NFL Mock Draft has Rams trade up for defensive prospect

Should Rams jump on chance to draft Byron Murphy if he falls out of top-15?

What the Los Angeles Rams do with their first round pick is never a small deal under Les Snead. In 2016, he traded all the way up to number one and in 2019 he traded all the way back to the end of the second round. So if the Rams are holding onto their first round pick going into the draft it usually means that they’re going way up or way down but in this two-round mock draft collaboration between popular YouTubers Broshmo and ThatFranchiseGuy, L.A. only goes up two spots.

For Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy.

1.17 – DT Byron Murphy, Texas

2.52 – S Jaden Hicks, Washington State

ThatFranchiseGuy decided to trade up from 19 to 17 by giving up two fourth round picks (one in 2024, one in 2025) to the Jaguars in order to secure Murphy as the next man up after Aaron Donald’s retirement. Murphy is considered to be the best defensive tackle in the class and he might not get out of the top-12, let alone to the Rams at 19.

In PFF’s draft guide, they note that Murphy had 36 hurries in 2023, second most in the country among defensive tackles. Murphy is undersized at 6’1, 297 lbs and his 4.87 40-yard dash is awesome, even if not elite. He’s considered a three-down player who is strong against both the run and rushing the passer.

Jaden Hicks could be an immediate starter in the secondary with good athleticism and a lot of production over the past two years at Washington State. In his final collegiate game, Hicks had an interception and a sack off of Michael Penix, a potential top-20 pick.

With Murphy and Hicks, would Les Snead be rebuilding his defense in the right direction? Let us know your thoughts on this trade and these two prospects in the comments.