Av’s FINAL 2023 Rams 7 Rd. Mocks (Plan G and Plan E)

[AvengerRam]

I’m always torn as to when to post my final mock drafts for the Rams. We’re 3 weeks away now, so it should be pretty safe to commit and lock in my selections now (reserving the right to make edits if the Rams make a significant pre-draft trade).

My dilemma this year is that I see two paths, which I’ll call Plan G and Plan E. Plan G involves a scenario in which the guy at the top of my draft board, Jahmyr Gibbs, is there at No. 36. If he’s not there, I’d favor going with an Plan E, in which the Rams start by drafting an EDGE rusher.

So, as the little girl in the Old El Paso commercial said… “why not both?”

And, with that, I give you my FINAL 2023 Rams Mock Drafts: Plan G and Plan E (which only impact the first two picks:

Plan G
Round 2(36): Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
Round 3(69): Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech

Plan E
Round 2(36): Will McDonald, EDGE, Iowa State
Round 3(69): Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pittsburgh

Both Plans
Round 3(77): Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
Round 5(167): Emil Ekiyor, OG, Alabama
Round 5(171): Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan
Round 5(177): Ricky Stromberg, C, Arkansas
Round 6(182): Robert Beal, EDGE, Georgia
Round 6(189): Darrell Luter, Jr., CB, South Alabama
Round 7(223): Byce Baringer, P, Michigan State

 

[Merlin]

It's gonna suck watching some of these guys go off the board before we pick. McDonald in particular will be painful. Gibbs too, though I never have thought he'd make it to us. I think the ideal start to our draft would be some combination of McDonald and a TE from this excellent class.

But I expect a trade down in round 2 and then the Rams kick the draft off by taking an offensive weapon, probably something passcatchy.

 

[AvengerRam]

It's gonna suck watching some of these guys go off the board before we pick. McDonald in particular will be painful. Gibbs too, though I never have thought he'd make it to us. I think the ideal start to our draft would be some combination of McDonald and a TE from this excellent class.

But I expect a trade down in round 2 and then the Rams kick the draft off by taking an offensive weapon, probably something passcatchy.

As a rule, I don’t do mock trades.

The downside of that is Les Snead tends to then blow up my mocks with one or several draft weekend deals.

Hopefully, though…I’ll hit on a pick or two (or, at least, get the target positions right).

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I’d take either option AR. I just wonder, in a supposedly weak IOL class if the Guard and Center last that long. In a class that is weak at a position you often see players drafted in earlier rounds than their draft grades have them rated for. Need demands it.


Side note:

I often see people saying, “it’s a deep (position here) class in this draft so the Rams can trade back and still get a good one.

Wouldn’t it be better to stand Pat and take the best one that is available. Despite class depth at certain positions, why settle for one of the lesser players?

 

[Neil039]

As a rule, I don’t do mock trades.

The downside of that is Les Snead tends to then blow up my mocks with one or several draft weekend deals.

Hopefully, though…I’ll hit on a pick or two (or, at least, get the target positions right).

You’re a rampant anti trade-ite! Next thing you’ll say is people get paid to study the draft! ~ @Loyal (deep deep blue font intended)

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

Plan E please.

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[Flatlyner]

I'd love Plan E personally. Love Brents and the IOL we get too.

 

[Ram Ts]

My one and only draft prediction is that you won’t be able to contain yourself from doing another mock. Three weeks is a loooong time. Lol.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Always appreciate the thought that goes into these! ... errr... now for my quibbles!

I think Gibbs will prob be taken late 2nd/early 3rd so it's a bit high for me there. I think White actually could end up taken closer to 36 whether it be slight before or slightly after Oddly enough, if you just reversed the two I'd be happy!

In regards to plan E, think it's a bit high for Izzy but love getting McDonald at 36.

I don't really see Brents lasting to the 3rd round nor Schoonmaker to the 5th. I suspect Brents goes 2nd and Schoonmaker in the 3rd.

As far as oline, maybe we'll see an developmental tackle or C taken late but it's supposed to be a pretty bad year for IOL and the Rams seems really committed to seeing what they have with the guys who were injured last year so unless Torrence falls I doubt we see oline until late and then not much.

 

[Malibu]

I understand your pov but to me the 3 key areas are:

OL -LT #1, LG or C - one of the 3 LG ideally first. Not sure there are any great LTs at #36

OLB - There will be some really good options here.

CB - we definitely need more CB help along with OLB are the 2 weakest areas on the team. As it pertains to CB alot of the blue chippers will be gone.

