The draft is rapidly approaching with just over four weeks to go until the big event. The Rams are once again without a first-round pick, but plenty of experts have gone two and three rounds deep with their mock drafts, so we’re getting a sense of which prospects might be available for Los Angeles in the top 100.
In our latest mock draft roundup, a common theme has emerged: defense, defense, defense. Many mock drafts have the Rams taking DBs and pass rushers in Rounds 2 and 3, with Julius Brents being the most popular pick.
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire
The picks: Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes (2nd round), Kansas State CB Julius Brents (3rd round), Florida State S Jammie Robinson (3rd round)
There hasn’t been a more DB-heavy mock draft for the Rams than this one, and it’s honestly hard to dislike it. Forbes and Brents are both high-ceiling prospects capable of starting right away and for several years to come, which are the types of players the Rams need in the secondary.
Robinson isn’t the rangiest or most athletic safety, but he’s a smart player who can also line up in the slot in addition to playing the deep half.
Curt Popejoy, Draft Wire
The picks: Ohio State OT Dawand Jones (2nd round), Kansas State CB Julius Brents (3rd round), Auburn RB Tank Bigsby (3rd round)
Jones adds depth along the offensive line, which the Rams could use. However, he’s a right tackle and Los Angeles still has Rob Havenstein manning that spot for at least another year or two.
Brents is a great pickup in the third round, and as frustrated as fans may be with a running back at No. 77, Bigsby is a big, powerful runner who could help along the goal line.
Todd McShay, ESPN
The pick: Georgia CB Kelee Ringo (2nd round)
Ringo is 6-2 with 4.36 speed, so that alone will get him drafted relatively early. He still needs work in coverage and isn’t the most explosive athlete, but the Rams need cornerback help after trading Jalen Ramsey and Ringo would be a great start.
Bruce Feldman, The Athletic
The pick: Kansas State CB Julius Brents (2nd round)
Brents is unquestionably the most popular pick for the Rams in this round of mock drafts. He’s 6-3 with 34-inch arms and although he doesn’t have a ton of speed (4.53), he’s plenty fast enough to hold up in the Rams’ zone-heavy scheme.
Gordon McGuinness, PFF
The picks: South Carolina CB Cam Smith (2nd round), Illinois S Sydney Brown (3rd round), Stanford WR Michael Wilson (3rd round)
Another DB-heavy mock draft with Smith and Brown heading to the Rams in the first three rounds. Smith is a fringe first-round prospect, while Brown is viewed as one of the better safeties in the class. Both would be great values if the Rams can get them at No. 36 and 69.
Wilson would help take the place of Allen Robinson if he’s traded, but even if he remains in LA, Van Jefferson is in the final year of his contract. He’s a big, physical receiver at 6-2 with 4.58 speed.
Chad Reuter, NFL.com
The picks: Notre Dame OLB Isaiah Foskey (2nd round, via trade), Kansas State CB Julius Brents (3rd round), Illinois S Sydney Brown (3rd round), Stephen F. Austin OLB BJ Thompson (4th round, via trade)
Reuter projects the Rams to trade back two spots in this mock draft, which adds a fourth-rounder. He has Los Angeles going defense-heavy with its first four picks, adding two defensive backs and two pass rushers – arguably the team’s biggest needs.
Foskey could end up being a first-round pick, and Brents is a terrific value in Round 3. Thompson is an older prospect (26 years old) but he’s 6-6 with very good athleticism on the edge.
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports
The pick: Kentucky QB Will Levis (1st round, via trade)
This is completely out of the box for the Rams, moving up from No. 36 to 18 to select Levis in the first round. They don’t need a quarterback right now and Sean McVay even said he doesn’t feel the team needs to draft one early, but Wilson has the Rams ending Levis’ slide at No. 18.
He would have to sit for at least a year or two with Matthew Stafford still under contract, but he could be a future starter.
Ian Valentino, Pro Football Network
The picks: Georgia Tech OLB Keion White (2nd round), Boise State S JL Skinner (3rd round), Miami CB Tyrique Stevenson (3rd round)
Skinner is one of the most unique prospects in the class. He’s 6-foot-4 and can play in the box or deep, bringing an impressive skill set to the field. Unfortunately, he tore his pec while training this offseason so he’ll be on the shelf for a little while.
White and Stevenson would be early contributors for Los Angeles on defense, particularly the former. White is being projected to go anywhere from the top 15 to the second round, so he’s a wild card.
