We’ve reached April, and, for now, the Rams still have their first-round pick in this month’s NFL draft.
In fact, the Rams are flush with draft capital with 11 picks and their first first-rounder since trading up for Jared Goff and the No. 1 overall pick in 2016. With the surplus of picks and their position in the first round, the Rams have options to do anything, whether it’s move up or down or stand put.
With the draft three weeks away, taking place April 25-27 in Detroit, here’s a seven-round mock draft for the Rams’ 11 picks, using Pro Football Focus’ mock draft generator.
Round 1, Pick 19
The pick: Byron Murphy II
Defensive tackle, Texas, 6-foot-1, 308 pounds
For the sake of this exercise, we didn’t allow trades, but the Rams don’t need to move up to get their ideal prospect in the first round. They land the draft’s top interior defensive lineman to begin filling the massive hole left by Aaron Donald’s retirement. Murphy is a three-down tackle who had 45 pressures and six sacks as a junior at Texas. Murphy is known for his explosiveness at the line of scrimmage, and at 21 years old he has room to grow alongside second-year tackle standout Kobie Turner.
Other prospects considered at No. 19:
Edge Chop Robinson, Penn State
Tackle Troy Fautanu, Washington
Round 2, Pick 52
The pick: Chris Braswell
Edge rusher, Alabama, 6-foot-3, 255 pounds
The Rams double-dip on the defensive front to open the draft after not making any additions to the group via free agency. Braswell is a strong, explosive and fast rusher on the edge who had 13 sacks and 56 pressures as a junior. He also was serviceable when asked to drop into coverage with a 71.7 grade from Pro Football Focus in 52 pass coverage snaps. Between Braswell, Murphy, Turner and second-year edge rusher Byron Young, the Rams would have a solid core up front for first-year coordinator Chris Shula to work with.
Other prospects considered at No. 52:
Edge Adisa Isaac, Penn State
S Javon Bullard, Georgia
Tackle Jordan Morgan, Arizona
Round 3, Pick 83
The pick: Malachi Corley
Wide receiver, Western Kentucky, 5-foot-11, 210 pounds
The Rams re-signed Demarcus Robinson, but a one-year deal for a veteran shouldn’t stop the Rams from thinking of the future of the receivers room. Corley is a former running back with 4.47-second speed in the 40 that could give Rams head coach Sean McVay some fun options for how to integrate him into the run game as a rookie. Robinson, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua would allow Corley to develop his route tree until he’s ready to be a bigger contributor in 2025.
Of note: I did consider going quarterback here in the third round. Jimmy Garoppolo will back up Matthew Stafford, and Stetson Bennett is expected to participate in offseason workouts after missing his entire rookie season on the non-football injury list. Still, the Rams could add a quarterback to the room to try to find Stafford’s successor, but this seems unlikely in the first two rounds with more pressing needs for a playoff contender. I have one quarterback with a third-round grade, but he was not available for the Rams’ next selection at No. 99, so the Rams don’t end up adding a quarterback in this exercise.
Prospects also considered at No. 83:
QB Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
CB Khyree Jackson, Oregon
LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson
Round 3, Pick 99 (compensatory pick)
The pick: Christian Jones
Offensive tackle, Texas, 6-foot-6, 321 pounds
The Rams could use a developmental right tackle to one day replace Rob Havenstein, the final St. Louis transplant on the roster. Jones fits the bill, with two years of starting experience at Texas and four sacks allowed over that span.
Prospects also considered at No. 99:
S Calen Bullock, USC
LB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
CB D.J. James, Auburn
Round 5, Pick 154
The pick: Kamal Hadden
Cornerback, Tennessee, 6-foot-1, 197 pounds
The Rams add a lanky outside corner here who can come along slowly behind veteran offseason additions Darious Williams and Tre’Davious White. Hadden’s senior season was cut short by a shoulder injury, but he allowed only 12 receptions in seven games before the injury.
Prospects also considered at No. 154:
RB Dillon Johnson, Washington
C Drake Nugent, Michigan
T Walter Rouse, Oklahoma
Round 5, Pick 155 (from PIT)
The pick: Drake Nugent
Center, Michigan, 6-foot-2, 301 pounds
Undrafted free agent Mike McAllister is currently the Rams’ backup center behind Steve Avila. Nugent shores up that position and fits into the Rams’ run blocking philosophy after being part of a physical line at Michigan that ran duo concepts.
Other prospects considered at No. 155:
RB Dillon Johnson, Washington
T Walter Rouse, Oklahoma
Round 6, Pick 196
The pick: Frank Gore Jr.
Running back, Southern Mississippi, 5-foot-8, 195 pounds
The Rams tendered Ronnie Rivers, but could stand to add to the backup competition behind Kyren Williams. Gore averaged 4.9 yards per carry and ran for 10 touchdowns and, more importantly for a potential backup, received a 75.4 PFF pass blocking grade in 123 snaps as a senior.
Prospects also considered at No. 196:
LB Steele Chambers, Ohio State
Edge Brennan Jackson, Washington State
DT Zion Logue, Georgia
Round 6, Pick 209 (comp. pick)
The pick: Steele Chambers
Linebacker, Ohio State, 6-foot-1, 232 pounds
The Rams add a dependable option behind Ernest Jones IV and Christian Rozeboom who can contribute on special teams right away.
Prospects also considered at No. 209:
S Omar Brown, Nebraska
LB Jaylan Ford, Texas
K Will Reichard, Alabama
Round 6, Pick 213 (comp. pick)
The pick: Will Reichard
Kicker, Alabama, 6-foot-1, 194 pounds
The Rams sat out the kicker market during free agency, and last year showed a preference for adding a kicker on a price-controlled contract. They get that opportunity with Reichard, a kicker with plenty of big-game experience. He made 88% of his field goals as a senior, including 5 for 5 from 50 yards. Two of those 50-yarders came in the CFP semifinal against Michigan. And as for reliability, Reichard missed two extra points in five collegiate seasons.
Other prospects considered at No. 213
S Omar Brown, Nebraska
LB Jaylan Ford, Texas
Round 6, Pick 217 (comp. pick)
The pick: Omar Brown
Safety, Nebraska, 6-foot-1, 200 pounds
Same story as Chambers: Adds depth to the safety position and gets early work on special teams.
Prospect also considered at No. 217:
LB Jaylan Ford, Texas
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Round 7, Pick 254 (comp. pick)
The pick: J.J. Weaver
Edge rusher, Kentucky, 6-foot-5, 244 pounds
The Rams close out this mock draft by adding another body along the defensive line. Weaver is a lanky pass rusher who also is steady in run defense.
Prospects also considered at No. 254:
QB Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
Edge Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington
