First Round Mock Draft: Rams Wait Their Turn
- Updated: April 26, 2017
Although the Los Angeles Rams traded away their first round pick in the 2017 draft, to acquire Jared Goff last year, they’ll be watching with interest to see who slides into the 2nd round. Below is a look at how the 1st 32 picks might pan out, and then a quick look at who might be available when the Rams select on day two:
1. Cleveland Browns – DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
Cleveland is in the enviable position to take the best player in the draft AND get their QB in the top 15 picks. Garrett is the best player in the draft and he’s only getting better.
2. San Francisco 49ers – DE Solomon Thomas, Stanford
With needs all over the board, and no QB worthy of top consideration in this draft, the 49ers will look to trade down. If they stay, Thomas is the best player on the board and fills a huge need.
3. Chicago Bears – S Jamal Adams, LSU
The Bears are another team in prime position for a trade down, but if they stay put they have choices. QB, DL, and CB are also real possibilities here. Adams is a day one starter in center field.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars – DL Jonathan Allen, Alabama
Simultaneously not ready to pull the plug on Bortles (yet) and not ready to draft a QB (this high) the Jaguars opt for the safer route, taking a player who can disrupt anywhere along the line.
5. Tennessee Titans (from Rams) – CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State
The best cornerback in the 2017 draft slips to the Titans, filling their biggest need.
6. New York Jets – QB Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina
In a draft where no QB is worthy of a top-5 selection, the Jets waste no time at #6 to nab the new face of their franchise.
7. Los Angeles Chargers – S Malik Hooker, Ohio State
Hooker provides the Chargers with the ball-hawking free safety they so desperately need. A perfect fit.
8. Carolina Panthers – RB Leonard Fournette, LSU
Christian McCaffrey seems to be the internet darling for the Panther at this pick, but there’s a better running back in this draft. If the Panthers see a top-10 talent at OT or WR they’ll take him; if not it’s Fournette.
9. Cincinnati Bengals – DE Derek Barnett, Tennessee
Much like Carolina, if Cincinnati sees a top-10 WR or OT on their board, they’ll scoop him up here. If not, Barnett is top-10 talent in this draft at a position of need for the Bengals.
10. Buffalo Bills – WR Mike Williams, Clemson
No surprise here if Deshaun Watson is the pick instead, but if the Bills do not grab their QB of the future at #10, they’ll grab that QBs WR1. Williams and Sammy Watkins solidify the Bills’ receiver corps.
11. New Orleans Saints – LB Reuben Foster, Alabama
Though he might slip, Foster is an all-around talent at the Saints’ biggest positon of need, linebacker. It’s likely New Orleans won’t let him past #11.
12. Cleveland Browns (from Eagles) – QB Deshaun Watson, Clemson
Cleveland’s patience pays off, and they land their QB, too. Watson will work his way into the starting job soon enough, and the Browns have their cornerstones for the future on offense and defense.
13. Arizona Cardinals – WR Corey Davis, Western Michigan
Mahomes is a possibility here, to learn behind Carson Palmer. But no matter who is throwing the ball for the Arizona Cardinals in the future, they will need to reload at WR. If Corey Davis (or Mike Williams) fall, the Cardinals will take him.
14. Philadelphia Eagles (from Vikings) – RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
Philadelphia desperately needs to address holes at CB, but McCaffrey is too good to pass up here. The Eagles need playmakers, and McCaffrey adds a multidimension to the offense.
15. Indianapolis Colts – LB Haason Reddick, Temple
Plays out perfectly for Indianapolis, and they get the best defensive player on the board at their biggest positon of need.
16. Baltimore Ravens – WR John Ross, Washington
Steve Smith has retired, so the Ravens need to fill that void. John Ross ran the fastest 40-time in NFL Combine history, and will the perfect complement to Joe Flacco’s rocket arm.
17. Washington Redskins – DT Malik McDowell, Michigan State
Might the Redskins take Mahomes here, and settle the Kirk Cousins equation forever? Maybe. More likely they replace the departed Chris Baker on the defensive front line.
