Part of what makes the NFL draft so much fun is the unpredictability of it all. And ironically, analysts and media members spend months conjuring up mock drafts trying to guess which prospects will land where.
This year’s draft will be especially difficult to predict because of the virtual format and the depth at positions such as wide receiver and tackle, but we’ve come up with five bold predictions for the Rams this weekend.
Even with trades expected to be tougher to complete in this virtual-style draft, we think Les Snead will be busy making deals. It also wouldn’t be a surprise if the Rams left the draft without a future left tackle.
And with that, here are our five bold predictions for L.A. this weekend.
The Rams will make at least four trades
Looking back at the 2019 draft, this probably doesn’t seem like a very bold prediction. The Rams traded back three times before making their first pick last year Taylor Rapp), and made five deals in total on the first two days. GM Les Snead has a penchant for trades, especially when it comes to moving back and accumulating picks.
With four picks on Day 2 alone, the Rams can easily make a trade or two on Friday night, moving back from one of their second-round picks to add a fifth-rounder, which they currently lack. Moving up from one of their third-round picks is also a possibility, since they have two of them.
They won’t draft a kicker or quarterback
The Rams have two kickers on their roster after signing Austin MacGinnis and Lirim Hajrullahu, but they won’t add a player like Rodrigo Blankenship this weekend. They also won’t draft a quarterback to join Jared Goff and John Wolford.
It’s not that the Rams don’t need help at those positions, but spending a late-Day 3 pick on a quarterback rarely works out. The Rams would be better off taking a skill-position player or pass rusher with high upside instead of a quarterback who will ride the pine for four years.
Kicker could be a possibility if the Rams add a few more sixth- or seventh-round picks, but they shouldn’t force the issue.
They won’t take a wide receiver before the 4th round
A lot of mocks have projected the Rams to take a wide receiver in the second or third round, be it Michael Pittman or Tee Higgins or Donovan Peoples-Jones. But that won’t happen. They won’t take a receiver before the fourth round, where a player such as Van Jefferson or Devin Duvernay could be a target.
The Rams are confident in Josh Reynolds as a starter and have made that abundantly clear this week. Whether that’s a smokescreen or not is unknown, but he’s proved in the past that he can handle a starter’s share of snaps.
A pass rusher will be their first pick
As badly as fans want the Rams to address the offensive line early on, the team will think differently and look in another direction at No. 52. With Cesar Ruiz and Lloyd Cushenberry probably gone, they’ll take a pass rusher with their first pick.
Terrell Lewis out of Alabama is a player they met with and have shown interest in, while Josh Uche’s versatility aligns nicely with the Rams’ new-look defense. Julian Okwara could also be an option in the second round, as could Curtis Weaver if he slides a bit.
Just don’t be surprised when the Rams don’t take a guard or center with their initial selection on Friday night.
They’ll go without an offensive tackle
Offensive tackle seems to be near the top of the Rams’ priority list heading into the draft, but they’ll actually leave this virtual gathering without one. That’s right: The Rams will pass on taking a pure offensive tackle this weekend and will instead bank on Joseph Noteboom or Bobby Evans replacing Andrew Whitworth in 2021.
Offensive tackle isn’t an immediate need with Whitworth and Rob Havenstein back, which will allow them to address other positions beforehand. They’ll put this situation off for another year and circle back to it in the 2021 draft.