Overall I understand Gibbs a lot of people like him including myself, but not to address OLB first (based on talent available seems ridiculous since we are so thin there).

OLB, C, G seem the most logical choices because the level of talent possibly available to us at #36. I don't have a problem moving down 5 - 7 spots if 3 options we want will be there. Seems like a good gamble to net maybe a 3 which we could package up for a 2nd.

Anyway which way we cut it we need a strong draft class we can't whiff like we did in 2019.

 

[AvengerRam]

I understand your pov but to me the 3 key areas are:

OL -LT #1, LG or C - one of the 3 LG ideally first. Not sure there are any great LTs at #36

OLB - There will be some really good options here.

CB - we definitely need more CB help along with OLB are the 2 weakest areas on the team. As it pertains to CB alot of the blue chippers will be gone.

Overall I understand Gibbs a lot of people like him including myself, but not to address OLB first (based on talent available seems ridiculous since we are so thin there).

OLB, C, G seem the most logical choices because the level of talent possibly available to us at #36. I don't have a problem moving down 5 - 7 spots if 3 options we want will be there. Seems like a good gamble to net maybe a 3 which we could package up for a 2nd.

Anyway which way we cut it we need a strong draft class we can't whiff like we did in 2019.

I don’t agree that we “whiffed” in 2019, but that’s a topic for another thread.

My mock doubles up on EDGE, CB and IOL, so I guess that fits your need list. I obviously also see RB as a priority.

 

[Mackeyser]

I’d take either option AR. I just wonder, in a supposedly weak IOL class if the Guard and Center last that long. In a class that is weak at a position you often see players drafted in earlier rounds than their draft grades have them rated for. Need demands it.


Side note:

I often see people saying, “it’s a deep (position here) class in this draft so the Rams can trade back and still get a good one.

Wouldn’t it be better to stand Pat and take the best one that is available. Despite class depth at certain positions, why settle for one of the lesser players?

Depends.

If the difference is minor, then yeah, trading back is smart.

However, often there is a notable if not substantial difference and that can make all the difference in the NFL.

Considering we need studs who can contribute right away, I’d be very circumspect about any trade downs, esp round 2 as every year there are a few guys who based on the draft order of teams, slip out of the first round.

That said, if I had to bet, I’d bet we trade down multiple times for picks in the 3-4th rounds and then maybe use 5-6ths to trade up to 4

As long as they hit on whoever they pick, I don’t really care

 

[Loyal]

I don’t agree that we “whiffed” in 2019, but that’s a topic for another thread.

My mock doubles up on EDGE, CB and IOL, so I guess that fits your need list. I obviously also see RB as a priority.

AND we know if Gibbs is there at #36, you're on the Gibbs bandwagon. BRILLIANT!

 

[FaulkSF]

I’d take either option AR. I just wonder, in a supposedly weak IOL class if the Guard and Center last that long. In a class that is weak at a position you often see players drafted in earlier rounds than their draft grades have them rated for. Need demands it.


Side note:

I often see people saying, “it’s a deep (position here) class in this draft so the Rams can trade back and still get a good one.

Wouldn’t it be better to stand Pat and take the best one that is available. Despite class depth at certain positions, why settle for one of the lesser players?

We did that a few years back with Gerald Everett. Dude never hit his potential. Don't be shocked if the entire draft strategy is to grab the BPA. It could mean no OL and maybe no MLB.

 

[Riverumbbq]

We did that a few years back with Gerald Everett. Dude never hit his potential. Don't be shocked if the entire draft strategy is to grab the BPA. It could mean no OL and maybe no MLB.

Great, I guess my latest mock with 3 OL just went out the window.

1 - N/A

2 - DL Adetomiwa Adebawore, N.W.
3a - TE Sam LaPorta, Ia. (Ramsey trade)
3b - OC/OG Steve Avila, TCU
3c - OT Blake Freeland, BYU (Higbee + 2024 3’rd = trade for 3c and 5a)
4 - Edge Andre Carter, Army (Van Jefferson + 2024 5’th = trade for 4'th)
5a - CB Riley Moss, Ia. (Higbee Trade)
5b - K Jake Moody, Mi.
5c - QB Aiden O'Connell, Al.
6a - OG/C Ricky Stromberg, Ark. (Comp)
6b - RB Chris Rodriguez, U.K.
6c - CB Darrell Luter Jr., S.A.
7a - S DeMarcco Hellams, Al.
7b - P Michael Turk, Ok. (Comp)


Re-sign :

CB Grant Haley
OT Ty Nsekhe
TE/FB Roger Carter

 

[OldSchool]

Would love plan E though I think that back will last a few rounds longer. I don't like either guy in plan G though.

