[AvengerRam]

1. Optimism is high.

2. The Rams have not only been active, they’ve been very smart thus far.

3. Signing Alaric Jackson… smart. OL continuity is crucial, and AJax has proven to be a reliable player at a key spot. His contract is reasonable, and it removes the urgency to draft an OT.

4. Signing Davante Adams… smart. Casual commentators will describe him as Cooper Kupp’s replacement, but he’s really not. Rather, he is a massive upgrade at the X-WR spot over Demarcus Robinson. So, instead of two WR1s who overlap in skills/roles (Kupp/Nacua), we’ll have complimentary players who perform different roles (Nacua/Adams).

5. Signing Poona Ford/letting Bobby Brown go… smart. Ford will cost a bit more than Brown received in the market, but he’s a better player, particularly in the role we need him to fill. He is a run-stuffing specialist. I also think he can be a very good role model for Tyler Davis, who had some good moments as a rookie.

6. Trading Jonah Jackson/signing Coleman Shelton. Rather than trying to justify what proved to be a bad deal, the Rams were able to unload Jackson and his contract. Signing Shelton gives the Rams a highly competent, professional center. If Beaux Limmer beats him out, so be it. If not, he’s a plug-and-play guy for his old team.

7. There will come a day when I’ll be over the loss of Cooper Kupp, but it is not this day.

8. It is just over one year since Aaron Donald shocked us by announcing his retirement. Nobody can/will replace him. That said, the combination of Jared Verse and Braden Fiske sure comes close!

9. In trying to prognosticate the draft, I’ve been using some fairly standard techniques.

10. I ask myself: “where is the Rams’ roster thinnest, needing fortification or an upgrade?”

11. The most obvious answer right now is cornerback. If the Rams agree, I’m betting they trade back. The reason? There are two, possibly three, CBs who are projecting as guys you don’t pass at No. 26 (Travis Hunter – who’ll go in the Top 5, Will Johnson – who likely won’t last to No. 15, and Jahdae Barron – who could fall into the 20s, but might not be the best fit for us). After that, there’s a pack of players who are pretty closely rated. Trading back to the second round to grab one while obtaining more assets seems like a good idea.

12. Inside LB is also an obvious need. Again, though, I don’t know if there’s a guy I want in the first round at that position. Jihaad Campbell? Great athlete… but is he really an ILB, or an undersized EDGE? Carson Schweshinger? A true thumper, but is he athletic enough to be elite?

13. Then there’s the general need of “home run hitter.” Could the Rams use their first round pick on a “luxury” item like another WR (Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka)? I wouldn’t rule it out.

14. Then there’s tight end. The Rams have a quality starter in Tyler Higbee, but if they somehow could obtain a Tyler Warren (trade up) or Colston Loveland (possibly could fall to No. 26), that would be tempting.

15. I have a different theory, though, which could point to a real wild card.

16. It goes like this… the list of teams that the Rams will have to overcome to win it all includes the following: Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore and Buffalo.

17. One thing that these teams have in common is that they all have QBs who like to run, and support their RBs by doing so, creating a nightmare for defenses (the Eagles, with Saquon Barkley, being the toughest to stop).

18. So, if I was drafting to stop these teams, who would I take. The answer might be South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori. He is a physical freak with a LB’s body (6’3, 220) and the athleticism of an elite CB or WR (4.38 forty, 43” vertical). If you needed a guy to spy/stop a running QB, or to ensure that an elite RB doesn’t rip off 50+ yard runs, he might be the best guy.

19. So… with a little over a month until the draft, I still feel like it’s a very open playing field.

20. Whoever we take, though, I’m confident that this will be an extremely productive offseason.

[actionjack]

I agree with most all your statements.

I am too, in the Rams may trade up for a weapon TE/WR or trade back and get the
some picks in the second round. I would think CB, ILB, DT and RT would be selected in round 2 & 3.

I like your idea about that LB, but do the Rams, will see. I have a sneaky DT they may like in Darious Alexander...

[Dare]

In terms of draft priorities they have limited capital to spend in the draft. QB, RB (upgrade) and RT would seem to be their remaining 3 priorities in this draft. They have their #26 which is essentially a high second round type of pick, and 3 third round picks.

It wouldn't surprise me if they target QB, RB, RT and CB within those first 4 picks assuming they don't trade down as they really have filled all their crucial holes in this roster except their future QB and RT. Yes they need another CB but if they can sign Witherspoon that hole is filled. They spent the entire year last season coaching up Forbes so I don't see it as a given that Witherspoon is signed. Do they extend Williams to play SCB where he started his career and is a rotational spot? Positional flexibility is what Williams has over Witherspoon who is strictly a boundary CB.

