Three-round 2018 NFL Mock Draft from NFL Network’s Chad Reuter sets up long wait for Los Angeles Rams

NFL Network’s Chad Reuter released his initial three-round mock draft yesterday that sets up the painful truth for the Los Angeles Rams when it comes to Day 2 of the 2018 NFL Draft.

We’re gonna have to wait a while.

While the Rams are in the mix of the first round this year, unlike last year in which we were forced to watch as passive observers as the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft passed us by, we’ve got nothing in between our first-round pick and our third-round pick. So after pick #23, we’re going to have to sit around quite a while on Friday to get through all of round 2 and deep into round 3.

Storyline time.

Top 5

Reuter goes with a top five of USC QB Sam Darnold, UCLA QB Josh Rosen, Penn St. RB Saquon Barkley, North Carolina St. DE Bradley Chubb and Alabama Crimson Tide DB Minkah Fitzpatrick. Notre Dame G Quenton Nelson is in at #7 following the New York Jets’ selection of Wyoming QB Josh Allen. Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield doesn’t come off until 15th to the Arizona Cardinals.

The QBs

On top of the four above, Reuter has Louisville QB Lamar Jackson going #21 to the Buffalo Bills. Because this is a three-round mock though, we can go a bit deeper into the position stock here.

He has Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph going late in the second round to the Minnesota Vikings. The only other QB in his mock is Richmond QB Kyle Lauletta late in the third to the New Orleans Saints.

Cornering the cornerbacks

It would seem that Ohio St. CB Denzel Ward is solidifying his position atop the CB big board for most including Reuter who has him going 8th overall, the first cornerback in his mock. No other cornerbacks come off before the Rams on the clock at 23, so Reuter has them going:

23. Los Angeles Rams: Mike Hughes, CB, UCF

The Rams could use help in the secondary, even if Trumaine Johnson is re-signed.

It’s an easy out just to tab the Rams to a cornerback, but I can’t really criticize the selection itself here.

The tough part comes thereafter watching prospect after prospect get mocked with the Rams seemingly years away from picking again. So much talent! So many roster needs that could be filled!

That was what really hit me here is that the Rams just don’t have a ton of capital to work with in the early stages of the draft for the third year running. It just reinforces that they’re going to have to make the most out of #23 lest General Manager Les Snead once again finds a way to ship that pick for more capital, an outcome that’s hardly impossible.

On to the third round. Down at #87, Reuter has us going with:

87. Rams: Darius Leonard, LB, South Carolina State

Leonard had wanted to attend Clemson, but they never offered him a scholarship. Since then...well, I’ll be honest. I don’t watch a ton of South Carolina State football. Maybe we can get Rams TE Temarrick Hemingway to weigh in as they were teammates in Orangeburg.

Hughes & Leonard. What say you, Rams fans?