PFF says this defensive lineman is a perfect fit for the Rams

PFF tabs LSU defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo as a fit for the Rams on day three

The Los Angeles Rams will very likely be looking to draft a defensive lineman at some point during the NFL Draft. After losing both Aaron Donald and Jonah Williams, the Rams could use a starter as well as some depth at the position. With seven selections on day three, that player could come in rounds 4-7 on the final day of the draft.

Day three of the draft is always about finding diamonds and players who could become key contributors. Pro Football Focus recently tabbed one day three prospect as a fit for each team in the NFL. That player for the Rams was LSU’s Mekhi Wingo. Here’s what PFF’s Gordon McGuinness had to say,

“Wingo may be undersized, but he can win with quickness and develop into a solid rotational piece in an NFL defensive line with the right coaching. He earned a 77.6 PFF grade in 2023, his third straight season of topping a 73.0 mark.”

What makes this fit interesting from PFF’s perspective is that Wingo also made my Snead’s Snacks list on the defensive line. The LSU defensive lineman is smaller, but has a quick get-off and has the speed to overcome those size deficiencies. Those are traits that the Rams have typically looked for in defensive linemen that they’ve drafted. Here was my analysis on Wingo,

“If there is a defensive lineman that the Rams opt to draft on day two, it would not be surprising if it is Mekhi Wingo. Wingo is one of my favorite defensive line prospects and again, is a high-ceiling player. His top RAS comparison is Aaron Donald who the Rams will be trying to replace. Wingo and Donald are both extremely similar in size and had the exact same 10-yard split at 1.63-seconds. Like Donald, Wingo has a quick get-off, a hot motor, and the lateral quickness that the Rams value in their defensive linemen.”

Wingo wore the number 18 at LSU which is reserved for the player that most embodies the program. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote in “The Beast” that Wingo was a team captain who was highly respected with the Tigers. Said Brugler

“Coaches rave about hiswork/practice habits. Instead of packing it in and preparing for the NFL Draft, he rehabbed his “ass off” to return for LSU’s 2023 bowl game.”

It would not be a surprise if the Rams ended up drafting a player like Wingo. He may not be the immediate impact player, but could develop and have a spot in the defensive rotation. Wingo fits the archetype that the Rams like on the defensive line which makes him a perfect option, even if it’s before day three in the third round.