The Los Angeles Rams will enter the draft with a “best player available” mentality, selecting the top prospect on their board regardless of position – within reason, of course. They’re not going to take a quarterback in Round 1, nor a running back or wide receiver, most likely.
With that in mind, there are plenty of talented prospects available in this incoming draft class that fit the Rams’ most pressing needs. Whether it’s at safety, defensive tackle or outside linebacker, there are impact starters at every spot the Rams are eyeing.
Luke Easterling of Draft Wire released his final big board of 2019, ranking the top 300 prospects in the draft. Relating it to the Rams’ we’ve listed potential targets for L.A. at five different position groups, including where they’re ranked on Easterling’s big board.
Offensive line
1st round
17. C Garrett Bradbury, NC State
26. OL Dalton Risner, Kansas State
2nd round
30. OL Chris Lindstrom, Boston College
37. C Erik McCoy, Texas A&M
60. OL Elgton Jenkins, Mississippi State
3rd round
69. OG Nate Davis, Charlotte
73. OT Yodny Cajuste, West Virginia
Bradbury would be among the best prospects for the Rams in the entire draft, projecting well as a starter at center. McCoy would be a nice consolation prize, while Jenkins’ versatility adds value at the next level. Davis visited the Rams and might be a Day 2 target.
Defensive line
1st round
18. DL Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
2nd round
27. DT Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
29. NT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
62. DT Khalen Saunders, Western Illinois
3rd round
90. DT Trysten Hill, UCF
Tillery projects best in a 4-3 defense, but he can play defensive end or 3-technique in the Rams’ scheme. Lawrence gets a second-round grade from Easterling, though he’s likely higher on the Rams’ board with his perfect fit in a 3-4 front. Simmons is a top-15 talent in the draft but a torn ACL and character concerns hurt his stock.
Edge rusher
1st round
15. OLB Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
24. OLB Jachai Polite, Florida
2nd round
25. OLB Chase Winovich, Michigan
59. OLB Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech
3rd round
95. OLB Oshane Ximines, Old Dominion
98. OLB Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan
4th round
126. OLB D’Andre Walker, Georgia
134. OLB Malik Reed, Nevada
Sweat could slide into the Rams’ range due to an unfortunate heart condition, despite being a top-10 player talent-wise. Winovich is a relentless defender who loves chasing down ball carriers, though he needs work as a pure pass rusher. Ferguson’s stock has slid slightly in the lead up to the draft due to poor testing at his pro day. Reed visited the Rams and is a Day 2 or 3 target for them.
Defensive backs
1st round
23. CB Greedy Williams, LSU
2nd round
35. DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida
40. S Taylor Rapp, Washington
42. S Nasir Adderley, Delaware
44. CB Rock Ya-Sin, Temple
46. CB Justin Layne, Michigan State
50. S Deionte Thompson, Alabama
53. S Darnell Savage, Maryland
3rd round
67. S Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State
70. S Juan Thornhill, Virginia
79. CB Joejuan Williams, Vanderbilt
This list shows just how deep the secondary class is this year. Rapp, Thompson, Savage, Abram and Thornhill all visited the Rams, while Ya-Sin and Layne could be trade-back candidates. There’s everything from instant starters to developmental players in this group.
Inside linebacker
2nd round
41. LB Mack Wilson, Alabama
3rd round
65. LB Blake Cashman, Minnesota
4th round
107. LB Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame
110. LB Germaine Pratt, North Carolina State
116. LB Vosean Joseph, Florida
119. LB Jahlani Tavai, Hawai’i
142. LB David Long Jr., West Virginia
145. LB Bobby Okereke, Stanford
It’s an underwhelming group of off-ball linebackers outside of Devin White and Devin Bush. Wilson shouldn’t go in the first round, while many of the players on this list will go between Rounds 3 and 5. Pratt is a converted safety with great athleticism, while Cashman is an undersized linebacker who can really run sideline to sideline. Joseph, Tavai and Long all visited the Rams.
.jpg?w=600)
