Rams 7-round mock draft: Pre-combine offensive line makeover
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theramswire.usatoday.com]
Cameron DaSilva
The NFL combine gets underway next week in Indianapolis, which will give scouts, personnel evaluators and coaches another piece of data when it comes to building their draft boards. Prospects will rise and fall as a result of their work and weigh-ins at the combine, whether it’s fair or not.
The Rams will have a smaller contingent of coaches at the combine this year with their new coordinators staying back in L.A., as well as Sean McVay spending just one night in Indianapolis. But before the event begins, we put together a fresh seven-round mock draft for the Rams.
In this exercise using The Draft Network’s mock draft machine, the assumption is that Dante Fowler Jr. leaves in free agency, but Cory Littleton and Andrew Whitworth return. With that in mind, we rebuilt the interior of the offensive line after adding a starting-caliber edge rusher with Los Angeles’ first pick.
52. EDGE Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
In Round 2, the Rams take edge rusher Julian Okwara out of Notre Dame. He’s a perfect fit for a 3-4 defense, with good height (6-foot-4) and a solid build. His athleticism pops off the tape and getting him with defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who’s coached outside linebackers with the Broncos and Bears, would help extract Okwara’s potential early on.
84. C Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
In the third round, the Rams select another Wisconsin offensive lineman, taking center Tyler Biadasz. He played with David Edwards in 2018 and was one of the best centers in college football two seasons ago. He regressed a bit in 2019, but he would be an upgrade over Brian Allen and Austin Blythe.
116. G Damien Lewis, LSU
At No. 116 in the fourth round, the Rams go back to the well of interior offensive lineman and select LSU guard Damien Lewis. He’s a powerful blocker who thrives in the running game, which is something the Rams sorely missed when Rodger Saffold left. Taking Lewis would give the Rams options, allowing Bobby Evans, Joseph Noteboom and even David Edwards to focus on playing tackle in the near future.
179. LB Mohamed Barry, Nebraska
The Rams are without a fifth-round pick after the trades involving Aqib Talib and Dante Fowler Jr., so in Round 6, they take a linebacker. Mohamed Barry out of Nebraska is the pick, bringing elite athleticism to the position next to Littleton. He might not be a hulking run defender with prototypical size, but he’s physical and fast – two traits that typically earn linebackers snaps in sub-packages.
211. DE Mike Panasiuk, Michigan State
Finally, the Rams address the defensive line by adding Mike Panasiuk out of Michigan State. He’d be a viable replacement for Michael Brockers, should he leave in free agency, providing immediate depth to a unit that needs it.
It might seem like overkill to double-dip on the interior of the offensive line and pass on a tackle, but passing on Biadasz and Lewis was too hard to do. There were no better tackles available at the time, either.
Keep in mind the Rams are in line for an additional compensatory pick in the fourth round, which will make addressing their needs easier.
