What 2019 day 3 pick do you wish the Rams had drafted?

It is early to judge 2019 draftees for what will be of their careers, but not too early to judge them based on how you feel after one season. In a way, second year players are not that much more reliable to project in the future than rookies are. You do get one year of highly valuable information based on how they played against the pros, but we’ve seen far too many rookie year wonders and later-career blossomers to know the difference after one season.

That doesn’t preclude us from picking favorites, however.

The LA Rams drafted four players on day three of the 2019 NFL Draft: Greg Gaines, David Edwards, Nick Scott, and Dakota Allen. Edwards is especially promising for a fifth round offensive lineman. But there have been some other day three picks around the league that are promising too. Or more than promising. I want to start with the Rams pick of Greg Gaines at 134, a trade up with the New England Patriots, and only highlight players who were taken after that pick.

Who would be most beneficial to the Rams right now?

136. Michael Jordan, G, Cincinnati Bengals

Qualified for mention because he did start nine games for the Bengals last season. They were, however, the worst team. It’s too early to really feel strongly about a future for Jordan, same as it is for Edwards. Bonus points for the popularity of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series, The Last Dance, right now.

148. Dre Greenlaw, LB, San Francisco 49ers

A 6’2, 227 pound linebacker out of Arkansas, Greenlaw had 92 tackles, three tackles for a loss, one sack, and an interception off of Russell Wilson. While starting for an elite defense. And he’s a linebacker, which would be nice for Brandon Staley right now. The Broncos let the 49ers move up from 212 to 148 for Greenlaw by trading for linebacker Dekoda Watson, who was with the Broncos for barely a moment. Bonus points for what Dr. Dre would have said in the 90s about a person with his name, the word “Green” and the word “Law” all in one.

149. Hunter Renfrow, WR, Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders

Not especially a need, but I think Renfrow will have a productive career. “Hunter” “Ren” and “Frow” sound like names from Hunger Games.

155. Mack Wilson, LB, Cleveland Browns

A former teammate of Terrell Lewis at Alabama, Wilson went all the way in the fifth but started 14 games for the Browns. He had 82 tackles, four tackles for a loss, one sack, and he picked off Kyler Murray. Since we just talked about Greenlaw, shout out to Mac Dre.

163. Jake Bailey, P, New England Patriots

Even less of a need but I would be remiss to not mention that Bailey was twice AFC Special Teams Player of the Week as a rookie.

171. Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants

Caught 48 of 84 targets for 740 yards with eight touchdowns. Bonus points for doing that with Daniel Jones.

173. Cole Holcomb, LB, Washington

The leading tackler on this list, Holcomb had 105 tackles (74 solo, 31 assisted), six tackles for a loss, and one sack. He also forced three fumbles. Bonus points for going to New Smyrna Beach High School in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, because I would never draft one of those losers from Old Smyrna Beach.

178. Gardner Minshew, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

I’m not going to say it’s “not a need” because the Rams do not have a solid backup option right now. Minshew would not have been called to start last season in LA. He would have sat for a year and maybe people would be screaming “Get-to-Min-Shew!” by November, but Jared Goff would have remained the starter. And instead LA would have a backup people are intrigued by perhaps. And as we know now (60.6% comp, 21 TD, 6 INT, 7 Y/A, 91.2 rating as a rookie on a bad team) Minshew can play. Is he a “franchise” QB? I don’t think the Jaguars are finished looking for a franchise QB. But Minshew is definitely one of their options and he’s a good one. But for the Rams sake, he’d still be the backup. Which is a need. Bonus points that his mustache could be called “Old Smyrna Beach.”

212. Dennis Daley, OL, Carolina Panthers

He mad nine starts a year ago and Daley is projected to start at guard for the Panthers next season. He could also potentially not win a job at all. But Daley has already outplayed his draft status. You aren’t going to pick Dennis Daley, I imagine.