A Look At Who Los Angeles Could Select In Round One
With the NFL Combine now officially in the rear view mirror, the rise and fall of various prospects makes for an interesting look at potential first-round picks for the LA Rams. Mock Drafts throughout NFL media have the Rams looking at 3 main positions: edge rusher, cornerback and offensive line. A pick in any one of these areas would help the Rams instantly, but which would be most beneficial? It’s time to analyze who will likely be available and who may find themselves suiting up in the royal blue and sol at SoFi Stadium later this year.
Edge Rusher
In today’s NFL, a premier pass rusher is a must. The Rams already have 3 pieces of a complex puzzle in Byron Young, Kobie Turner, and Aaron Donald. Adding another bona fide pass rusher could give opposing offensive lines nightmares next season.
A name that keeps appearing next to the Rams in multiple mock drafts is Laiatu Latu. Arguably the best defender in college football in 2022, Latu recorded 23.5 sacks and 34 tackles for a loss across two years at UCLA. The consensus is that Latu is the second-best edge rusher after Dallas Turner, with Turner expected to be a top-10 pick.
The other two options the Rams would have would likely be Penn State’s Chop Robinson or Florida State’s Jared Verse. Robinson turned heads at the combine with a 40 yard dash time of 4.48 and firmly entered himself into conversation as worthy of a late first round pick. Verse cemented his status as a first round pick after a solid combine showing including an impressive 31 reps of 225lbs on the bench press. In a draft with a perceived lack of a defensive talent, a premium will surely be placed on all possible first round EDGE rushers which could elevate each into a slightly higher draft position. The only question remains, which will be available at pick 19?
Rams Day Two Running Back Target
Cornerback
It has been no secret that the Rams have struggled to cover outside receivers since the departure of Jalen Ramsey to Miami. Last season, LA’s secondary ranked 25th or worse in all major statistical categories and addressing this shortfall is key towards taking the next step. In the mid to late first round, a plethora of cornerbacks will likely be available to Les Snead and Sean McVay. Terrion Arnold, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper Dejean all make for interesting prospects which could be impactful as Day 1 starters in a below par Rams secondary.
Arnold posted a somewhat undesirable 40 yard dash time of 4.50 at the NFL Combine, however his tape proves he is one of the best man to man cornerbacks in the draft. If new defensive coordinator Chris Shula wants to improve his squad’s man coverage abilities, Arnold is a no brainer. With the added toughness to work through blockers and create disruption in the run game, he would be an undoubtedly stellar addition to the Rams secondary.
Quinyon Mitchell is perhaps the most raw prospect of the three listed, but is built like a running back, hits like a linebacker and has the speed of a cornerback with a 4.33 40 yard dash time. He defended 18 passes last season with only one interception, however he frequently finds himself in positions to make a play on the ball. With the right coaching, Mitchell has the potential to be one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL within the next 2-3 years.
Dejean may be one of the most naturally gifted athletes to come out of the Iowa program in its history. The 6ft 1, 203lb corner back is a scheme fit in LA, given their tendency to be more of a zone coverage team. There are questions surrounding Dejean’s man coverage ability at the next level but crucially, he is an excellent special teams player – another area in which the Rams struggled in 2023. If he is available at pick 19, the Rams could do much worse than to select him.
Offensive Line
Despite re-signing the outstanding Kevin Dotson to a new deal this week, the Rams still have questions on their offensive line. Super Bowl winner Brian Allen departed the team for free agency recently. This begs the question, who will snap the ball to Matthew Stafford in 2024?
An intriguing prospect is the Swiss Army knife of the offensive line in this class: Graham Barton. The Duke standout is an athletic phenom at 6ft 5 and 313lbs, possessing the ability to bend and explode from either the tackle, guard or center positions. Snead and McVay may consider getting an offensive lineman with the 19th pick instead of waiting for a later round, depending on their assessment of the value. Barton’s versatility may be his greatest asset as he seems able to play any position on the offensive line.
Barton has the necessary qualities to anchor the Rams offensive line for the next 10 years. His film at Duke shows him moving and mauling incredibly large men with frightening prowess and he could protect Stafford and open holes for Kyren Williams with ease.
Verdict
The Rams have a multitude of directions they could head in picking at 19. Of course, it will depend on what happens around them and whether or not they even use their first round pick which will be the first time since Jared Goff was selected first overall in 2016. Expect General Manager Les Snead to explore every possibility including a splash trade this offseason.
If the Rams do stay put, the prudent approach would be to build from the inside out. The top 3 prospects for the LA Rams should be:
- Graham Barton, OL (Duke)
- Laiatu Latu, EDGE (UCLA)
- Quinton Mitchell, CB (Toledo)
Barton represents the least flashy pick, but the most sustainable and versatile pick for future years. If there is a run on cornerbacks or edge rushers in the run up to pick 19 as there very well could be, going with a top offensive lineman could be a sound tactic in the first round, whilst picking up a defensive back or two in the later rounds.
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
