[actionjack]

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

would love Darius Alexander, but I think we go TE/WR/CB

[PARAM]

I'd love Warren or Loveland if they're still there but Mason Taylor would be acceptable. I gotta believe if those first two are gone at #26, then WR would be the pick. Egbuka, Harris or Ayomanor. I hope one of Warren, Loveland, Egbuka or Harris is there at #26. They could go CB but they've never gone CB very high. QB? Fagettaboudit.

[BobCarl]

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”.

Most teams do something similar. Players get graded and moved up and down their own board according to their individual scouting staff, not according to what the guys on TV say.

This time of the year, every coach, executive, scout, quality control personal, etc are very very busy, working overtime evaluating potential picks.

Each team has an army of dozens working on their board ... the TV gurus are an army of one or maybe three.

[Youngblood22]

What I don't get is how, for example, one day one of them says the rams are drafting a LT. Then the next day they have a " 2.0" mock and the rams are drafting a LB. Its really silly, and of course I gobble it up.

[ramsman34]

They are going 2025 season impact player with their first pick. Not OL. Not QB. Not ILB. Not safety. Unless they have an extremely high first round grade on one of those positions who falls to their pick. Which may or may not be #26

WR
Corner
TE
RB
DT

IMO

[ramman2999]

Why reach on a Wide receiever when you can get a great tight end like a Mason Taylor. That can help our offense tremendously. I would draft Mason Taylor in the 1st round. And he can go in the 1st round.

With Kelce and Kittle you see how the tight end is valued now.

Id say that with atwell Whittington and Nacua it’s better to complete everything with the tight end like a Mason Taylor.

[ramman2999]

Taylor’s gonna be a 10 time pro bowler. He gets everywhere on the field and will be a security blanket for Matthew Stafford.

[ramman2999]

You mention the other guys but in my opinion Mason Taylor is the closest thing to Brock Bowers in this draft.

[Flash]

Hey 2999 tell us you think about Mason Taylor!

[Dare]

Everyone has their perspective this time of year. Just shows how everyone sees this team differently.

I see it as being essentially built this year with few holes. But with major transition possible next year. That transition will be begin this year IMO.

Many see this team still in transition with many "must have" positions of need.

Because of their limited draft capital I see them retaining players that otherwise would be gone. Case in point I think they might renegotiate Kupp's contract and keep him. It would move the need the priority for another WR to a lower tier. I think there is no question they are looking at Atwell as their deep route option due to his speed in replace of DRob. If they restructure Kupp it would move WR into a 3rd day priority.

Those who don't see a QB taken at all this year can't answer the question, who starts at QB in 2026 or even plays #2QB. I guess they assume Stafford will play for 3 or four more years and the Rams dumping their top defensive talent over the next 2 years when they come up for extension? The cap constraints make things either/or, not also. It also flies in the face of Snead's own comments about a QB being a top priority. I think they have a targeted player, at QB but it comes down to being able to get that player, i.e. meaning the possibility of trading up.

Clearly this is another win now year for the Rams, which says to me that Stafford has a limited shelf life and might cost additional draft capital than simply the #26 pick. I think the talk Sean and Matt had was to ensure both sides had clarity in regards to future expectations going forward.

I know that McVay feels that the Rams can win with a mobility challenged QB as long as they can get a high level of play from the QB. That in my mind screams RB upgrade. As good as Williams is, he simply isn't a scoring threat to a defense until the Rams get into the opponent's 30 yard line. Even Corum who is slightly faster has shown he isn't the long term answer. Blake looks more like a slower version of Akers, i.e. a perimeter RB. They need a RB who can run inside or outside with breakaway speed.

The Rams low first round pick and the absence of a second round pick changes the Ram's draft strategy. QB or RB first? I think QB if their target looks to be attainable if not then RB because a RB has immediate impact with Stafford returning for one more year.

ILB is one position that can be upgraded via FA. Rozeboom isn't a bad ILB and has improved each year. That said he isn't an inside thumper type that the Rams need. NT is a position they can address in the third round or thru FA. These types of FA signings probably won't cost as much as they could as playing in LA has it's own intrinsic value.

But I think their FA signings will be limited and decidedly targeted in terms of position. The reason I prioritize the QB position is because of the cost of the position in relation to the rest of the team. At some point the Rams will stop kicking the QB can down the road and the only way to get a QB with minimal cap impact will be via the draft. Snead himself said a much.

The Rams are a team that sees RB as a disposable position as they do WR. Use them up and draft another. It's why when I look at this roster the biggest question mark is long term QB.

I fully expect them to extend Witherspoon for 2 more years, though a third year might be added as an option year. This would make them 3 deep at CBs. I expect them to use their 4th round pick on a CB or RT. With 3 CBs and Lake, Shula can play man coverage or he can play an aggressive zone with Lake, Curl, Kinchens and McCollough at safety. I can see them taking a developmental CB in the 6th round. I think McVay and Snead have finally seen what I've been saying about undersized CBs. It changes how they must play so most late round CBs take too long to develop the techniques required if they are undersized.

Kendricks isn't short but he's painfully slow. His slow 40 time wasn't an illusion and it' why he had to grab WRs. DK can be a useful DB but limited to strictly zone schemes. He's not a starter and never was. That said Josh Wallace already fills the role of the zone scheme CB. Not fast enough to play a man scheme he has the length but most of all the short area burst to play in a man scheme things lacking in DK.

With Wallace and McCollough Shula has the DBs to play zone and with the addition of Forbes he has the CBs to play man. Unlike most I don't see the pressing need at CB other than depth and future starter to replace Witherspoon, i.e. it's not a pressing immediate need. With the exception of a run stuffing NT this defense is essentially built. Shuffling a few players around, like Hampton can potentially fill the ILB position.

If Kupp renegotiates his contract that completes the WR room. They are 4 deep without him so it's a matter of depth. If Kupp returns he will probably be a rotational WR because Tutu is being paid as a starter. That said because Tutu is only on a one year deal I fully expect a 3rd day WR in the mold of Whittington to be taken.

In other words I see this roster as being built with few holes to be determined. Higbee will return per his contract but Davis Allen must step up or they will replace him next year.