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The St. Louis Rams currently own the 10th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. The fun begins on April 30th. Until then, we prognosticate. We mock.
Dan Kadar, over at Mocking the Draft, updated his mock on Monday morning. Without further ado...
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
2. Tennessee Titans: Leonard Williams, DT/DE, USC
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dante Fowler, DE, Florida
4. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
5. Washington Redskins: Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
6. New York Jets: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
7. Chicago Bears: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
8. Atlanta Falcons: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson
9. New York Giants: Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
The Rams will most likely have the option of trading down at this spot if they’re not in love with any particular prospect. Could it be they’re interested in taking...
It’s no secret the Rams need help along the offensive line. Odds are center Scott Wells will be released, and it’s hard to tell - returning from injury - what the Rams’ intentions are for left tackle Jake Long. Joseph Barksdale is a guy they’d like to retain, but there are no guarantees, especially if he tries to test the market. Collins could be used at tackle or guard...regardless, he’d - in all likelihood - be expected to be an immediate contributor.
Heading into Round 2...
33. Tennessee Titans: PJ Williams, CB, Florida State
34. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bud Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
35. Oakland Raiders: Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
36. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
37. New York Jets: Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia
38. Washington: Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami (OH)
39. Chicago Bears: Hau'oli Kikaha, OLB, Washington
40. New York Giants: Preston Smith, DE, Mississippi State
10. St. Louis Rams: La'el Collins, OT, LSU
It still seems like the Rams’ best option with the No. 10 pick is to find some team desperate to move up in the draft to take a wide receiver. Some have been projecting the Rams to actually take a wideout, but it’s hard to see them pumping yet another high-round pick into the position. A player like Collins would fill a big need and give them talent up front.
It’s no secret the Rams need help along the offensive line. Odds are center Scott Wells will be released, and it’s hard to tell - returning from injury - what the Rams’ intentions are for left tackle Jake Long. Joseph Barksdale is a guy they’d like to retain, but there are no guarantees, especially if he tries to test the market. Collins could be used at tackle or guard...regardless, he’d - in all likelihood - be expected to be an immediate contributor.
Heading into Round 2...
33. Tennessee Titans: PJ Williams, CB, Florida State
34. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bud Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
35. Oakland Raiders: Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
36. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
37. New York Jets: Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia
38. Washington: Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami (OH)
39. Chicago Bears: Hau'oli Kikaha, OLB, Washington
40. New York Giants: Preston Smith, DE, Mississippi State
41. St. Louis Rams: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
Like wide receiver, the Rams have used a lot of picks on cornerbacks. Even with several young pieces, the Rams are a middling team in pass defense. A player like Johnson could get a shot at one of the starting spots to help improve the unit.
Cornerback is not typically noted as one of the Rams’ most dire needs. Quarterback, Wide Receiver, and Offensive Line [almost all of it] are. On paper, the Rams appear to have a solid corps of secondary players. Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, and E.J. Gaines are all returning starters.
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Of note, if you consider QB/WR/OL the three biggest needs for the team, players still on the board when the Rams selected at 41:
42. Atlanta Falcons: Laken Tomlinson, G, Duke
49. Kansas City Chiefs: Nelson Agholor, WR, Southern California
51. Houston Texans: Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State
52. Philadelphia Eagles: Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
53. Cincinnati Bengals: Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami
57. Carolina Panthers: Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon
58. Baltimore Ravens: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
59. Denver Broncos: Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M
64. New England Patriots: Cameron Erving, OL, Florida State