Who Should The Rams Take In The 3rd Round? Here’s 3 Different Scenarios

NFL Draft week has finally arrived! Continuing with our mock draft series, it’s time to get into round three. If you are late to the party, I am going round by round (or at least rounds that the Rams currently have picks in) and giving three potential scenarios for who the Rams could draft. Each scenario will build off each other so that it can be as realistic as possible.

You can view my Round 2 picks and analysis here. Continue reading below and let’s get to Round 3. Make sure to vote in the poll at the end of the article for which scenario you would like to play out. We will be compiling all of the scenarios for a full 7-round mock before the draft begins Thursday night!

You can also hit me up on Twitter, @RyanDyrudLAFB, and join our Rams chat on GroupMe to discuss any and all things LA Rams!

Who Should The Rams Take In The 3rd Round? Here’s 3 Different Scenarios

Scenario #1

Round 2, Pick 52 – Austin Jackson, OT USC

Round 2, Pick 57 – Michael Pittman Jr., WR USC

Round 3 – Pick 84

Darrell Taylor, EDGE – Tennessee

Ok so in this scenario, with their first two picks, the Rams went with two positions that aren’t necessarily their biggest needs, but they got tremendous value and two players that could have a rather large impact very early on.

Now the 3rd round is where the Rams address their biggest need, in my opinion, a pass rusher. Darrell Taylor is a gifted athlete that flashed a lot of talent, but still needs some work to reach his full potential.

When watching his tape, there were plays where he flashed tremendous explosion off the snap and was able to beat the tackle or tight end purely off the speed and quickness of his first step. And then there were plays where it looked like he fell asleep during the advance, and left his stance nearly a second after the ball was snapped. As a pass rusher, it is a really bad look to be the last one out of your stance.

I realize this doesn’t exactly sound like a ringing endorsement, but this is why he is a third-round pick and not a first-rounder. The talent, speed, and size are there, now it’s just about honing it all in and playing with a level of consistency every play. This is something that new defensive coordinator, Brandon Staley, excels at.

He may never be a Pro Bowl caliber pass rusher, but he can certainly be an asset situationally and provide good depth to a position of need.

Round 3 – Pick 104

Amik Robertson, CB – Louisiana Tech

The Rams need depth and talent at the corner position. In scenario #2, I went with a corner in the second round, but in this scenario, we address that position in the late third.

At 5’9, 172 pounds, Robertson has a slightly smaller frame for a corner, but he plays with tenacity and is a solid tackler for his size. If drafted, I would expect him to play a very similar role to recently departed Nickell Robey-Coleman. They have extremely similar size, and Robertson would excel in nickel packages at the next level.

He is proficient in man coverage, but a zone scheme or nickel assignment would most likely suit him best. He has tremendous ball skills, as he finished with 14 interceptions over his three-year college career. He also averaged 60 tackles a season, which demonstrates his nose for the football and willingness to be involved in every play.

His biggest knock is his size, which is why he may fall to the late third round, which would be great for the Rams because he has the talent and potential to be a really good player at the next level.

Scenario #2

Round 2, Pick 52 – Damon Arnette, CB Ohio State

Round 2, Pick 57 – Julian Okwara, EDGE Notre Dame

Round 3 – Pick 84

Bryan Edwards, WR – South Carolina

The Rams are confident with their receiving corps of Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, and Josh Reynolds, but I would still like to see them add a talented receiver at some point. If they decide to do this in the third round, Bryan Edwards would be a very solid pick.

The biggest thing that the Rams lack at receiver, is a big body that can high-point the ball and climb the ladder. This isn’t the best attribute in Edwards arsenal, but at 6’3, 215, it is certainly something that he can do. He is a very physical receiver that was a four-year starter at South Carolina and was used at all three levels in the offense. He is an effective route runner, however, he does lazily round off dig and curl routes, something that he will need to improve at the next level. Because of this, one of his weaknesses on tape is his lack of separation from corners. If he can improve his crispness of his route running, his separation will certainly improve as well.

