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The Los Angeles Rams hold pick 104 at the end of round three, pick 126 in round four, pick 199 in round six, and pick 234 in round seven. Technically that gives Sean McVay and Les Snead three picks on day three, but I snuck 104 in there for good measure. It could be that the Rams attempt to add another day three pick but they will of course be signing a group of undrafted free agents to compete for a roster spot as well.
We also know that McVay probably wants to bolster his offensive line unit and add some more competition to the rotation of players from last season. He could do that on day three, though expectations should be tempered.
Since 2010, only Jason Kelce (6th round) and David Bakhtiari (4th) have been drafted on day three and made multiple Pro Bowls. This could very well have to do with the fact that people don’t really know who to vote for among the offensive linemen and draft position could be influential in that regard. The two one-time Pro Bowlers from day three are Charles Leno (7th) and Trent Brown (7th), but there are plenty of good starters who’ve gone in this range.
Clint Boling, Marcus Cannon, Kelvin Beachum, Ricky Wagner, Shaq Mason, Matt Paradis, Bobby Massie, Marshall Newhouse, Corey Linsley. Believe it or not, Austin Blythe (7th) would rank as one of the better late round offensive line picks of the last decade.
We can’t expect much from this crop of prospects, but that doesn’t mean they can’t end up producing a lot.
Michael Onwenu, OG, Michigan
6’3, 344 lbs
Powerful and wide, Onwenu’s natural play strength is somewhat offset by his below-average athletic ability. With better hand placement and attention to footwork, he can take a step forward as a drive blocker with the ability to move bodies around, but he’ll be a scheme-specific prospect who could struggle against quick, upfield players and sub-package rushers. He has backup guard ability and potential as a Day 3 pick.
Darryl Williams, IOL, Mississippi State
6’2, 304 lbs
Team captain and three-year starter who is short on traits and athleticism but plays with savvy and determination. He wasn’t asked to do much move-blocking in Mississippi State’s rushing attack and could struggle with that request as a pro, but he has upper-body power to wall and seal down-blocks and stalemate opponents as a drive-blocker. Athleticism and balance concerns could show themselves in NFL pass protection, but he does find ways to hang in and recover. He has center/guard roster flexibility and could compete for a backup role.
Charlie Heck, OL, North Carolina
6’8, 311 lbs
Three-year starter with offensive line play in his bloodlines. He’s a tall tackle with inevitable leverage and anchor concerns at times despite playing with bend. He carries an NFL-ready frame with long arms and loose hips for move blocks and recoveries. His range in pass sets is just average, so he needs to get on top of rushers with his length early in the rep to maintain feel and widen the arc when needed. Heck has the talent to handle swing tackle duties and should be fully functional in all run-blocking schemes.
Calvin Throckmorton, OT/OG, Oregon
6’5, 317 lbs
Well-built tackle-to-guard prospect with very good core strength and displacement power in his upper body. The problem for Throckmorton is that for all his contact balance and diligence to play under control, his lower body stiffness and lack of functional quickness permeates his play in both the run and pass and will be much more pronounced on an NFL offensive line. The technique and quality of play is draft-worthy but physical limitations might make him no better than a replaceable backup.
Tyre Phillips, OL, Mississippi State
6’5, 331 lbs
Big, bruising body mover with serious knock-back power to clear the debris from the gaps in the run game. Phillips has flown under the radar, but his tape is filled with fits of strength at the point of attack. His wide frame includes a wide power zone that prevents his edges from becoming leaky. He fits into power, gap scheme and inside zone as a run blocker, but outside zone is asking too much. He has a lack of functional range in pass sets that might require more tight end help than play-callers would care to give. Interior protection duties should come naturally and he has early starting potential with an above-average ceiling for a power-driven offense.
Jake Hanson, iOL, Oregon
6’4, 303 lbs
Four-year starter who has the ability to assimilate into a variety of schemes but is unlikely to stand out in any particular one. His strong, accurate hands and determined effort are his calling cards and he’s been able to hang in against a series of big, talented interior linemen over the years. He lacks power and mass, which could hurt his chances with teams who play against odd-front defenses, but he’s a steady performer who could offer late-round value as a backup.
Kevin Dotson, iOL, UL-Lafayette
6’4, 310 lbs
The non-Combine invite and smaller D-1 school makes it all the more difficult figuring out where he’s going to go. We’ll have to see how he tests at his Pro Day to gauge his athleticism since it’s a question on tape. But I can see this guy fitting the Steelers’ style. Throwback, nasty, and with Art Rooney’s decree of making the run game more effective (Dotson wouldn’t start out of the gate, I know), adding a guy like him will be a step in accomplishing that mission.
On the low end, I’d compare him to Jamon Brown. On the high end, an Andrus Peat/Larry Warford type.
Hakeem Adeniji, OL, Kansas
6’4, 302 lbs
Durable four-year starter at tackle who might be asked to prove himself as an interior blocker on the next level. Adeniji understands and displays technique, but it tends to get sloppy when his footwork gets him behind in the rep. He was an imperfect fit in Kansas’ move-oriented running game, but could compete for a roster spot in a man blocking scheme where he should be able to play with better control, consistency and push at the point of attack. His experience at tackle boosts his pass pro credentials if he’s moved inside.