LA Rams mock NFL draft 2.0 – replace outgoing free agents

With the LA Rams first mock draft, the focus was offensive line. What if the team needed to replace exiting free agents? What would that mock draft resemble?

The LA Rams have a host of outgoing stars via free agency this season. The potential losses include DE Michael Brockers, OLB Dante Fowler Jr., ILB Cory Littleton, ILB Bryce Hager, LT Andrew Whitworth, G Austin Blythe, backup QB Blake Bortles, K Greg Zuerlein.  Eight players, all of whom made significant contributions to the team in 2019.  While re-signing these players is most certainly Plan A for the Rams, there is the likelihood that players get better options elsewhere.

Should that happen, the Rams do not have enough free salary cap space to enter bidding wars for exiting players.

That means the Rams enter the 2020 NFL Draft with a long shopping list, but limited to just five picks, plus one fourth round compensatory pick.  While that seems like a very frightening future, one tried-and-true method of assessing an unknown future is to develop the best-case/worst-case scenarios and then try to place a compromise between the two extremes. So applying that method to the Rams uncertain future in the free agency market, Mock Draft 2.0 will address the worst-case free agency scenario – one where the Rams are unable to re-sign their free agents.

Still, let’s not forget that the Rams already boast the best defensive player in the league in DT Aaron Donald.  Add to that a solid defensive secondary led by cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and the prospect of drafting defensive players may not border on the insane for the Rams this year.

Round 2 (Pick 52)  Linebacker Zack Baun, Wisconsin  (replacing Cory Littleton)

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Zack Baun is a perfect selection for the LA Rams at pick 52 of the 2020 NFL Draft. He stands in at 6-foot-3 and weighs a solid 240 pounds.  He can fill either an inside or outside linebacker role in the NFL. In this scenario, the Rams are unable to sign inside linebacker Cory Littleton.  Baun brings nearly an identical skillset.

He can pressure the quarterback, he can cover receivers in the middle of the field, and he brings extensive athleticism to the interior of the defense.

While some project him at the edge, his size, weight, and fierceness is a natural fit to the inside linebacker role, particularly one playing in the shadow of DT Aaron Donald.  While the NFL Free Agent market sets the price for Cory Littleton over $12 million / year, Baun arrives as a bargain to a team in need of salary cap relief.

His versatility would be an added bonus for the Rams, as sliding him to the edge as a surprise pass rusher would be nearly impossible for offensive coaches to anticipate. The Rams need a starter to anchor their defense, and Braun fills the bill for 2020, and for years to come.

Draft Network Player Analysis – Zack Baun

Round 3 (Pick 84) Edge rusher Anfernee Jennings, Alabama (replacing Dante Fowler Jr.)

The Rams continue to focus on defensive needs, this time landing a muscular outside linebacker/defensive end Anfernee Jennings from Alabama.  Jennings stands 6-foot-2 and weighs in at 252 pounds. His build helps significantly in setting an anchor on the edge, as he has the right body mass to withstand blockers and still make tackles on the running back heading his way.

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His strength helps him to defeat pass blockers as well. He improved significantly each year on a very good defense.  He played in the SEC, where he faced some of the best competition each year.

While still a bit raw in pass rush technique, he has a natural instinct and commanding force in getting after the quarterback.  He needs to get off on the right angle from his initial burst, as his body is more tank and less stop-and-turn build.

Looking for a “checks all the boxes” pass rusher in round three of the 2020 NFL Draft is a tall order.  But Anfernee Jennings has all the right build, fundamentals, and drive to have a high probability of filling the Rams need on the edge for 2020

Draft Network Analysis Anfernee Jennings

Round 4 (pick 116) Defensive end Jabari Zuniga, Florida (replacing Michael Brockers)

The Rams find another huge need at 116 in DE Jabari Zuniga from Florida. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 253 pounds, Zuniga is the third defender chosen in the 2020 NFL Draft for the Rams.  While much of the NFL raves over the quarterback class from 2020, the Rams slowly assemble their defensive of the future with another strong prospect.

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The Rams are at risk of losing solid run defense if Michael Brockers signs elsewhere. While Jabari Zuniga will not replicate that stalwart presence, he’s the closest thing to it in this draft.

He brings all the raw strength, size, instincts, and motor needed to do very well in the NFL. He simply needs to perfect his technique and learn consistency. That can happen pretty quickly for a defensive end in his rookie training camp, particularly one projected to take over for a solid NFL veteran.