Extending Williams would give them a bridge player while they draft and develop a CB they take in the 3rd or 4th round. TE is another future need so that prospect can be taken in the 4th or even the 6th round as it is a developmental position this year.

I think their FA signings are pretty much done except for CB perhaps. I think they will finish filling out their roster in the draft. The way Snead finds talent on the 3rd day can't be overlooked.

[actionjack]

In terms of draft priorities they have limited capital to spend in the draft. QB, RB (upgrade) and RT would seem to be their remaining 3 priorities in this draft. They have their #26 which is essentially a high second round type of pick, and 3 third round picks.

It wouldn't surprise me if they target QB, RB, RT and CB within those first 4 picks assuming they don't trade down as they really have filled all their crucial holes in this roster except their future QB and RT. Yes they need another CB but if they can sign Witherspoon that hole is filled. They spent the entire year last season coaching up Forbes so I don't see it as a given that Witherspoon is signed. Do they extend Williams to play SCB where he started his career and is a rotational spot? Positional flexibility is what Williams has over Witherspoon who is strictly a boundary CB.

Extending Williams would give them a bridge player while they draft and develop a CB they take in the 3rd or 4th round. TE is another future need so that prospect can be taken in the 4th or even the 6th round as it is a developmental position this year.

I think their FA signings are pretty much done except for CB perhaps. I think they will finish filling out their roster in the draft. The way Snead finds talent on the 3rd day can't be overlooked.

Almost zero chance the Rams use any picks from the 3rd round and above on QB or RB.

[AvengerRam]

In terms of draft priorities they have limited capital to spend in the draft. QB, RB (upgrade) and RT would seem to be their remaining 3 priorities in this draft. They have their #26 which is essentially a high second round type of pick, and 3 third round picks.

Definitely disagree on QB and RB.

I have the Rams taking an OT in Round 3.

It wouldn't surprise me if they target QB, RB, RT and CB within those first 4 picks assuming they don't trade down as they really have filled all their crucial holes in this roster except their future QB and RT. Yes they need another CB but if they can sign Witherspoon that hole is filled. They spent the entire year last season coaching up Forbes so I don't see it as a given that Witherspoon is signed. Do they extend Williams to play SCB where he started his career and is a rotational spot? Positional flexibility is what Williams has over Witherspoon who is strictly a boundary CB.

Extending Williams would give them a bridge player while they draft and develop a CB they take in the 3rd or 4th round.

Why would they need to extend Williams? He's signed through 2026.

[rams74]

QB, RB (upgrade) and RT would seem to be their remaining 3 priorities in this draft.

There is absolutely no evidence of this in the public domain.

Please provide documented evidence supporting this assertion. Exercises in speculative, deductive illogic don't count, by the way.

Or change your statement from "their" to "my."

[PARAM]

There is absolutely no evidence of this in the public domain.

Please provide documented evidence supporting this assertion. Exercises in speculative, deductive illogic don't count, by the way.

Or change your statement from "their" to "my."

Wasn't that Seinfeld Bizzaro World theory "do the opposite"? In a way that fits here. Not that they'll do what he's suggesting but the opposite.

CB or WR or TE. Perhaps all 3 in the first 3 picks.

[ramsman34]

They aren’t taking a QB. Absolutely a wasted pick if they do. RB? Maybe if some absolute freak drops low enough. It won’t be in the first. Highly unlikely in the 3rd.


I think avenger nails it. Corner, ILB, OL and DL depth, home run WR/TE will probably all be in play throughout the draft.

Nick Emmanwori is very intriguing. Not really a true ILB. More a joker/safety/will type player. Serious wheels.

[Youngblood22]

They aren’t taking a QB. Absolutely a wasted pick if they do. RB? Maybe if some absolute freak drops low enough. It won’t be in the first. Highly unlikely in the 3rd.


I think avenger nails it. Corner, ILB, OL and DL depth, home run WR/TE will probably all be in play throughout the draft.

Nick Emmanwori is very intriguing. Not really a true ILB. More a joker/safety/will type player. Serious wheels.

I don't see drafting a QB in the 3rd round a wasted pick, gives us time to develops for the future, Stafford only has a year or two left. We're going to need to start paying our young players soon. Giving Stafford a boatload of money a year or two from now can hinder that.

[Elvis]

I don't think we can rely on the Rams to draft solely for need.

If they like a player and they can get him, well they might just go get him.

And as i've said a million times, the Rams don't know how that draft is gonna play out or who they'll end up with. I mean, they have buckets of players they're willing to draft but they don't know who they'll get.

We don't either...