It’s finally here. The NFL Draft.
The Los Angeles Rams were 8 points away from being Super Bowl champions and now they will look to the draft to improve their team and give them another shot at the Lombardi Trophy. Here is our 7-round mock draft! To hear the full explanation on our podcast you can go here!
Los Angeles Rams 7-Round Mock Draft
Round 1, Pick 31: Dalton Risner – OT, Kansas State
Mean. Nasty. Mauler. Risner is an offensive lineman’s lineman. Bring your lunch pale to work and dig deep in the trenches. Some mocks have him going higher than this, while other’s have him falling into the second round, so I think 31 is a good spot for him and the Rams would be wise to add him to the roster.
There is some uncertainty on the offensive line and Andrew Whitworth is nearing the end; Risner has the skill set to plug and play pretty much anywhere on the line in the interim and has the potential to take over the left tackle spot once Whitworth hangs them up. This would be a great pick.
Round 3, Pick 94: Bobby Okereke – LB, Stanford
After the first round, the Rams have to wait until the 3rd round to make their next selection. They have a huge need at inside linebacker as they currently only have Cory Littleton and Micah Kiser on the roster (Clay Matthews could move inside but he fits better on the outside). Unless the Rams trade into the 2nd round or craziness ensues, Bobby Okereke will be the best backer available at pick 99.
He would fit great in Wade Phillips system as he can run sideline to sideline and plug holes in the run game. He needs some work with his tackling and fundamentals, but his athleticism and speed make him a great prospect for the Rams in the 3rd round.
Round 3, Pick 99: Daniel Wise – IDL, Kansas
Ndamukong Suh is gone, and outside of Aaron Donald, the Rams need depth, or even a viable starter, at the defensive tackle/end position. Standing at 6’3, Wise has a slighter frame weighing around 290 which makes him better suited as a three-tech player on the line. His athleticism and bull rush ability make him worth the pick in the 3rd round, and playing alongside Donald will only bring out the most in his talent.
Round 4, Pick 133: Justin Hollins – Edge, Oregon
Justin Hollins is such an exciting player. He is a 6’5, 240-pound edge rusher that runs a 4.5 40. An athletic specimen to say the least. His biggest concern is his lack of production during his time at Oregon as he only garnered 6.5 sacks during his final season. He is fairly quick but due to his size, he is not a burner around the edge.
He shoots the gap well and I would love to see him in Wade Phillips’ defense. The biggest question is whether he would line up as a 3-tech hand in the dirt end or a stand-up edge/outside backer. Purely based on intrigue, this pick would be a lot of fun and would fill a need for McVay and the Rams.
Round 5, Pick 169: Corey Ballentine – CB, Washburn
Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters are both on the final year of their contracts. The Rams will want to try and bring them back but they still need to think about the future and add some depth to the position. Ballentine is a name that may not be well known because of the small school that he went to, but you should take notice. At 6’0 205 Ballentine has good size and his ball skills may get him drafted even earlier than this. But if he’s available in the 5th, the Rams should pounce!
Round 6, Pick 203: Marvell Tell – S, USC
The Rams added Eric Weddle during free agency on a two-year deal, but he is not a long-term answer. Why not look right into their own backyard and add a thumper to the backend of the defense. Tell will need to work on pursuit angles and tackling, but he has great value and upside in the 6th. Worst case, he becomes a special teams contributor, best case, he takes over the starting role alongside John Johnson in a few years.
Round 7, Pick 251: James Williams – RB, Washington State
Obviously, the Rams are set at running back with Todd Gurley, but you can never have too much depth at the position, especially with Gurley’s injury history and pending arthritic knee. Williams is truly a dual-threat running back who would excel in McVay’s system and could be special on 3rd downs catching the ball out of the backfield. And in the 7th round? Sold.