If you’re a draft scout for the Los Angeles Rams, your job has either been very easy, or incredibly difficult over the last couple of seasons. The Rams haven’t made a first round pick since they selected Jared Goff out of California in 2016 and won’t this year either. In fact, they don’t pick until the third round.
So, if you’re a scout, that means you don’t have to focus on the top prospects at all. But it could turn up the pressure on guys selected in the later rounds. Here’s what I’d love to see the Rams do.
Round 3, Pick 87: Fred Warner, OLB, BYU
2017: 87 tackles, nine for a loss, one sack, one interception, five passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery (6-4, 230 pounds)
The Rams have spent a lot of money, draft and trade capital to get the best players on the field. It’s worked, for the most part, except at linebacker. I don’t expect Los Angeles to forgo the free agent market completely, but they must add some potential starters in the draft. Warner can play the position straight up, or could develop into a solid pass rusher under Wade Phillips.
Round 4, Pick 111: Desmond Harrison, OT, West Georgia
6-6, 292 pounds
One of the positions the Rams have loaded up on is starting offensive lineman. While they’ve got one of the best units in the league, their depth is seriously lacking. It’s time to fix that in the draft. Harrison is a project, but one the Rams have time to develop with Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein holding down the starting tackle spots.
Round 4, Pick 135: Scott Quessenberry, Center, UCLA
6-4, 310 pounds
Quessenberry comes from a shotgun, pass-happy offense and should be a natural in Sean McVay’s scheme.
Round 4, Pick 136: Micah Kiser, ILB, Virginia
2017: 143 tackles, 9.5 for a loss, five sacks, four passes defended, two fumble recoveries (6-2, 240 pounds)
While the Rams must add pass rushing outside linebackers, they’ve really got a gaping hole at their inside linebacker spots. Kiser is likely better than any guy LA has penciled in as a starter right now.
Round 6, Pick 176: Taylor Hearn, OG, Clemson
6-5, 320 pounds
Hearn has blocked college football’s best on the NCAA’s biggest stages. He’ll provide solid depth and push Jamon Brown for a starting job next season.
Round 6, Pick 183: Shaun Dion Hamilton, ILB, Alabama
2017: 40 tackles, 5.5 for a loss, 2.5 sacks, two passes defended, one forced fumble (6-0, 235 pounds)
Injuries hurt Hamilton’s draft stock, but this is a first round talent grabbed with a sixth round pick.
Round 6, Pick 194: Van Smith, Safety, Clemson
2017: 49 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, one interception, one pass defended, one fumble recovery (5-11, 195 pounds)
Los Angeles has two top, young safeties already in Lamarcus Joyner and John Johnson. What they don’t have is much behind them. Smith would become the third guy in the rotation the minute the Rams turned in his draft card.
Round 6, Pick 195: Davin Bellamy, OLB, Georgia
2017: 34 tackles, 7.5 for a loss, five sacks, three passes defended, two forced fumble s(6-5, 245 pounds)
Bellamy is more of a pure pass rusher coming out of college than Warner, but both guys have uncommon size at 6-4 and 6-5 respectively. I’d love to see Phillips get his hands on these two men and work his magic.
