2017 NFL Mock Draft: 5 Rounds For the Los Angeles Rams

These darn 2017 NFL Draft prospects just can’t seem to stay in one place. As we inch towards the draft, players rise and fall — some for good reason, and some for seemingly no reason at all.

And with just over a month before it all goes down, there are a cornucopia of mock drafts available for your viewing pleasure/disdain. But if you’re looking for the best*, most accurate** Los Angeles Rams’ mock in all the land, you’ve come to the right place.

But, before we jump in on the action, let’s have a look at my mock’s from January and February...

January Mock, v. 1.0

37. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC

69. Tyler Orlosky, C, West Virginia

101. Conor McDermott, OT, UCLA

141. Damontae Kazee, CB, San Diego St.

February Mock, v. 2.0

37. Desmond King, CB, Iowa

69. Pat Elflein, C, Ohio St.

101. Carlos Henderson, WR, Louisiana Tech

141. Kendell Beckwith, ILB, LSU

With the results of the combine now in, and free agency helping to shape the NFL’s rosters, it’s time to take another shot at predicting which players might be available for the Rams when on the clock in April.

Without further ado...

Round 2 (37 Overall) - Sidney Jones, CB, Washington

This one’s a no-brainer for me. The Rams appear to be tied to Trumaine Johnson in 2017 whether they like it or not. And it seems highly unlikely that he’d return next year. A torn achilles, unfortunately, has Jones sliding down draft boards — some even think he could slide into the 4th round. He won’t be available in the early stages of 2017 (he may not be available at all), but the Rams would have a Top 20 player filling the void left by Trumaine next season.

Round 3 (69 Overall) - Ethan Pocic, C, LSU

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I’m flipping center prospects here because, while I personally like Elfein more, I think (now) NFL teams do too. Regardless, center is the more glaring need on the Rams’ offense. I’m fine with taking either of these guys in the 3rd round, and think it’s imperative the Rams do so — assuming they’re still on the board.

Round 4 (101 Overall) - Carlos Henderson, WR, Louisiana Tech

The Rams are in need of a dynamic, play-making receiver, and Carlos Henderson in the 4th round provides them with just that. As mentioned in February’s mock, Henderson finished 5th in the nation in receiving yards (1,535) in 2016, hauling in 82 catches and 19 touchdowns. He’s my draft crush this year, and there’s nothing you can do to get him out of these mock drafts. Sorry, not sorry.

Oh, and we speculated on Benny Cunningham leaving last month. He’s gone. Enter Carlos Henderson: one of only 20 players in the last 16 years to finish his college career with 2500+ receiving yards, and 1500+ return yards. He did this in three years.

Round 4 (141 Overall) - Lorenzo Jerome, S, St. Francis

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A more off the radar selection, Jerome could be the ball-hawking free safety the Rams have been missing for years. The four year starter for the Red Flash could’ve climbed draft boards after an impressive week at the Senior Bowl, but left many unimpressed at the combine, running a 4.7 40-yd dash. But what he lacks in speed, he makes up with excellent instincts and ball skills.

The Rams aren’t bringing hard-hitting safety T.J. McDonald back, so there’s clearly a void in the deep secondary. Slide Mo Alexander to strong safety, insert Jerome at FS, and voila!

Round 5 (150 Overall) - Joe Williams, RB, Utah

The loss of Benny Cunningham leaves a void, albeit a relatively small one, behind starting RB Todd Gurley. It remains to be seen what Sean McVay and his offensive staff think of Malcolm Brown and Aaron Green, but with no ties to those players they could opt to bring in a RB in the later rounds. Gurley will also need to improve in 2017, after an unremarkable sophomore season.

With great speed, agility, and explosiveness, Williams would prove a solid complement to the Rams’ backfield — providing them with an outstanding one-two punch in the run game.

* maybe

** definitely not