2018 NFL Mock Draft keeps LA Rams pinned to cornerback in round 1

The Los Angeles Rams’ season is over.

While we’ll continue watching the playoffs en route to Super Bowl LII, the eyes for the Rams’ immediate future must turn toward the 2018 offseason. With it comes the twin efforts of re-organizing the roster through the 2018 NFL Draft as well as free agency.

So all that being said...it’s mock draft season!

We’ve got a new mock today from Mocking the Draft’s Dan Kadar that keeps the Rams stuck on the same position albeit with a new prospect:

23. Los Angeles Rams: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State Buckeyes

Make no mistake, the Rams need more than one cornerback this offseason. Maybe one can come in free agency and the other in the draft. The one in the draft can be Ward, who has speed and technique. He can be for Los Angeles what Chris Harris Jr. is for the Denver Broncos.

Kadar’s had the Rams on a cornerback for some time. Ward’s one of the better CB prospects in the draft, and the second corner in his mock after Iowa CB Josh Jackson who we’ve seen mocked to the Rams frequently.

As for the mock itself, there are a couple of standout notes.

• The 2018 NFL Draft is going to revolve around the QB position. Kadar’s mock has six going in the first round. USC QB Sam Darnold goes #1 overall to the Cleveland Browns. UCLA QB Josh Rosen goes a pick later to the New York Giants. We get another pairing at #5 as the Denver Broncos take Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield followed by Louisville Cardinals QB Lamar Jackson to the New York Jets at #6. Wyoming QB Josh Allen, who’s bound to be one of the more polarizing prospects in the draft, goes at #13 to Washington’s NFL Team. And we get a sixth first-round quarterback in Oklahoma St. QB Mason Rudolph to the New Orleans Saints at #28. In other words...steel yourself. This is going to be the centerpiece the draft turns around.
• The rest of the prospects in the top half are kind of a wash for me. The Rams obviously won’t be involved, so it’t not personal either.
• Sorting out the defensive linemen this year is going to be tough. Washington DT Vita Vea, Clemson DE Clelin Ferrell, Alabama DL Da’Ron Payne and Clemson DT Christian Wilkins all go from #17-20 in Kadar’s mock. He’s got Michigan DT Maurice Hurst and Stanford DT Harrison Phillips in the final six picks of the round too.
• And as for the Rams’ cornerback chase, there’s not a ton of first-round competition. Jackson goes at #21 to the Buffalo Bills. Ward comes our way two picks later. And Auburn CB Carlton Davis is the only other first-round corner in Kadar’s mock. It will be interesting to see the movement at the position in other mocks to see which prospects begin attracting first-round buzz...and yes, this is from the personal perspective as the Rams will certainly be oft-tied to the cornerback class.

It’s Monday, January 8. Mock season is officially upon us, Rams fans.

Leggo.