LA Rams mock draft 1.0: 2021 NFL Draft restocks the roster

Round 4

Round 4 – pick 135. With the 135th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams select Tyreke Smith, EDGE, from Ohio State University. The LA Rams need more pressure on opposing quarterbacks and the team does not like to blitz to generate that pressure. Enter Buckeye Tyreke Hill, who hails from the same Alma Mater as rookie safety sensation Jordan Fuller.

Tyreke Smith is 6-foot-4 and weighs 267 pounds already.  Playing in just his junior season, there is the upside of bulking up a bit for an NFL career. While the Big-Ten Football Conference is just getting underway, it’s definitely worth tuning in to see Smith wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.  In 2019, he generated just 12 tackles, but five were for a loss, and three were quarterback sacks.

Plus and minus

Smith can use some coaching, particularly in his first-step burst. He lags behind offensive linemen, allowing them to get set in their stance before he bursts onto them on his way to the quarterback. At times, he seems to settle for outplaying the blocker and gets distracted from shedding the blocker and moving to the player with the ball.

But make no mistake, Tyreke Smith is a big strong physical edge rusher with all the promise of a young man projected to star in the NFL at rushing the quarterback. He displays plenty of agility, power, and when he gets moving, plenty of speed. He could even line up at the defensive end, but his value to the Rams is outside linebacker. He’s a huge value, and this Rams defense can make excellent use of his skillsets.