[AvengerRam]

Here is my final projection, barring a trade that alters our draft position:

Round 2(57): Elijah Molden, CB, Washington
Version 1.0: Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma
Version 2.0: Assante Samuel, Jr., CB, Florida State
For me, this selection came down to targeting a center (Josh Myers or Quinn Meinerz) or a CB. My gut tells me that the Rams will prioritize the CB position. Molden would be an outstanding fit. He is a smart, tough player with pedigree (son of Alex Molden) and would excel in the slot, filling the vacancy left by Troy Hill’s departure. (Alternate choice: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia)

Round 3(88): Victor Dimukeje, EDGE, Duke
Version 1.0: same
Version 2.0: same
Still like this pick. I think Dimukeje would provide a pass rushing threat behind Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd, and has the size (270 lbs) to do so from the DE spot. With the departure of Samson Ebukam and Morgan Fox, his productivity (16 sacks over past two seasons at Duke) and versatility would be welcome. (Alternate choice: Darius Stills, DL, West Virginia)

Round 3(COMP 103): Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa
Version 1.0: Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina
Version 2.0: Walker Little, OT, Stanford
Both Brown and Little seem to have climbed to a spot in the Top 100, so I’m going with a bit of a flyer on this one. Brown is a bit raw, but his athleticism suggests upside and a strong fit in a zone blocking scheme. He won’t be pressed into action right away with Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein returning, but he could be a future starter. (Alternate choice: David Moore, OG, Grambling)

Round 4(COMP 141): Demetric Felton, WR/RB/KR, UCLA
Version 1.0: Rodarius Williams, CB, Oklahoma State
Version 2.0: same (Felton)
I’m still intrigued by Felton, a RB/WR hybrid, and how someone like Sean McVay could use his abilities. Felton is a guy who might not see the ball a lot, but could be impactful when he gets his chances. (Alternate choice: Anthony Schwartz, WR, Auburn)

Round 6(183): Drew Dalman, C, Stanford
Version 1.0: Reed Blankenship, S, Middle Tennessee
Version 2.0: Reed Blankenship, S, Middle Tennessee
Recent history suggests that the Rams believe that they can find OL starters late in the draft. Dalman, of course, makes a lot of sense due to his connection to the Rams’ new OL coach, Kevin Carberry, who coached Dalman at Stanford. Dalman had some durability issues, and his size makes him less than ideal for some schemes, but if he’s still on the board at this point, I think he’d be a good choice. (Alternate choice: Drake Jackson, C, Kentucky)

Round 7(215): Reed Blankenship, S, Middle Tennessee
Version 1.0: Spencer Brown, RB, UAB
Version 2.0: Spencer Brown, RB, UAB
Had him previously in Round 6. Hopefully, he’ll be available in Round 7 (still like Brown as a possible undrafted FA signing). Showed some promise, and some durability issues in college. If he can stay healthy, could be a value choice here. With John Johnson gone, depth at this spot is need. (Alternate choice: Caden Sterns, S, Texas)

[PARAM]

I'm hoping Cleveland (with their 5 picks from #59 to #133) wants to move in front of division rival Baltimore (#58) and gives us a 4th round pick #133 to do it. That would give us 5 picks in the first 141 to add talent.

[AvengerRam]

Here are some other projections for the Rams' pick at No. 57:

Dane Brugler (The Athletic): Elijah Molden, CB, Washington
Jack Despeaux (Sports Illustrated): JaCoby Stevens, S, LSU
Luke Easterling (The Draft Wire): Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
Austin Gayle (PFF): Jalen Mayfield, OT/OG, Michigan
Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News): Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami
Mel Kiper (ESPN): Ernest Jones, LB, South Carolina
Todd McShay (ESPN): Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina
Rob Rang (Fox): Terrace Marshall, WR, LSU
Michael Renner (PFF): Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
Chad Reuter (NFL.com): Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF
Seth Trachtman (Yardbreaker): Landon Dickerson, C, Alabama
Chris Trapasso (CBSSports): Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma
Ryan Wilson (CBSSports: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama

[JackPMiller]

Here are some other projections for the Rams' pick at No. 57:

Dane Brugler (The Athletic): Elijah Molden, CB, Washington
Jack Despeaux (Sports Illustrated): JaCoby Stevens, S, LSU
Luke Easterling (The Draft Wire): Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
Austin Gayle (PFF): Jalen Mayfield, OT/OG, Michigan
Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News): Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami
Mel Kiper (ESPN): Ernest Jones, LB, South Carolina
Todd McShay (ESPN): Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina
Rob Rang (Fox): Terrace Marshall, WR, LSU
Michael Renner (PFF): Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
Chad Reuter (NFL.com): Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF
Seth Trachtman (Yardbreaker): Landon Dickerson, C, Alabama
Chris Trapasso (CBSSports): Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma
Ryan Wilson (CBSSports: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama

I'd be pissed if we draft a WR, S, or an Offensive lineman from Alabama, that early. Safety we don't need, and Alabama Olinemen have not had a great history, especially under Nick Saban.