18. Tennessee Titans – TE O.J. Howard, Alabama
Honestly, the Titans would have taken Howard at #5 if Lattimore were gone. Tennessee could use another TE and another WR; in O.J. Howard they get both.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – RB Dalvin Cook, Florida State
Tampa Bay adds a versatile back with the skills to round out the offense. The defense will probably be the focus in subsequent rounds.
20. Denver Broncos – T Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin
In a relatively weak class of offensive line prospects, the Broncos will get their pick of the litter. Ramczyk will step right in and fill the void at one of the tackle spots.
21. Detroit Lions – DE Taco Charlton, Michigan
Putting pressure on the opposing QB is priority one for Detroit; they were close to last in sacks in 2016. Taco has the look and skillset of a classic NFL DE.
22. Miami Dolphins – LB Jarrad Davis, Florida
The Dolphins need help everywhere on defense, but with the addition of Jarrad Davis they won’t need help at linebacker anymore. They should be able to find a DE, a CB, and a S in subsequent rounds.
23. New York Giants – TE David Njoku, Miami
The Giants need help at offensive tackle, but are reportedly not sold on any of the first-round prospects. Needing playmakers, New York will opt to upgrade their weakest offensive skill position.
24. Oakland Raiders – LB Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
Defense, defense, defense. Oakland needs help at CB, S, and DT, but they need the most help at linebacker. Cunningham has the size, speed and ferocity of a Raider.
25. Houston Texans – QB Pat Mahomes, Texas Tech
Mahomes slips through most of the 1st round, but doesn’t get by the Texans, who are looking for their QB of the future, now.
26. Seattle Seahawks – T Garrett Boles, Utah
The Seahawks continue to be a post-season presence with a woefully suspect offensive line. Imagine what they can do with an upgraded front five.
27. Kansas City Chiefs – CB Kevin King, Washington
The Chiefs might be tempted to take DeShone Kizer as the heir-apparent to Alex Smith, but cooler heads will prevail. They’ll take a long look at interior linebackers at this spot, too.
28. Dallas Cowboys – DE Charles Harris, Missouri
After a dream draft, the Cowboys find themselves set to compete for years into the future. Their pass rush, however, needs help. Harris or Takkarist McKinley will be available for that help.
29. Green Bay Packers – CB Tre’Davious White, LSU
Multiple reports have them poised to trade out of this pick, but if they don’t they’ll take a CB. Whether it’s White, Adoree’ Jackson, Marlon Humphrey, Chidobe Awuzie, or Quincy Wilson will depend on the Packers’ individual board.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers – S Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
Superstar potential potentially destined for a fall after a tainted combine sample. This will be as far as he slips, though. With comparisons to the venerated Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh will be salivating to add Peppers to their improving secondary.
31. Atlanta Falcons – G Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky
The Falcons were 30 minutes away from Super Bowl glory, and look poised to return intact. Their lone weakness along the offensive line can be fixed with one pick. Forrest Lamp is NFL-ready and the Falcons are overjoyed he slipped this far.
32. New Orleans Saints (from Patriots) – DE Takkarist McKinley, UCLA
The Saints got one defensive element earlier in the first round, and here they take another. McKinley will immediately bolter the Saints pass rush.
The Rams possess the 37th pick in the draft, just 5 selections after the end of the 1st round. Quality prospects that might be available at that spot, at areas of need, include CBs Adoree’ Jackson, Marlon Humphrey, Chidobe Awuzie, and Quincy Wilson. At S, another area of concern, Budda Baker and Obi Melifonwu might be there. On the offensive line T Cam Robinson could slip. If the Rams see equal value in players such as TE Evan Engram or WRs Curtis Samuel, Zay Jones, or JuJu Smith-Schuster, then they may opt to take one of them. Offensive playmakers remain the biggest need for the Rams in this draft. Intriguingly, QB DeShone Kizer could be available at the #37 spot. That will test the resolve of the new coaching staff that Jared Goff is the one and only QB of the future for the Los Angeles Rams.
However it plays out, the Rams, and their new coaching staff, have a chance to make an impact on the future of the organization. This is a deep draft, with a lot of great prospects at areas of concern for the Rams. They simply must come out of these next few days with more hits than misses. If they don’t, this will be General Manager Les Snead’s last draft with the Rams.
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