 

[oldnotdead]

2nd rd QB2
3rd rd Edge
CB
5th rd ILB
P
PK
6th rd RB
WR
OLB
7th rd LS
OL

Because the Rams mine small schools every year IMO it's impossible to know the players they might be targeting. I think focusing upon positional priority can be more accurate in predicting their draft strategy. The Rams draft philosophy seems to be BPA @ POSITION OF NEED.

Personally, I agree with that philosophy. So I see it ranked accordingly. This many picks means a draft class as it stands right now is well over $9M in cap cost. I would be surprised but not shocked if Snead pretty much stands pat with his picks. I think he will move if a specific talent starts to drop. If Kancey or Mckee drop into the lower 1st round I could see him moving up for them. But otherwise, his board is probably set. If Tune is on the board at 36 I think they take him. At the very least he could be another Jimmy G type of trade bait in a few years. But QB2 is IMO a bigger need than edge. Why? Because they might sign Ngakoue after the draft when it won't affect their comp picks. Get him on a cap friendly number this year because they will be able to afford him next year. With players its not the top number but its all about the guaranteed money. This is why Lamar Jackson is stupid and not all UFA are.

 

[dang]

Great, I guess my latest mock with 3 OL just went out the window.

1 - N/A

2 - DL Adetomiwa Adebawore, N.W.
3a - TE Sam LaPorta, Ia. (Ramsey trade)
3b - OC/OG Steve Avila, TCU
3c - OT Blake Freeland, BYU (Higbee + 2024 3’rd = trade for 3c and 5a)
4 - Edge Andre Carter, Army (Van Jefferson + 2024 5’th = trade for 4'th)
5a - CB Riley Moss, Ia. (Higbee Trade)
5b - K Jake Moody, Mi.
5c - QB Aiden O'Connell, Al.
6a - OG/C Ricky Stromberg, Ark. (Comp)
6b - RB Chris Rodriguez, U.K.
6c - CB Darrell Luter Jr., S.A.
7a - S DeMarcco Hellams, Al.
7b - P Michael Turk, Ok. (Comp)


Re-sign :

CB Grant Haley
OT Ty Nsekhe
TE/FB Roger Carter

IMO very good draft…
2 - DL Adetomiwa Adebawore, N.W. Yes
3a - TE Sam LaPorta, Ia. (Ramsey trade) Yes
3b - OC/OG Steve Avila, TCU Yes
3c - OT Blake Freeland, BYU (Higbee + 2024 3’rd = trade for 3c and 5a) Yes
4 - Edge Andre Carter, Army (Van Jefferson + 2024 5’th = trade for 4'th) Yes
5a - CB Riley Moss, Ia. (Higbee Trade) No
5b - K Jake Moody, Mi. army Too Early
5c - QB Aiden O'Connell, Al. No
6a - OG/C Ricky Stromberg, Ark. (Comp) Yes
6b - RB Chris Rodriguez, U.K. No
6c - CB Darrell Luter Jr., S.A. No
7a - S DeMarcco Hellams, Al. Yes
7b - P Michael Turk, Ok. (Comp) Yes

 

[Riverumbbq]

IMO very good draft…
2 - DL Adetomiwa Adebawore, N.W. Yes
3a - TE Sam LaPorta, Ia. (Ramsey trade) Yes
3b - OC/OG Steve Avila, TCU Yes
3c - OT Blake Freeland, BYU (Higbee + 2024 3’rd = trade for 3c and 5a) Yes
4 - Edge Andre Carter, Army (Van Jefferson + 2024 5’th = trade for 4'th) Yes
5a - CB Riley Moss, Ia. (Higbee Trade) No

5c - K Jake Moody, Mi. army Too Early
5d - QB Aiden O'Connell, Al. No
6a - OG/C Ricky Stromberg, Ark. Yes
6b - RB Chris Rodriguez, U.K. No
6c - CB Darrell Luter Jr., S.A. No
7a - S DeMarcco Hellams, Al. Yes
7b - P Michael Turk, Ok. Yes

5b was inadvertently left off because with the Higbee trade we would actually have four 5'th round draft picks.
5b is meant for WR Trey Palmer, Ne.

So you can now decide yes or no on that one also.

 

[AvengerRam]

5b was inadvertently left off because with the Higbee trade we would actually have four 5'th round draft picks.
5b is meant for WR Trey Palmer, Ne.

So you can now decide yes or no on that one also.

Like Palmer. Could not fit him into mine with my “no trades” rule.