Who got mocked to the Rams the last time L.A. had a first round pick?

As you should expect, nobody’s mock draft was even close to right for the 2019 Rams

In 2019, the Los Angeles Rams were coming off of a Super Bowl ls to the New England Patriots and holding the 31st pick in the first round of the draft. The Rams had not made a first round pick since 2016, which is now a shorter period of time than the time between 2019 and 2024; L.A. hasn’t held a first round pick going into a draft in five years and they haven’t used a first round pick in eight years.

Mock drafts typically have the Rams staying at pick 19 and selecting a defensive player like Byron Murphy, Jared Verse, Chop Robinson, Johnny Newton, or Laiatu Latu. If 2024 is anything like 2019, then nobody’s mock draft picks for the Rams are close to correct.

That year, the Rams opted to trade down several times from 31, eventually choosing safety Taylor Rapp with the 61st overall pick. There was one person who came up in my search who even hinted at the Rams trading out of the first round. In fact, every single mock draft expected the Rams to either “fill their need on the offensive line” or “fill their need on the defensive line”.

Funny…nobody ever writes a mock draft like “I’m not going to blindly fill holes on the depth chart” and that’s probably part of the reason mock drafts get it so wrong.

Here are the mock draft picks of the L.A. Rams going into 2019.

NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah: G Elgton Jenkins, Mississippi State

Jenkins is another player who’s made his way into the first-round conversation. Teams love his strength and power inside. He can play any of the three interior positions.

This would have been a preferable move to Taylor Rapp. Jenkins went 44th overall to the Packers and he is a two-time Pro Bowler with the versatility to play guard and tackle at a high level.

Walter Football: C Erik McCoy, Texas A&M

The Rams want to trade out of this pick because they don’t have a second-round choice. If they move down five to 10 spots, perhaps they’ll be in a situation to select Greg “Mr. Reliable” Little, Erik McCoy or another offensive lineman. McCoy happens to be the best of the bunch.

McCoy went 48th overall and just made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2023. By the way, the Rams decided their starting guards and center that year would be Joe Noteboom (a third round pick the previous year), Brian Allen (a fourth round pick the previous year), and Austin Blythe. The team would also turn to David Edwards, a fifth round rookie, and Austin Corbett, a player who they traded for a month into the 2019 season.

So while fans argue, “Oh no, the Rams MUST address these NEEDS in the first round”, are you paying any attention to how the Rams operate or no? That would take too much time?

B/R’s (then) Matt Miller: OL Dalton Risner, Kansas State

The beauty of selecting Dalton Risner at No. 31 overall is he can play any position on the offensive line, which is a need for the Los Angeles Rams as they move on from John Sullivan and Rodger Saffold and prepare for a world without Andrew Whitworth in the near future.

Risner was the 41st overall pick and though he has started 73 games in five years, he hasn’t really found a solid home in the NFL yet. He’s a free agent today.

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: TRADE UP TO 21 EDGE Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech

PROJECTED TRADE WITH SEAHAWKS. Re-signing Dante Fowler to a one-year deal does not close the loop on the Rams’ need for pass rushers. Ferguson’s ability to reach the quarterback will be coveted in the second half of the first round.

Reuter seems to want a reputation for making wild picks. Ferguson ended up going 85th overall, but here Reuter had the Rams trading up to get him. Ferguson had a three-year career and is out of the league.

The Ringer’s Danny Kelly: C Erik McCoy, Texas A&M

The Rams move quickly to replace John Sullivan, grabbing McCoy to be their day-one starter at center. The former Aggie is tough, physical, and athletic―plus, he offers the ability to play at guard if need be.

Another McCoy pick.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: G Chris Lindstrom, Boston College

Hard-nosed grinder who can thrive in a variety of run schemes.

Lindstrom is certainly the guard who Rams fans would be happiest with today, but that’s why he went 14th overall and not 31st.

DraftWire’s Luke Easterling: DT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson

Dexter Lawrence went 17th overall. Keep that in mind when you see mock drafts who regularly have players going late-first, early-second and you say “I keep seeing these guys in mocks go late, so I KNOW they’ll be available later.” No, you don’t.

CBS’s Ryan Wilson: Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State

Simmons is a top-5 talent. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL in February, which means he won’t be healthy until midway through the season, best case. But when he returns, the Rams will have a dominant young player in the middle of their defense.

Simmons went 19th and wasn’t available unless L.A. did trade up.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Todd McShay: C Garrett Bradbury, NC State

I can’t believe Kiper left the offensive lineman who I think is the most NFL-ready for me all the way at the back of the first round. With no more John Sullivan or Rodger Saffold, this makes all the sense in the world.

Bradbury went 18th, about as high as a center can go, and he’s just a very average to below-average player. Don’t guarantee that any player will work out just because a team picked him in the first round.