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It's getting stronger. Can you feel it? The conventional wisdom is solidifying for the Rams, and we're barely past the Senior Bowl...
Go back to the early mocks from December (including McShay's first effort), and you'll see the Rams were squarely locked in on Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell. Now? It's all about Memphis QB Paxton Lynch.
So with his new mock out today (behind the insider paywall because life can never be enjoyed to its fullest), how does McShay navigate the CW waters to get to the Rams at 15?
| # | Team | Pick | POS | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee Titans | Joey Bosa | DE | Ohio St. |
| 2 | Cleveland Browns | Jared Goff | QB | California |
| 3 | San Diego Chargers | Laremy Tunsil | OT | Ole Miss |
| 4 | Dallas Cowboys | Carson Wentz | QB | North Dakota St. |
| 5 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Jalen Ramsey | CB | Florida St. |
| 6 | Baltimore Ravens | Ronnie Stanley | OT | Notre Dame |
| 7 | San Francisco 49ers | Laquon Treadwell | WR | Ole Miss |
| 8 | Miami Dolphins | Vernon Hargreaves III | CB | Florida |
| 9 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | DeForest Buckner | DE | Oregon |
| 10 | New York Giants | Sheldon Rankins | DT | Louisville |
| 11 | Chicago Bears | Myles Jack | OLB | UCLA |
| 12 | New Orleans Saints |
A'Shawn Robinson |
DT | Alabama |
| 13 | Philadelphia Eagles | Jack Conklin | OT | Michigan St. |
| 14 | Oakland Raiders | Robert Nkemdiche | DT/DE | Ole Miss |
Even with a surprised Sheldon Rankings appearance, you already know where this is headed.
Paxton Lynch (QB, Memphis)
This is a tough call. The Rams have an obvious need at quarterback, but is Lynch their long-term answer? While I still have more work to do on him, Lynch does have a lot of the tools you look for in future NFL starters -- size, arm strength, mobility and the ability to create when the initial play breaks down. Two concerns I have early in the pre-draft process: his inconsistent decision-making and accuracy.
Well that's inspiring.
It's an interesting mock nonetheless. Louisiana Tech DT Vernon Butler goes at #22 to the Houston Texans, a team we've seen frequently mocked to a QB. Senior Bowl standout Ohio St. QB/WR Braxton Miller jumps up to #24 to the Cincinnati Bengals. Arkansas TE Hunter Henry, who has a strong contingency around these parts, is in the first round here at #27 to the Green Bay Packers as is Eastern Kentucky OLB Noah Spence to the Cardinals at 29, a prospect we've seen mocked to the Rams before.
McShay's no random outsider. He's plugged in to NFL sources and he's plugged in to the wave of CW that washes over mocks starting...well, starting now.
If nothing else, it firmly establishes Paxton Lynch as the front runner for the Rams as of early February.