – 5'-11” 202 lbs. - Quick and can go the distance. Good vision. Not a power back. OZS

My 147th overall prospect
My 12th ranked RB
My 117th ranked player on my Rams Stacked Board

I'm back on board with this pick. I had him as a 4th round back. So getting him in the 6th is a steal. He is more well rounded than some of the other backs taen before him. Low wear and tear. Got stuck behind a freshman this year that might have been the 2nd best RB in college already. Plenty of speed. OK size and power. Not super dynamic but uses his vision and balance to avoid tacklers in the open field. Contact balance is good and can gain yards after contact. Fumbles are my main concern.

7. 223 Ethan Evans - P - Wingate - 6'-4" 235 lbs.

Not ranked on any boards

He's a gigantic punter. Thats all I have. Sorry guys.

7. 234 Jason Taylor II - SAF - Okla St. - 6'-0" 204 lbs.

Not ranked on any boards

I liked him alot as an UDFA, so this is not a reach to me. He's an absolute thumper that has some missed tackles (I'm assuming due to over aggression) Super athletic. Needs work in coverage, but in a Rams style system, he should be fine. ST demon is his floor. Def. adds toughness to the DB room.

7. Desjaun Johnson - DE - Toledo - 6'-2" 285 lbs.

unranked on all boards

He was an UDFA so literally 1 pick away from that. The Rams obviously have a type, and he is it. 6'-2" 280 something pounds. He is tough as nails, but lacks length. Trouble disengaging OL. Nice project. And really nothing to lose at the end of the draft. The little I saw him, I came away uninspired I guess is a good word.

UDFAs

I'll touch on the ones I know or have some info on.

Tiyon Evans – RB – Louisville – 5'-10” 225 lbs. - He’s a thumper with excellent contact balance. Lacks a top gear. Pretty quick into the hole. Not a pass catcher. Any scheme.

My 193rd overall prospect
My 17th ranked RB

This is a really nice get. The RB room now has a RB at 200 lbs, 205 lbs, 215 lbs and 225 lbs. I think he can stick as a 4th RB if they carry 4, which they should.

Rashad Torrence II – SAF – Florida – 6'-0” 193 lbs. - Big time effort guy willing to throw his face in the fan against the run. Good instincts and in the passing game. Size/speed limitations. Scheme diverse.

My 237th ranked overall prospect
My 19th ranked SAF
My 187th ranked prospect on my Rams Stacked Board

Another really good get. Does he stick? Who knows but I like his skill set and size. I'm usually tough on Florida players, but there is something about him I really like.

Alex Ward – LS – UCF – 6'-4” 240 lbs. - He long snaps...footballs.

My 259th (and last) overall prospect

Ok so a little credit here. You guys wanted punters, Long Snappers and Kickers, so I gave you one of each. I nailed the LS. He should stick, since they need a LS. Bonus credit for the best description of his skill set that you will find.

Jaiden Woodbey - SAF/LB - Boston College - 6'-0" 222 lbs. - A safety that works well in the box, is a bit of a tweener, but his lack of speed probably makes him a 3rd down cover backer. Plays a physical brand of football. Should be a good ST member.

My 205th ranked prospect on my Rams Stacked Board

I added him to the stacked board, because the Rams seem to grab a guy like this every year and the Rams showed interest. It'll be interesting to see what they do with him.

Tyler Hudson - at 6'-2" and 193 he has great size, but tested really poorly and ran a 4.69. He is a very good route runner and has decent hands. Has the size to be a possession WR. He's got an uphill battle to make the Rams roster.

Sam James - a 5'-11" 180 lb WR with return skills. Runs a 4.5. If he makes the team its due to STs. He was a big play threat for the Mountaineers.

Xavier Smith - a 5'-9" Return guy with a ton of speed. I think he was the MVP of the HBCU Bowl. Electric little jitterbug. He may be the return specialist.

Braxton Burmeister - A QB turned WR. I find that interesting. 6'-0" 193 lbs.

Rams really hit the Hulu Bowl: Tyon Davis, Ethan Evans, Alex Ward and Tanner Brown all played in it. So did Tyler Hudson

Matthew Jester - He is the type of guy that can make the PS and develop for a year.

Tanner Ingle - An absolute Hammer from the SAF position. He can be frustrating to watch at times, but when he hits you...

Kelechi Anyalebechi - ILB - Incarnate Word - Played the Bison in the semifinals of the FCS playoffs, had 2 tackles and wasn't much of a factor. I doubt he makes the team.

Anyhow, I was fairly pleased. I felt like they needed a NT and a boundry CB, and came up empty. I am not a fan of Bennett, but if he checks himself at the door, he has the skillset to be successful. My biggest concern is if you think he can be a dual threat type, you will be disappointed. Running will get him murdered.

I also wasn't a huge fan of Turner. But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Otherwise, I thought it was a very good draft. They finally went hard after IOL. That is amazing. The Rams could be actually building that line. At least they have options.

Speaking of options, it looks like competition everywhere but Outside CB.

Thank you to everyone that stopped and commented or asked questions and made my 2023 draft experience worthwhile. I wouldn't bother with a lot of this stuff if the board wasn't full of great posters.

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Don't waste your time looking back, you're not going that way. - Ragnar Lothbrok