How the Los Angeles Rams can Emulate the Jaguars

For starters, any team emulating Jacksonville is likely to bring images of losing and futility. Rather, this piece focuses on the Rams’ emulation of the Jaguars’ 2014 NFL Draft.

Jacksonville has been bad. Actually, calling them bad may be an insult to the word as it comes as a surprise that they even won four games in 2013. Headed by poor quarterback the play (Chad Henne threw more interceptions than touchdowns while Blaine Gabbert was 0-3 as a starter with one touchdown against seven interceptions), the Jaguars needed to make a change. Sitting with the third overall pick, the Jags had their man ready: the 6’5″ 240 pound, Central Florida product who had just come off an dominant performance against a dominant Baylor program. Blake Bortles was a strong kid with an even stronger arm with unquestionable upside and was poised to lead the franchise to the golden heights that grace their helmets.

The genius behind this draft is what they did in the second round, and something the Rams have a chance to do. Jacksonville traded their third and one of their two fifth-round selections to the 49ers for their second round pick, number 61 overall. With a new franchise quarterback and a thin receiving corp, David Caldwell spent both second rounders on new targets for Bortles in Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson, both All-Americans from USC and Penn State respectively. While Lee regressed in 2015, Robinson posted an incredible stat line that saw him haul in 80 receptions for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns; both remain an integral part of the Jaguars’ offensive future.

At 15, the Los Angeles Rams have their chance to get their quarterback of the future in Memphis’ Paxton Lynch. The reality that Case Keenum averaged 165.6 yards per game over their final four contests is a harsh one: despite going 3-2, they were carried by Gurley and their dominant defense. Whether the defense will match that level of dominance remains to be seen while Lynch provides the Rams a safety net for Gurley.

He can make all the throws and extend plays with his feet, something teams will have to account for and take away their desire to stack the box, a desirable combination as Rob Boras relies on using the run to set up play action and boot. Keenum and Sean Mannion don’t provide the depth you wish to see at such a vital position, and we know that Nick Foles is not the answer as the Rams may be trying to shop him to avoid taking a $6 million cap hit by cutting him. If Jeff Fisher is committed to Keenum being the guy, grooming Lynch for the future isn’t a bad consolation prize.

Baylor’s Corey Coleman has been rising up draft boards as of late, and rightfully so. He is coming off an impeccable season and offers many traits as a supreme athlete with the ball in his hands. Boras showed a commitment to getting the ball in Tavon Austin’s hands when he took over due to Austin’s electrifying ability, while Coleman offers the same upside as an even better route runner; simply, the Rams need play makers regardless of who’s taking snaps under center. However, the Houston Texans are a wildcard sitting at 22 for Coleman provides a compliment to DeAndre Hopkins and a valuable weapon for the Texans’ $72 million man, Brock Osweiler.

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After taking Lynch, the Rams have a chance to trade back into the first round and snag Coleman before he gets away: with two second round picks (nos. 43 and 45), they have ammunition. According to Mock Draftable’s Pick Trade Calculator, trading pick number 43 and third round pick, number 76, to the Texans (pick 22), is nearly a fair trade but a sensible one nonetheless. The Texans were in need of a quarterback prior to the Osweiler signing and were likely targeting one with their first rounder. Trading back allows them to find both a pass rusher and a chance to bolster their receiving corp.

The 45th pick is less straightforward as the draft is unpredictable and unfriendly as Ohio State’s Michael Thomas is a fringe first round prospect who could go as high as 24 to the Bengals and offers intriguing upside; he would be a great fit in LA, but there’s a slim chance he’s still there at 45. Yet, Pitt’s Tyler Boyd is a deceptive athlete and monster producer during his time as a Panther where he set the standard for career receptions (248) and yards (3,308), winning with plus route running and the ability to earn yards after the catch. Boyd projects as a possession receiver and third down target that Lynch and the Rams can build around with that 45th pick.