[Youngblood22]

Is it me or are some of these mock drafts lame? Rams taking a guard in the first round? I know we did two years ago but we had a bigger need then, same with the LT's. Later in the draft, yes, but not the first round this year. One mock had us taking a LB, Maybe, but I think we go offence in the first or trade back. Maybe a corner but I think TE or WR is the pick.

[Youngblood22]

Wow, nobody has an opinion on this?

[Dare]

These so called experts don't know shit about the teams they are mocking, making their mock drafts aptly named since they are a mockery of what the Rams do. They don't even do their homework and look at the past couple of drafts. No one drafts as well as Snead on the third day. He finds more talent on the third day than most GMs get in their entire draft.

People don't bother to listen to Snead or McVay's interviews. I gave up listening to these mock drafts years ago.

I remember way back when people criticized and laughed at the Chargers for drafting a starting QB in the second round, especially one that was "too short", by the name of Drew Brees. What the Chargers did that was stupid was take a guy that needed development and started him too early. He did outplay his draft position a couple of years later when he made the pro bowl thanks to mentoring by Doug Flutie.

Oh but I'm getting old so I digress. Snead just said recently that the Rams are indeed moving to find a new franchise QB "sooner than later". That is when he said that hoping a good one drops to the bottom of the first round isn't a good plan. If it happens great but they can't count on it. Thereby implying they would have to trade up. He was specifically talking about drafting a QB not another hired gun. The Rams need the 5 years of salary control that the first round provides to extend the stars of the last two drafts.

Rumor has that the Cards are looking at Leonard but they are drafting at 16 which will make it hard. They might pivot to Shough but they might decide to take him in the second round at 47.

McCord is the only decently ranked QB expected to drop because he's not dual threat. Picking at 26 is basically looking at top of the second round type of value. But without a second round pick and the fact they will sit the QB at least one year they would benefit by having the 5th year option.

But the implications of Snead's comment implies they could move up if the draft dictates it. That said no one doing mocks but perhaps yours truly has the Rams picking a QB especially in the first round. Why? Because they didn't listen to McVay about how he's changed since 2022. With the coaches he's brought in he won't have to personally invest all the time it requires to prep a rookie QB to transition to the NFL.

No one is looking at how the Rams are hesitating about extending Williams. Why? Because they know they need a bigger threat with their starting RB. Few people are looking at specifically a run stuffing NT in the mold of Vita Veya. I watched Veya at UW and knew he was going to be special. I think Stackhouse can be that type of run stopping wrecking ball.

Everyone talks about how deep this draft is on fast RBs. But every assumes that the Rams will simply extend Williams. How did that work out with Gurley and Akers? The difference against the Eagles actually was Williams not being able to outrun the pursuit and score yet McVay watches the Ram defense struggle against fast RBs. During the season look how many times Williams broke into the open but doesn't score because he gets run down from behind. That's a whole lot of points left on the field.

It's why I see them at the very least taking a fast RB with breakaway speed meaning at least low 4.4 times. If he has a QB who can play from the pocket but also on designed runs especially in the Red Zone so much the better. That's why I'm looking at Leonard because he's got the gunslinger mentality Sean loves, strong accurate armed pocket passer who can also run. Riley could take this offense to the next level.

Will Howard is a QB that has big potential but he comes in very raw. Most evaluations have him a two year QB2 while he develops. If he does meet expectations his ceiling is very high. That said he's strictly a pocket passer with marginal foot speed. That is why McCord who isn't a runner either but is much more polished is a better choice as he can be ready in 2026.

This is why I'm not surprised the Rams hedged their bets with Stafford in regards to 2026. They will have a plan B in place.

That said Snead is aggressive when it comes to players he wants. Trading up to get whoever that might be would seem likely.

[ramsman34]

I agree with Dare to a degree. I don’t know how these mockers research other teams but they clearly don’t know how the Rams work. The Rams rank players in “pods”. The pods are in respect to draft pick positions in rounds. The Rams prepare for players unlikely to be where they pick, just in case. They also identify players they really want regardless of where draftnicks have them “ranked”. And the Rams go after those players, by trading up but also by trading back to gain picks. The Rams have probably identified 25-30 players they really like that they believe the can move around and get 5 - 7 of them.

[ramman2999]

Keep an eye on Omarion Hampton

Arroyo

Mason Taylor

McCord

Sanders

TMac

Loveland

Warren

Lot of good prospects

I think we’re good at guard.

[Youngblood22]

Keep an eye on Omarion Hampton

Arroyo

Mason Taylor

McCord

Sanders

TMac

Loveland

Warren

Lot of good prospects

I think we’re good at guard.

I would love to get warren, t mac or loveland, but I think QB could be where we go in the first. I would not be surprised if we trade back into the second round thou.

[Youngblood22]

Reading up on Arroyo, he's interesting but his injury history worry me, knee problems scare me. I like Taylor as well but he may need to work on his blocking.

[actionjack]

Is it me or are some of these mock drafts lame? Rams taking a guard in the first round? I know we did two years ago but we had a bigger need then, same with the LT's. Later in the draft, yes, but not the first round this year. One mock had us taking a LB, Maybe, but I think we go offence in the first or trade back. Maybe a corner but I think TE or WR is the pick.

Zero chance we select a LB or QB in first the rest is an option.

[RainalldayRam]

Here's what the "experts" scrolling at the bottom of the nfl channel think we'll take at #26

"DJ" DT Darius Alexander

"Bucky Brooks" OT Josh Connerly Jr.

"Charles Davis" OL Grey Zabel

"Eric Edholm" OL Donovan Jackson

"Lance Zierlein" LB Jihaad Campbell

[Youngblood22]

I think Bucky is the worst of all of them.