Who To Take At 234? Predicting The Rams 7th Round Pick
Scenario #1
Round 2
Pick 52: Austin Jackson, OT – USC
Pick 57: Michael Pittman Jr., WR – USC
Round 3
Pick 84: Darrell Taylor, Edge Tennessee
Pick 104: Amik Robertson, CB Louisiana Tech
Round 4
Pick 126: Logan Wilson, LB Wyoming
Round 6
Pick 199: Geno Stone, S Iowa
Round 7
Pick 234: Anthony Gordon, QB Washington State
Is there an impending QB controversy in Ramlandia? Rest easy Jared Goff. Gordon isn’t going to be an NFL starter anytime soon. The list of things Gordon does well is dwarfed by the list of things he does poorly. That said, the things he does poorly may be boiled down to inexperience. He only started 13 games for the Cougars and Mike Leach’s air raid offense doesn’t require a disciplined QB to rack up stats. Gordon is the poster child for this principle. He did rack up stats in his senior year, throwing for 5,579 yards and 48 touchdowns in 13 games. The team put up almost 38 points per game and ended up going 6-7.
Stats like that are confounding because they don’t accurately reflect how good the system QB is. Gordon has an amazing quick release, great accuracy, good touch and that’s about it. Drafting Gordon is a low floor, high ceiling kind of gamble. He could just be another bad QB that can never develop his footwork or decision-making under pressure. But, if he is able to develop in those areas, he could be great.
With the Rams committed to Goff through, at least, 2022 it is a no-lose bet to make. If he develops, he becomes great trade bait or challenges Goff for the starting job. If he doesn’t, c’est la vie.
The Rams back-up job currently belongs to John Wolford, but on a conference call with reporters, Sean McVay said they are looking to upgrade the quarterback room. Adding a wild card could be the kind of upgrade the Rams need.
Scenario #2
Round 2
Pick 52: Damon Arnette, CB – Ohio State
Pick 57: Julian Okwara, Edge – Notre Dame
Round 3
Pick 84: Bryan Edwards, WR South Carolina
Pick 104: Evan Weaver, LB CAL
Round 4
Pick 126: Darrynton Evans, RB Appalachian State
Round 6
Pick 199: Rodrigo Blankenship, K, Georgia
Round 7
Pick 234: Alohi Gilman, S Notre Dame
Most seventh-round picks aren’t projected to be starters and Gilman is no exception. His hustle and urgency make him admirable, but he is inconsistent in coverage. These traits mean he creates big plays by forcing fumbles and with monster hits, but he also gives up plays by blowing assignments.
NFL coaches don’t have patience for guys who give up big plays. If he can shore up his coverage limitations, he will be a surefire backup. But, if Gilman finds himself in the place that he is competing for a roster spot and he has a few glaring blackmarks, he will be sent packing.
Fixing that one fault may be harder than it would seem. His flaw may be a result of his rev’d up motor. While he plays every snap with urgency and relentlessness, that same drive causes him to overreact and over pursue. Hustle may or may not have an on/off switch with this guy. Teaching that may be impossible.
While he won’t answer all the questions the Rams have at safety, he’d be a quality back up and at the very least, his playing style will make him a bang-up on special teams.
Scenario #3
Round 2
Pick 52: Josh Uche, Edge – Michigan
Pick 57: Damon Arnette, CB – Ohio State
Round 3
Pick 84: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB LSU
Pick 104: Evan Weaver, LB CAL
Round 4
Pick 126: Calvin Throckmorton, G Oregon
Round 6
Pick 199: James Proche, WR Southern Methodist
Round 7
Pick 234: Tremayne Anchrum, G Clemson
Due to his size, (6’2” 315lbs, 33 ⅝ arm length), Anchrum would have to move from tackle to guard to play in the NFL. The move inside will alleviate concerns about his lack of length, but he will need to develop quicker hands to play at guard.
He has good strength and movement skills. He excels at moving laterally to pick up secondary assignments. He has quick feet and pops with force when the ball is snapped. He has shown a lot of good technique but hasn’t been consistent enough to be seen as a starting option in the pros. That said, he was a starter for a high powered offense, playing against some of the best programs in the NCAA. So, he has some chops and big-game experience.
The Rams line won’t see as many injuries in 2020 as they did in 2019, so the line will be better. Anchrum isn’t ready to be thrown in as a starter, but a role as a backup will serve him well in his development. Not picking an offensive lineman in the first three rounds means the Rams will need to add developmental depth in the later rounds. Building good depth at the guard position will help the Rams years down the road.