[Hacksaw]

IMO, we need OL 1st and CB 2nd. Or BPA..

[majik]

I think pick 57 will be traded to acquire another pick.

I think C, OT, CB, DL are priority positions any Day 2 picks

[AvengerRam]

I think pick 57 will be traded to acquire another pick.

I think C, OT, CB, DL are priority positions any Day 2 picks

A trade would not surprise me. As a rule, though, I don’t do trades in my mocks.

[PARAM]

A trade would not surprise me. As a rule, though, I don’t do trades in my mocks.

I agree. It's kinda silly to do so in a mock. But I'm with those who think Snead will attempt to turn 4 picks in the first 4 rounds into 5. Along with trading away future 1st round picks, that's been the M.O. and probably a necessity in their minds. If you're going to trade away first round picks, even if it's for pro bowl level talent, it's good to gather more picks in the 2nd - 4th round area. Between their propensity to allow free agents to walk while gaining comp picks and their use of first round picks to obtain proven talent rather than potential talent, these guys are knocking the traditional approach on it's proverbial ear. It wouldn't turn a head if the results on the field weren't as good as they've been.

[Elvis]

Latest Kiper/McShay mock (From Cam DaSilva) :

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/lists/ ... dd-mcshay/

57. Oklahoma C Creed Humphrey (Kiper)
This is the Rams’ first pick, and they could be getting an immediate starter in Humphrey, who excels as both a run and pass blocker. There’s a chance Humphrey is the top center drafted, even higher in Round 2.

88. Ohio State LB Pete Werner (McShay)
I’m sticking the needs chart here. Kiper gave the Rams a center (Creed Humphrey) with their first pick, and now Werner can bring versatility, speed and length to the linebacking group.

103. Wake Forest WR Sage Surratt (Kiper)
Surratt ran a disappointing 4.69 40-yard dash at his pro day, but he put up good numbers in 2019 before opting out of this past season. The Rams added veteran DeSean Jackson this offseason, and they need more depth behind Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp.

[Elvis]

Here's Jourdan:

https://theathletic.com/2522662/2021/04 ... ed_article

Pick No. 57: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse (6-2, 205)

The Rams tendered starting cornerback Darious Williams so when he signs that tender, he will be locked in for 2021. But what happens after that? Williams can work out a long-term deal with the Rams or look for a big contract elsewhere, and in the latter situation, there are no ready replacements on the roster to start opposite Jalen Ramsey. David Long Jr. returns and he has a lot of potential, but they may want to play him on the inside. Melifonwu would fill a big need in both the short term and longer term because he could still rotate in for snaps, similarly to Troy Hill (who the Rams lost in free agency), especially if Ramsey moves inside into the “star” position at times — which would place Melifonwu on the outside opposite Williams. Those situational reps could also put him on a great developmental track if he should someday be called to start full time.

Pick No. 88: D’Wayne Eskridge, WR/gadget, Western Michigan (5-8, 190)

I can picture Rams coach Sean McVay (literally) pounding the table for Eskridge if he should fall to them at No. 88. Eskridge’s size doesn’t make him a big-radius target, but his speed gets him open and widens his window. His versatility would fit any number of ways in which the Rams offense could and should continue to evolve, and a player with his skill set is a “need” even with veteran DeSean Jackson on the roster, because Jackson only played eight games in the past two seasons due to injury. Eskridge would be asked to help stretch the field, align out of a number of receiver spots and help in the reverse/motion aspect of the offense. Eskridge’s draft projection is hard to pin down but if he’s available here, he feels like a no-brainer and could play situational big-play snaps in his rookie season, with Jackson on the field and Eskridge able to develop his technical work in the meantime.

Any receiver the Rams draft may also be asked to develop into a return specialist role — Eskridge has experience here and could start right away.

Pick No. 103: Drew Dalman, C, Stanford (6-3, 299)

Dalman seems like an obvious match to the Rams, considering previous “smaller” prototypes in McVay’s zone scheme and his previous relationship with Kevin Carberry, who was Dalman’s offensive line coach at Stanford and now holds the same role with the Rams.

Let me be clear, center is absolutely a need for the Rams — I just can see them going defense/best player available (BPA) with their top picks because this interior offensive line class is so deep. They might also be comfortable with a currently rostered player starting at center for a “bridge” year to allow a mid-round pick to develop. Dalman has plenty of potential to grow but would benefit from doing so, if not immediately thrust as a rookie into the pressure of starting for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Of Dalman, our draft analyst Dane Brugler says: “Overall, Dalman works hard to gain positioning and consistently finishes, but his average play strength and struggles to sustain will be more pronounced vs. NFL competition. He projects best in a zone scheme and should compete for starting reps early in his career.”