He was used on the outside and in the slot during his college career, and I would project him to be used in the slot often at the NFL level. A combination of Edwards and Kupp or Edwards and Everett in the slot would be a potent and skilled set of weapons.

I did notice a lack of effort on quite a few running plays, so that is something that will need to be improved as well, but a few practices with Robert Woods, one of the best blocking receivers in the game, should increase the effort and intensity.

Edwards has a lot of room to grow and has the physical skill set and size to be successful at the next level. There is a bit of injury concern, as his 2019 season was cut short with a knee injury, and he broke his foot in February preparing for the combine. But if healthy, the talent and production are there. If the Rams don’t go receiver in round two, Edwards would be a solid addition in the third.

Round 3 – Pick 104

Evan Weaver, LB – CAL

The Rams desperately need depth at the inside backer position, and Evan Weaver would provide this. Weaver is kind of my dark horse and darling of this year’s draft, you will notice that I tried to take him in almost every scenario.

Production. Smashmouth. Hard-nosed. Grinder. Tackling machine. These are all the words that come to mind when I think of Weaver. He finished his final season at CAL with 182 tackles (1st in the country), 103 of those solo (1st in the country and 20 more than 2nd place), 10 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles. These accolades were good enough to make a Weaver a first-team AP All-American, and first-team All-PAC-12.

Now Weaver is not your prototypical modern NFL linebacker. He’s not a freak athlete like Isaiah Simmons. He doesn’t have elite speed and is not a sideline to sideline backer like Cory Littleton. He is more of an old-school “clunky” middle linebacker, but his production should speak for itself.

He does have elite recognition of blocking schemes and always has his nose to the football. He is great in run defense and is a sure tackler. He has tremendous football IQ and is strong and tactical enough to shed blockers.

Evan Weaver loves proving people wrong, and he is going to do it again in the NFL, I just hope he does it in a Rams uniform.

Scenario #3

Round 2, Pick 52 – Josh Uche, EDGE Michigan

Round 2, Pick 57 – Damon Arnette, CB Ohio State

Round 3 – Pick 84

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB – LSU

I think the Rams have made it pretty clear that they feel comfortable with Darrell Henderson as their starting running back heading into next season, and so I don’t want to see them take a running back until at least the 4th round. However, is by some bizarre series of events, which truly happened in this scenario, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is sitting there for the taking in the third-round, the Rams would be foolish not to call this pick in immediately.

I would honestly be shocked if he slides into the third, but since he did in this simulation, we will run with it.

Let’s first just take a look at his numbers from the 2019 season. He garnered 1,415 yards rushing with 16 touchdowns (6.6 yards per rush), and 55 receptions for 453 yards receiving and a touchdown. Solid numbers to say the least, but when you put the tape on, you really get an idea of how special he is.

Probably his greatest attributes are his vision and lateral agility, something the running game lacked last season, and something that is different and will compliment Darrell Henderson’s game. Edwards-Helaire is very patient when handed the ball. He assesses the LOS and chooses his gap profoundly. If that gap fills, he can stop on a dime, move laterally with elite quickness, and jump-cut into the new gap. I have seen a lot of comps to Devonta Freeman, and the agility and foot quickness do matchup.

He also has tremendous ball security which is extremely important for any offensive player, but especially a running back. What I like most about this pick, is how well he would compliment Henderson. I like Henderson, and like the skill-set that he brings, but I have been wary about him being a three-down back. He is a slasher that can blow the top off and explode for big plays. Well, Edwards-Helaire is that bell-cow back that runs between the tackles and just continually churns out yards and moves the sticks.

Edwards-Helaire could be the Rams Clydesdale, and Henderson could be the racehorse. It’s a perfect match and recipe.

Round 3 – Pick 104

Evan Weaver, LB – CAL

Like I said, my darling and sleeper of this draft. He was sitting there again and I had to take him. See above for analyis.