Draft capital isn’t something the Los Angeles Rams were worried about when they traded for Matthew Stafford. The former Detroit Lions quarterback cost L.A. first-round picks in 2022 and 2023. General manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay were already without an opening-round selection this year, thanks to the deal to acquire cornerback Jalen Ramsey in 2019.
All the wheeling and dealing has left the Rams with a talented core of veterans on both sides of the ball. Yet the glut of trades hasn’t fixed every hole on the roster. The Rams could still use an infusion of talent at linebacker, cornerback, along the offensive line, and among the pass rush.
Fortunately for McVay and Snead, they have three compensatory picks, two in the third round and one in the fourth. Those selections come from Dante Fowler joining the Atlanta Falcons a year ago, Cory Littleton signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Lions naming Brad Holmes their new general manager this offseason.
To help with this mock draft, I used The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator.
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL Team Mock Drafts.
Round 2, Pick 57: Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
A strong defense was the main reason the Rams finished 10-6 and won a playoff game last season. The unit’s set for some changes, though, after Raheem Morris replaced Brandon Staley as coordinator. Staley’s now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, but he left behind a unit that allowed the fewest points and yards in 2020.
Morris is from the Tampa 2 coaching tree, meaning he favors a scheme based on speed and coverage. Those things happen to be trademarks of Davis’ game. The Kentucky linebacker is something of a lightweight at the position, but the 224-pounder can cover ground and understands depth, space, and route concepts. With Aaron Donald keeping linebackers clean, Davis should avoid guards in the trenches and be free to run to the ball.
For more on Davis, check out our scouting report on him here.
Round 3, Pick 101: Jordan Smith, EDGE, UAB
The Rams need more pressure off the edges to draw attention away from Donald inside. It’s an issue brought into sharper focus by Leonard Floyd and Samson Ebukam both being ticketed for free agency. Snead should use one of his compensatory picks to take UAB’s Smtih off the board. He’s a natural outside rush man for a 3-4 scheme like the one the Rams played last season, but Smith’s frame and athleticism mean he’s got hybrid traits that would be useful if Morris uses more four-man fronts.
Round 3, Pick 103: Olaijah Griffin, CB, USC
Griffin is a natural zone corner suited to the type of coverages Morris is likely to call. The USC cover man is combative and has keen instincts whenever the ball is in the air. Griffin isn’t afraid to jam receivers at the line, nor will he shy away from run support. If he can stay healthy, he’s got the right traits to mature into the competent cornerback the Rams need across from Ramsey.
Round 4, Pick 140: Rashad Weaver, EDGE, Pittsburgh
Tabbing another edge-rusher might be greedy, but the Rams haven’t had a lot of depth behind their primary pass-rushers in recent years. It’s why Snead would likely be unable to ignore Weaver with the 140th pick. Like Smith, Weaver is a natural hybrid who can rush from a two-point stance or line up with his hand in the dirt. Adding Smith and Weaver would give Morris a litany of options for generating pressure.
Round 6, Pick 210: Brenden Jaimes, OT, Nebraska
There’s nothing wrong with the edges of the Rams’ offensive line. Not so long as Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein are manning the tackle spots. It’s a different story inside, where the Rams were exploited more than once last season. Jaimes played tackle at Nebraska, but he also saw some snaps inside. He’s a maximum-effort guy who uses his hands well and has the potential to exceed any expectations based on his draft stock.
Round 7, Pick 247: Elijah Mitchell, RB, Louisiana
Malcolm Brown being a free agent means the Rams could lose a valuable member of their rotation on the ground. The risk makes taking a late-round flier on Mitchell more than worth it. He’s got a quick initial burst and thrives on the type of inside zone runs McVay loves to call. Mitchell was durable and productive at Louisiana, rushing for 41 touchdowns during his collegiate career. He’s got the makings of a terrific short-yardage complement to Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson.
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