Rams Shadow Draft: Should WR and LB been more of a priority?

Should the Rams have prioritized wide receiver and linebacker more in the draft?

The NFL Draft is over and the Los Angeles Rams have their class of 10 rookies. On the surface it looks like general manager Les Snead may have gotten another draft right after an extraordinary class last season.

Snead has gotten some fair criticism for his drafting in the past. However, it’s also very easy to criticize after the fact.

Throughout draft weekend, I conducted a “shadow draft,” meaning that any time the Rams were on the clock to select a player, so was I. I figured this would be a fun exercise just to see the different paths of “my” draft class and the Rams’ real-life draft class.

This was my fifth year doing the exercise. You can see those results here.

The idea here is very much not that I would do a better job drafting than the Snead and the Rams. This is simply a fun exercise in what in a process that requires a lot of luck. That’s especially the case when the Rams haven’t had a first-round pick.

Below are the rules:

1. Past Shadow Draft results do not carry over. Every year is a new year and I draft with the current Rams roster and needs in mind.

2. I follow along with whatever real-life trades Snead and the Rams made. So even though I might have wanted to trade up to 39 or wanted to trade up from 19, I was along for the ride.

3. I make my picks in real time when the Rams are on the clock and make my pick before the Rams’ selection was announced. Revisionist history is lame.

1st Round (19th Overall) – CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama

This was my fifth time doing a shadow draft and the fourth time my first pick has been a cornerback for the Rams. Last year I took Cam Smith and the year before I selected Zyon McCollum. This was a tough pick and Jared Verse is a player that was considered. At the end of the day, Arnold was the top defensive player on my board and after talking with him at the NFL Combine, I was sold. While the Rams did sign Tre White and Darious Williams in free agency, White has an injury history and Arnold can play on the outside or as the STAR.

Where They Went: 24th overall, Detroit Lions

Actual Rams Pick: EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State

2nd Round (39th Overall) – DL Michael Hall, Ohio State

After the early run on defensive tackles in the second round, the Rams traded up. We both had the same idea and also grabbed a defensive tackle. However, the Rams took Braden Fiske while I selected Michael Hall. Hall would have given the Rams a lot of versatility along their defensive line as a player would could line up inside at the 1T or as far out as the 5T. Hall has a high ceiling, but would need some coaching at the next level.

Where They Went: 54th overall, Cleveland Browns

Actual Rams Pick: DT Braden Fiske, Florida State

3rd Round (83rd Overall) – WR Javon Baker, UCF

When the Rams were on the clock at 83, I was almost certain that they were going to go wide receiver. Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are the only receivers currently under contract heading into next season. Baker would have been able to slide in as the ‘x’ receiver along with Demarcus Robinson and is a player I saw as a perfect fit for the Rams offense.

Where They Went: 110th Overall, New England Patriots

Actual Rams Pick: RB Blake Corum, Michigan

3rd Round (99th Overall) – LB Cedric Gray, UNC

The Philadelphia Eagles sniped my pick Payton Wilson at 98, but I likely would have been better taking Wilson at 83 and waiting on Baker. With Wilson off the board, I settle for my third linebacker in the class in Cedric Gray. Gray should be able to provide a good coverage option next to Ernest Jones and be the next man up if the Rams are unable to get an extension done there in the near future.

Where They Went: 106th Overall, Tennessee Titans

Actual Rams Pick: S Kamren Kinchens, Miami

5th Round (154th Overall) – Mahomed Kamara, Colorado State

Waiting until he fifth round may have been a long wait for an edge rusher. However, I am happy with the player that I ended up with. Kamara has a relentless motor and had 13 sacks last season for the Rams of the Mountain West. This is a player that can rotate year one with Michael Hoecht and potentially turn into a solid starter.

Where They Went: 158th Overall, Miami Dolphins

Actual Rams Pick: EDGE Brennan Jackson, Washington State

6th Round (196th Overall) – RB Dylan Laube, New Hampshire

When the Rams drafted a running back, this is the type of player I figured they would take. It’s clear this is also a type of player that they wanted when they signed Boston Scott. Laube provides a change of pace and can do a little bit of everything. Seeing him in McVay’s offense would have been a lot of fun, not to mention the value that he provides on special teams as a returner.

Where They Went: 208th Overall, Las Vegas Raiders

Actual Rams Pick: DT Tyler Davis, Clemson

6th Round (209th Overall) – iOL Christian Mahogany, Boston College

It came out after the draft that Mahogany had some medical concerns that were scaring teams during the draft. However, at 209, this was a value that was too good to pass up. He provides depth at both guard spots. Mahogany doesn’t have any center experience, but could likely play their in a pinch if needed.

Where They Went: 210th Overall, Detroit Lions

Actual Rams Pick: K Joshua Karty, Stanford

6th Round (213th Overall) – CB Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas

To be clear, this is where I was going to take a kicker and had the Rams not taken Karty at 213, a kicker worth drafting may have been here. My goal was to take Karty or Cam Little at this spot. However, that’s the name of the game with the shadow draft. Instead, I grabbed some cornerback depth in Dwight McGlothern. The Rams need to rebuild their secondary and McGlothern is a step in replacing some of the depth.

Where They Went: UDFA

Actual Rams Pick: WR Jordan Whittington, Texas

6th Round (217th Overall) – DL Jowon Briggs, Cincinnati

At this point in the draft, the goal was simply to find some depth, especially along the defensive line. Briggs adds versatility as a player that can play up and down the line and adds a big body in the run game.

Where They Went: 243rd overall, Cleveland Browns

Actual Rams Pick: C Beaux Limmer, Arkansas

7th Round (254th Overall) – iOL Karsen Barnhart, Michigan

Barnhart was one of my favorite late-round offensive linemen in the draft process. He has the ability to play multiple positions across the offensive line with experience on both the left and right side. Barnhart would have been a fantastic replacement for Tremayne Anchrum who also gave that option of depth at multiple spots.

Where They Went: UDFA

Actual Rams Pick: KT Leveston, Kansas State

The Full Class

• 19 – CB Terrion Arnold
• 39 – DL Michael Hall
• 83 – WR Javon Baker
• 99 – LB Cedrick Gray
• 154 – EDGE Mohamed Kamara
• 196 – RB Dylan Laube
• 209 – iOL Christian Mohogany
• 213 – CB Dwight McGlothern
• 217 – DL Jowon Briggs
• 254 – iOL Karsen Barnhart

Based on where they were actually selected, McGlothern in the sixth round may have been my biggest reach. An argument could be made for Baker who went 110th whereas I took him at 83. However, Baker would have been a perfect fit in the Rams offense. Still, that value isn’t too bad. My best pick was probably Kamara at 154 who was selected four picks later at 158. While not the splash pick at EDGE, there is still a lot of upside.

An argument could have been made for EDGE at 19. However, with Terrion Arnold still on the board, the value was simply too good to pass up. That meant sacrificing on the position a little bit. Still, I like the pass rushing upside of both Hall and Kamara. Again, I missed out on kicker waiting a little bit too long and there being a run of kickers between 213 and 217.

Overall I really like what the Rams did with their draft class and actually like their haul a little more than mine. There are some philosophical things that I would have dine differently such as taking a wide receiver earlier in the draft and certainly drafting a linebacker. I also don’t think running back was a pressing need in the third round and waiting for a player like Laube who can do some of the Boston Scott stuff also made sense.