Despite retaining Dante Fowler Jr. on a one-year deal and landing Clay Matthews in free agency, the Los Angeles Rams’ pass rush isn’t settled. They still need help at outside linebacker, where Matthews isn’t expected to be a full-time player.
The draft is littered with talented pass rushers, but the top prospects will be gone by the time the Rams go on the clock at No. 31 overall. Of course, the Rams don’t necessarily have to wait 31 picks to make their first selection, potentially trading up in the first round.
It seems highly unlikely, considering they have no second-round pick, but that’s what Chad Reuter of NFL.com had them doing in his new mock draft. He projects the Rams to trade up with the Seahawks at No. 21 overall, giving up a third and fifth-round pick to make it happen.
With the 21st pick, the Rams select Jaylon Ferguson from Louisiana Tech.
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.
Ferguson has seen his stock slide a bit this draft season after putting up underwhelming numbers at his pro day. There’s no denying his talent and production – he holds the NCAA all-time record for career sacks with 45, including a whopping 17.5 last season.
He’d play outside linebacker and some defensive end in sub-packages, too, but moving up to select him would be a high price to pay for the Rams. They’d be much better off sitting and hoping someone like Clelin Ferrell falls to them.
Reuter’s mock was a full seven rounds, and here’s how the rest went for L.A.
Round 3, No. 99: Lamont Gaillard, OG, Georgia
Round 4, No. 133: Jahlani Tavai, LB, Hawaii
Round 6, No. 203: Immanuel Turner, DT, Louisiana Tech
Round 7, No. 251: Bruce Anderson, RB, North Dakota State
Tavai was a pre-draft visitor and fills a need at linebacker in the middle rounds. Gaillard would compete with Joseph Noteboom at left guard after Rodger Saffold left in free agency, adding depth to the O-line.
Turner is another Louisiana Tech product and while sixth-round picks don’t hold much value, taking him in the sixth round seems like a reach. Anderson adds a wrinkle to the running back room and visited the Rams recently.