Zuniga may have some early struggles, but by mid season should be clicking.  Finding a defensive end on day 3 of the 2020 NFL Draft is no easy assignment, but Zuniga has the right characteristics to fill the Rams needs.  He is a stout run defender, and his pass rush technique will improve over time.

He would not be forced into a starting role, as the Rams have backup DE Morgan Fox waiting in the wings. Zuniga would be good competition for starting time, and will be a player worth developing.

Draft Network Analysis Jabari Zuniga

Round 5 (pick 155) Linebacker Justin Strnad, Wake Forest (replacing Bryce Hager)

Justin Strnad brings the boom to tackling and would be a solid addition to a Rams defense aiming at more physicality. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 235 pounds, he is a solid inside linebacker prospect whose versatility allows him to slide to other linebacker roles.  He has solid coverage skills in zone defenses, and would be a great player to sit back and disrupt passing routes over the middle.

His range is his strong suit, and playing behind the likes of Donald gives that speed and lateral motion free space to roam.  While not as polished as Zach Baun, Strnad has huge potential.  Even though many analysts project him to the outside linebacker role in a 4-3, he has the right size and power to fit nicely into an interior linebacker role on a 3-4 front as well.

Strnad needs to clean up his tackling ability to compete for a starting role in the NFL.  He could also add another ten pounds to ensure he can withstand the wear and tear at the NFL level. Both tasks can be addressed in his rookie season.

Draft Network Analysis Justin Strnad

Round 6 (pick 179) Offensive tackle Justin Herron Wake Forest (replacing Andrew Whitworth)

The Rams need offensive tackle depth and Justin Herron adds a solid tackle who possesses great fundamentals. Unlike Mock 1.0, the Rams focus on filling free agency holes in this draft. The team already has plenty of depth for offensive tackle to compete over left tackle Andrew Whitworth’s vacancy.  But the team finds 6-foot-4 301 pound offensive tackle Justin Herron from Wake Forest at 179.

Herron is the second Demon Deacon selected by the Rams, and brings a solid foundation for NFL offensive tackle.  A natural in pass blocking, he has great hands to engage defenders and remain locked on for the entire play.  He does a great job of absorbing defenders initial impact by keeping a wide base and setting his footwork well.

At 301 pounds, he may need to hit the weight room to add some weight. But his size and height are sufficient to handle defenders, particularly in light of the trend for smaller faster edge rushers.

Herron is not quite NFL ready in running plays just yet.  He needs to work on his punch out of his stance and ability to slide off the primary defender to block downfield on linebackers and secondary.  He missed all of 2018 with an ACL injury, and as such will need to ensure he is fully healthy in training camp.

Draft Network Analysis Justin Herron

Round 7 (pick 211) Offensive guard Yasir Durant Missouri (replacing Austin Blythe)

The Rams continue to fill free agency vacancies in round seven of the 2020 NFL Draft.  In round seven, the team calls the name of Missouri offensive lineman Yasir Durant.  Durant stands a towering 6-foot-7 and weighs in at 330 pounds.  While he played primarily offensive tackle for the Missouri Tigers, he moved inside to play guard for the team due to his shorter arm reach.

He is a very versatile offensive lineman who can fill in at four of the five positions (he hasn’t played center yet).  Per his scouting report, Durant yielded just eight quarterback pressures in 2019, better than many higher rated tackles. Despite his size, he has great footwork.

He has a lot of body mass and will be a tough call to either offensive tackle or guard at the pro level.  Moving his to the outside places a huge body out in space to take over for huge bodied Whitworth. But until he proves he can use his shorter reach to keep defenders at bay, he projects as an interior offensive lineman.

Draft Network Analysis Yasir Durant

Mock summary

Of course, the ideal off-season is using free agency to fill roster holes, and drafting for sufficient depth to develop future starters.  In this mock draft, we ignore those rules and go after the vacancies opened by a worst case 2020 NFL Free Agency.

Of course, this is the absolute worst case scenario, and does not have much likelihood of transpiring this year.  The Rams can restructure contracts, trade players, and find enough cap space to sign the free agents the team deems necessary to bring back for 2020 and future years.

But if the team wants to reformulate the roster to fit a new defensive scheme, this would certainly be a good time to do so.  As it stands now, the 2021 NFL Draft holds only a projected spartan return with just four draft picks.  So if the team seeks developing talent for future years, this is the year to do so.

The positives of mocking for outgoing free agents allows the team to keep everything in perspective. While the team will miss players who sign elsewhere (LG Rodger Saffold signing with Tennessee Titans was a huge loss), the team has options to restock those positions. Obviously, the 2020 NFL Draft would be an unwise first option, but enough talent exists to place competent players in the major roster openings for next season.