Mock Draft Rebuild Series: Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are in a bit of a tough spot due to many reasons. Aaron Donald has officially retired from the NFL, leaving a massive hole on the defensive line. Matthew Stafford is nearing the end of his career as well, which means his replacement is going to be drafted this year or in the near future. If the Rams want to extend Stafford’s career another season or two, they need to upgrade the Tackle position as well, currently consisting of Alaric Jackson and Rob Havenstein. With 2 5th round draft picks and 4 6th round draft picks, the Rams are likely to trade up into the draft, likely back into the 2nd or 3rd round. We cannot account for that, so therefore we won’t even consider it.
As always, we will be using the PFF (Pro Football Focus) Mock Draft Simulator to assist us in this draft, as well as any PFF rankings that come with the upcoming class of rookies. Lets begin:
Round 1, Pick 19
With the departure of All World player Aaron Donald, it makes sense that the Rams address that hole immediately in the NFL draft. They can also address the Tackle position, depending on if one of the top tier Tackles falls in the draft. With those two positions of need, there are plenty of players that can fill a need for the Rams, and will come in and add an impact almost immediately.
Pick: Jer’Zhan Newton, Defensive Line, Illinois
There will never be another Aaron Donald, and trying to replicate him will lead to failure. Simply put, in terms of size, Jer’Zhan Newton is Aaron Donald. Standing at 6’2, 295 lbs, Newton is almost identical to Donald coming out of college. Newton primarily played as a B gap defender and over the Tackle last season for the fighting Illini. Newton had a much better 2022 than 2023, but he still ranked as the 17th best Defensive Lineman in all of college football last season. Newton can come in and make an immediate impact for any NFL team, and while he is undersized for his position, his quickness and his ability to get off of the block allows him to succeed. Newton may be like Aaron Donald one day, and that will be great. Expecting him to be Donald from his first season in the NFL is malpractice. Newton will be a fine player for the Rams, and he can begin to work to replace the hole made by Aaron Donald’s retirement.
Round 2, Pick 52
Drafting in the middle of the round can often lead to a state of purgatory, especially if you are consistently reaching for prospects and players simply to fill a need. The Rams are in a tough spot, because the next biggest need for them is Offensive Tackle. At this point, all of the top tier Tackles are gone, and taking one that has a 3rd round grade at this point would be a criminal reach. There are players that they can take at this spot that will fill a need, and will be able to come in and contribute. Linebacker and Cornerback seem to be the best positions of depth at this point, and taking the one they like the most will be key.
Pick: Junior Colson, Linebacker, Michigan
The Haitian native has excelled for the Michigan Wolverines the last two seasons, with a 75.5 and 81.7 Pff grade for 2022 and 2023 respectively. Colson is a Linebacker that excels in run defense, and is a very disciplined defender when it comes to the run. His pass coverage skills need work to be good at the next level, but he has the skills and the football IQ to contribute early. Standing at 6’3, 247 lbs, Colson has the size to contend with most NFL players. Colson will make a fine day 2 pick for an NFL squad, and the Rams need more depth at Linebacker.
Round 3
The Rams have two 3rd round picks in the NFL draft, and this is an excellent spot for them to address major needs that they could not address in the first two rounds. There are Tackles that can be taken here and can excel at the next level. This is also the point that the Rams can look to potentially find Matthew Stafford’s replacement, if they like the prospect coming out. Expect the Rams to address the QB spot at some point in this draft, it is just a matter of sooner or later.
Pick 83
Pick: Dominick Puni, Tackle, Kansas
Dominick Puni grades near the 90th percentile in both his pass protection grades and his run protection grades. He also shows a versatility for the NFL level, having played only Left Guard in 2022, and Left Tackle in 2023. Puni improved dramatically with his play in 2022 to 2023, shooting him up draft boards. If the Rams can get their hands on Puni, there is potential here for him to compete for the starting job in year one, with the job being his in the following years if he continues to progress.
Pick 99
Pick: Michael Pratt, Quarterback, Tulane
The Rams are going to role with Matthew Stafford for the 2024 season, but beyond that is a question. Last season, Michael Pratt passed for just over 2400 yards, 22 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Pratt doesn’t jump off of the page like some of the other QB’s in this class, and that is perfectly acceptable. Pratt excels in keeping the ball out of the opposing teams hands, having thrown only 10 interceptions in his last 22 games. Pratt also has impressive touch for a Quarterback who may be a bit undersized in certain spots. Pratt suffered a knee injury in 2023 that caused him to miss 3 games during the season, and he seemed a bit off when he did return. His accuracy wasn’t the same and his touch was a bit off. If he can fully recover from that injury, he can be Matthew Stafford’s successor in a year or two.
