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With the Senior Bowl coming and going, we’re now in full-fledged draft season. With only one more major event left for the prospects (the 2018 scouting combine), you know what time it is.
It’s mock draft season.
We’ve already sees mocks coming left and right from all different types of media members that we’re tracking here. We recently got a new mock, a first from him for 2018 actually, from one of the best in the business: former NFL scout and current NFL Network personality Bucky Brooks.
He recently released his version 1.0 of his mock, and he has the Los Angeles Rams taking:
23. Los Angeles Rams: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
Wade Phillips could use another corner with playmaking skills on the island.
This is interesting on multiple levels. One, because the Rams would be passing on some very good talents in Boston College OLB Harold Landry who would fill a major need as a pass rusher and Georgia ILB Roquan Smith who is touted by many as a top-15 talent.
That’s not to say that Alexander isn’t a good player.
He would be a fine pick at #23. Alexander has shown major ability in coverage, as Pro Football Focus noted recetnly:
He was targeted every 7.8 snaps he spent in coverage and allowed just 0.29 yards per his 148 coverage snaps, the second-lowest mark among all draft-eligible cornerbacks. Alexander’s 17.7 passer rating when targeted was nearly 10.0 points clear of No. 2 among draft-eligible cornerback.
Impressive.
Now you’re probably asking if he’s so good why would he be available at #23 then. The answer is that he’s quite small at 5’11 and 192 lbs., figures which may not even be accurate. Not only that, but his light frame succumbed to injury last season playing in only five games. It could have been an outlier as he played every game in 2016, but you never know.
We’re going to see a lot of mocks for the next few months. So buckle up, because it’s going to be wildly entertaining to see who may be available, and to lean more about prospects that have the potential to be Rams come April.