It won’t be long before the Los Angeles Rams go on the clock in the 2023 draft, even though they don’t have a first-round pick again this year. They’re scheduled to pick 36th overall in the second round, which would be their earliest selection since 2017.
With draft season coming to an end, so too are expert mock drafts. Some still still trickle in before the big event on Thursday night, but we’re rounding up the latest projections from experts and looking at the picks they have the Rams making in Rounds 2 and 3.
Here’s our final collection of mock drafts from around the internet.
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire
The picks: Arkansas LB Drew Sanders (2nd round), Syracuse OL Matthew Bergeron (3rd round), Kansas State CB Julius Brents (3rd round)
Farrar has mocked Sanders to the Rams a couple of times and it makes sense as to why. He’s a versatile linebacker who can cover, stop the run and even rush the passer off the edge. The Rams need help at both inside and outside linebacker after parting with Bobby Wagner and Leonard Floyd, so Sanders certainly fills a need.
Bergeron would be a nice addition at either guard or tackle, while Brents has the athleticism teams covet at cornerback, which could get him drafted earlier than expected.
Pro Football Focus
The picks: Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer (2nd round), Tennessee WR Cedric Tillman (3rd round), South Carolina CB Darius Rush (3rd round
Mayer is a new name for the Rams, primarily because he’s projected to go in the first round in the majority of mock drafts. It’s hard to see him falling this far, especially with the Cowboys sitting at No. 26, but he would be a fantastic selection for the Rams as an all-around tight end.
Tillman is another quality selection as a big-bodied receiver who can win one-on-one outside, and Rush would help shore up a secondary that’s become depleted.
Matt Miller, ESPN
The picks: Georgia Tech DE Keion White (2nd round), Syracuse OL Matthew Bergeron (3rd round), Washington State LB Daiyan Henley (3rd round)
White is another possible first-round pick who would fit well with the Rams as their pass-rushing defensive end. He’s a tweener because of his size, but in Los Angeles’ defense, he can line up at multiple spots up front.
Bergeron gets mentioned again here as an offensive line target, and Henley bolsters the linebacker group with impressive athleticism and speed (4.54).
Dane Brugler, The Athletic
The picks: Iowa State OLB Will McDonald IV (2nd round), Illinois DB Jartavius Martin (3rd round), Auburn RB Tank Bigsby (3rd round)
McDonald would be a perfect pick for the Rams if he’s available. He’s a talented pass rusher who could complement Aaron Donald by generating pressure off the edge, filling what’s undoubtedly the Rams’ biggest need.
Martin also helps the secondary with his versatility, being able to play both cornerback and safety. Bigsby is a physical runner who has a different skill set than Cam Akers, which gives Sean McVay another option in the backfield.
The 33rd Team
The picks: Pittsburgh OT Carter Warren (2nd round), Florida State S Jammie Robinson (3rd round)
Warren would feel like a little bit of a reach at this spot, especially considering the Rams don’t have a pressing need at tackle right now. He’s projected to go in the third round or later in most mock drafts, making him a not-so-great value at No. 36.
Robinson fills a need at safety and has the ability to cover the slot, as well as lining up deep. That’s a benefit for the Rams now that Jalen Ramsey, Nick Scott and Taylor Rapp are gone.
Ian Valentino, Pro Football Network
The picks: USC WR Jordan Addison (2nd round), Boise State S JL Skinner (3rd round), Miami CB Tyrique Stevenson (3rd round)
Addison is viewed as a first-round talent and should go in the first 32 picks, so the Rams get good value at No. 36. With Allen Robinson being traded, they need wide receiver help, too.
Skinner and Stevenson improve the secondary in the third round. Skinner may get a late start due to a torn pectoral suffered while training, but he’s a big safety who can cover the slot. Stevenson is a talented cornerback who’s sticky in coverage.
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports
The picks: Minnesota C John Michael Schmitz (2nd round), Maryland OT Jaelyn Duncan (3rd round), Auburn LB Owen Pappoe (3rd round)
Trapasso goes in a different direction for the Rams here. Rather than addressing the pass rush, secondary or receiving corps, he adds offensive linemen with back-to-back picks. The Rams aren’t moving on from Brian Allen this year after restructuring his deal, so Schmitz might not have a spot right away. Duncan can play left tackle or guard so that versatility is valuable, especially to the Rams.
Pappoe has a ton of speed for a 225-pound linebacker, running a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash at the combine. He needs some time to develop, especially against the run, but the potential is there.
Chad Reuter, NFL.com
The picks: LSU OLB B.J. Ojulari (2nd round, trade back), Michigan CB D.J. Turner (3rd round), Boise State S JL Skinner (3rd round)
Ojulari is a realistic target for the Rams in the second round and he’d help them early on. His impact tapered off late last season with just a half-sack in his final four games, but he’s a pure pass rusher who can develop into a really good player.
Turner ran a 4.26 in the 40-yard dash, which gives you an idea of the speed he has. He’s a cornerback who can line up inside or on the boundary, and his speed allows him to keep up with receivers deep when tested.
Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, ESPN
The picks: Kansas State OLB Felix Anudike-Uzomah (2nd round), Illinois DB Jartavius Martin (3rd round), UCLA RB Zach Charbonnet (3rd round)
Anudike-Uzomah is a popular player for the Rams in mock drafts, as is Martin. Anudike-Uzomah is an all-around outside linebacker who can defend the run and disrupt things in the backfield as a pass rusher.
Charbonnet is an underrated running back who should be getting more love. He could go in Round 2 and be utilized early on as a goal line back with a nose for the end zone.
