"seems like Rams (a) didn't want to trade or (b) no one would deal (c) they think Kitchens is better than you think and/or Wilson is not quite as good as you think ---- for their system." You're right, at least one and maybe all of the above are true. I wish the Rams/other teams would let the world know what they know about Wilson's knee(s), but will never happen. So I'm left tby since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
After Corum at 83 (which I think was a great pick - he will outplay Kyren), Wilson kept dropping. Our 6th round picks were worth 3 points each which was good enough to get to #94 - #98 from #99 and take Wilson. I understand the ACL issue. If Wilson plays like he did this past year at NC St, he will be worth a 3rd rounder and more. I also understand what he did on the field when I watched NCby since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
Payton Wilson is a game changer at LB. He flies all over the field. He was 2nd in the NCAA in coverage and I can see him covering Kittle/Kelce types easily as well as tracking Deebo/over the middle types - something we have lacked at LB for quite a while. He doesn't miss tackles (no more Deebo running through our defense), was a captain? and next to Jones would have been a force. I thinkby since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
With Stafford, the Rams can win this year and for 2 - 3 others? if team needs are filled. Therefore, I believe the Rams had two major needs/wants as the draft started, Edge and DT - not TE/QB/other. I think their desired players were Latu, Murphy, Verse/Turner, Newton/Fiske. Obviously there were others, but I think those were the top. I think they wanted edge first because DT was the deeperby since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
Would Kyle Van Noy fit as 2nd LB next to Jones or is he just an edge? He's older and maybe slower now, but cheap, had a good year at Baltimore and good veteran presence I think he's still available as FA ?by since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
If you don't have the athletic, you should get it. It is 1.99/month for the first year. That includes Brugler's "The Beast" draft report and articles like this you will not get anywhere else.by since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
Deebo and others may have been exposed as WRs that have a tough time against good man to man DBs in the Super Bowl. Therefore they felt the need to draft not 1, but 2 of the best WRs vs. man to man coverage. Cowing was #2/124 vs. man in 2022 and #34/155 in 2023. Pearsall was 25/124 vs. man in 2022 and #43/155 in 2023. For the Rams, Wiglusz was #1/124 vs. man in 2022 and #32/155 vs. manby since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
I heard this on Cowherd's show. Teams sent out comments/rumors to the press about how they felt Penix would fall to maybe late 2nd? Press printed the story of course, making some teams antsy about Penix. All the while, the rumor spreaders were figuring out how they could get Penix in the 1st - even the Falcons obviously.by since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
I know about the "medical issues", but watch the guy play and it's eye opening. He is all over the field and seems to never miss a tackle. Sure would have been a great add next to Jones. His 4.43 on the 40 yard dash is faster than many DBs. Will be able to cover any TE and many slot WR if needed. His body may "give out" after a while ala Gurley, but he will playby since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
The other thing when comparing times, etc. look at the weight they're carrying around. At the combine when they tested, their weights were: Garrett - 272 Verse - 254 (-18 lbs) Miller - 246 (-26 lbs) For Garrett to record his times/numbers at 272 lbs. is incredible.by since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
. . . Myles Garrett. Which is fine, because Myles Garrett is the best DE/Edge in the league. Nobody is as good as Myles Garrett right now.by since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
If he makes the team, I think he would be one of the top 15 strongest guys in the league? - at least upper body strength. As I said before, it looks like he could gain an "easy" 15 lbs to get to 335 and clog the middle on early downs ? But judging from the photos, he may be more into body building than football ? Maybe if AD could show him some technique stuff . . . who knows whaby since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
Nice. 2023 NCAA - DT Leaders vs. the Run 1. T'Dvondre Sweat - 92 2. Joe Evans - 91 3. Tyler Davis - 91 4. Tuli Letuligasenoa - 90 84. Bradon Fiske - 70by since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
This guy appears to be very lean for 320 lbs ? The Rams could get him up to 335 and let the niners try to move him? Or at least we'd know who they would have to 2B team.by since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
I found this on youtube. It was practice for an all-star event called the College Gridiron Showcase - Jan. 2024 I believe Olajiga is # 68. Comes in at about 5:50 mark, then 9:00 mark, 30:00 mark, 31:40 mark, maybe some others? He is huge with seemingly no fat - looks like a 320lb body builder. I know we all seem to go way overboard on some of the draft picks and UDFA and I know this isby since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