Round 5
The Rams do not have a 4th round pick, but they do have two 5th rounders in this draft. Much like most teams, the Rams will be looking for depth at positions of need, and players that they can take a chance on that might pay off for them later.
Pick 154
Pick: Isaiah Adams, Tackle, Illinois
Isaiah Adams is a guy that will not start his first year unless there is a dire need in an Offensive Line group. Adams does offer versatility, being able to play Left Guard and Left Tackle in 2022, and Right Tackle in 2023. Adams is also a far better run blocker versus a pass blocker, grading near the 85th percentile in run grade and near the 30th percentile in pass grade. Adams is a guy that will need a few years to develop into a decent player, but he does possess skills to warrant being drafted.
Pick 155
Pick: Logan Lee, Defensive Line, Iowa
Replacing Aaron Donald, at least in year 1, will likely be a committee effort. Jer’Zhan Newton will be the first in this committee, and Logan Lee would make for a nice rotational piece. Primarily a B Gap defender, Lee totaled 2 sacks, 6 QB hits and 20 QB hurries last season for the Hawkeyes. Lee will not overwhelm you with size or athleticism, but he does excel in his run defense. This will make for a good depth piece for the Rams.
Round 6
The Rams have four 6th round selections, making this a good spot to bring up depth, and fill in positions on the cheaper side so they don’t have to in the later stages of free agency.
Pick 196
Pick: Tyrone Tracy, Running Back, Purdue
Tracy is a guy that excelled last season with the Boilermakers, but he wasn’t the primary option in their offense. Tracy totaled 114 carries in 11 games, and gained 714 yards on the ground with 8 touchdowns. At 6’1, 210 lbs, Tracy does have some size to last in the NFL. Pairing Tracy with an already established back, such as Kyren Williams, should prove to be successful for both Tracy and the Rams.
Pick 209
Pick: M.J. Devonshire, Cornerback, Pittsburgh
M.J. Devonshire was a far better defender in 2021 and 2022. 2023 for him was almost forgettable, where he ranked as the 661st best Cornerback out of 852 Corners. Simply put, he was mediocre at best. While he needs improving on his skillset, he does do pretty well at breaking the ball up and forcing incompletions. Devonshire is a guy that will be a practice squad or a special teams player during the first few seasons on his career, and he may never be more than that.
Pick 213
Pick: Ty’Ron Hopper, Linebacker, Missouri
Hopper, much like Devonshire, had a much better 2022 than 2023, and it is going to hurt his draft stock. Hopper ranked as the 93rd best Linebacker in 2022 out of 787 Linebackers. In 2023, he ranked as the 723rd Linebacker out of 776 Linebackers. Hopper is decent in run defense, but he is a downright liability in pass coverage. Hopper will also likely be a practice squad guy in his first few seasons, but he has proven he can be serviceable in years past. The Rams will want him to get back to 2022, and forget 2023.
Pick 217
Pick: David White Jr, Wide Receiver, Western Carolina
The 6’4, 200 lbs receiver is an interesting player. He doesn’t jump off of the page for recruits, and there isn’t any one thing that he excels at outside of one thing: Contested catches. White ranks near the 90th percentile in contested catch rate. This ability may make him worthy of a developmental draft pick. He will be a practice squad guy or special teams guy to start.
Round 7, Pick 254
The final pick for the Rams comes late in the 7th round, and like the previous round, this will be about depth, development, and potential.
Pick: Nathaniel Watson, Linebacker, Mississippi State
Nathaniel Watson is a solid player for this late in the draft. He has the size to play Linebacker, standing at 6’2, 245 lbs. Watson doesn’t wow you with his play, but he is pretty consistent at making plays, having only missed 6 tackles last season. Watson can be a rotational player early on in his career if he picks up the defense that is being run, or he can be a good special teams player. Watson 71 tackles last season for the Bulldogs, and ranked 215th out of 776 Linebackers last season.
The Los Angeles Rams are going to feel the departure of Aaron Donald early and often. They are going to address that need in the draft, it is just a matter of when. Their spot in the first round lends them the ability to take the best available Defensive Lineman, and there will be a few. Stafford is on his last legs, and Cooper Kupp seems to be as well, but the window of competing is far from closed for the Rams. There are holes no doubt, but with a draft like this, and an effective free agency (which they have done so far), they can compete for the division next season. Next up for the NFC West: The Seattle Seahawks.