This seems like a fair assessment of Kamren Kitchens: Kitchens' RAS score is pretty low. Kind of what you see when he tries to cover receivers in Senior Bowl practice. They say his RAS score is like # 900 out of 1,050 safties since 1987. The Rams may have had some "advanced game speed" stats that tell them Kitchens plays faster than his explosion numbers. I hope that is thby since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
I'll start with one the Lions got: Isaiah WIlliams, WR, Illinois (source) Per reports from Wilson and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Williams got a $15,000 signing bonus and $225,000 in guaranteed base salary. That's massive commitment for a UDFA. He started his career at Illinois as a quarterback, before moving to wide receiver and tallying 82 receptions in each of his final two seasons. Lasby since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
I'll start with - why not Gabriel Murphy as an UDFA? UCLA / Socal guy I know "short arms", but he is good at pressuring QBs . . . or am I wrong? I didn't see him drafted.by since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
Sounds like he understands more than most college WRs. This could work out well.by since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
I looked real quick and could come up with 15 - 20 players I would have picked at 99 before Kitchens. He is not good in coverage, especially if he has to go man to man. Check out the Senior Bowl practices. See what PFF has to say about him this past year. That said, I am a Ram fan and hope all the best for him.by since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
If you look at the senior Bowl practices where one DB covers one WR man to man, he had a real hard time staying with any receiver he was to guard. Also, he was targeted 34 times this year in games - 28 of those were completed (82%) for 479 yards and 4 TDs. The passer rating against his coverage was 118.4. He was a lot better last year. He chose not to run the shuttle or 3cone at the comby since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
If he's healthy, he will be among the best LBsby since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
He was my #1 RB for the Rams. Here are some numbers as to why: (Sorted by 3 cone time as it seems to be the #1 measurable "skill" good backs have) Notice the bench press number and I'm thinking squat is high as well. Very powerfully built back with quick feet. Corum reminds me A LITTLE bit of the greatest of them all - Barry Sandersby since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
Barry Sanders - 5'8" / 203 Blake Corum 5'8" / 205 27 reps on the 225 bench test. Probably squats 1/3 of a ton. Now if he was 5'8" / 190 and did 13 reps on the bench, I might be worried. This is my favorite pick, especially with our line (at least the right side).by since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
I like Fiske, but . . . that was a lot to give up to move 13 spots in the 2nd round with a good chance Fiske would have been there at 52 and if not, Wingo, Hall or Davis would have. Could have signed Calais Campbell , Maurice Hurst, Shelby Harris or Greg Gaines for 1 - 3mil/yr. All would play as good as I think Fiske will for a year (especially Campbell) and we would not be forced into suchby since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
That's right, we are winning the Super Bowl by outscoring everyone because with our next pick(s) we're going big help at WR (Corley?) and a little later at RB (Vidal in the 5th/6th would be great add). In between we need to add Hall, Jenkins, Wingo or other DT. If we're trading stuff, let's trade 2026's 3rd rounder to move up and get a legit sideline to sideline LB for once - Payton Wilson.by since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
When rated by PFF, basically one third of all top 10 players at every position were drafted in the 4th round or later: There are lots of good players through round 7 and even UDFA. Get as many of them as we can. You never know which ones are going to develop and contribute. Look at all the 5th/6th/7th/UDFA round picks that "star" in the league. QB - 4th, 6th, 9th of 38 PFF hiby since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
When I watched his tape, my very untrained eyes told me he is the quickest moving of the top edges in 2024. He also led the nation in sacks and pressures/gm I believe before getting hurt at the end of the year. If / when he adds stregth, watch out.by since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
I know you have to have a trading partner and picks don't even out that nicely, but generally that is what we could have received for the 19th pick. With the trade down, the draft (going by PFF Big Board) could have gone like this - Basically traded Verse for Newton, Elliss, Baker and Jones: #33 - Newton (DL) #52 - Jenkins (DL) #60 - Elliss (ED) #80 - Baker (WR) #83 -by since68 - RamsFootballFans.com
"perhaps this is all about Atlanta drafting Penix with no intention of keeping him, but rather trading him to another team for a couple of premium players." Makes sense to me with one caveat - what if you can't find a trading partner? But . . . you can always find someone who would want Penix/other quality QB once all the starting QBs begin getting hurt next season. It happensby since68 - RamsFootballFans.com