LA Rams: 2021 NFL Draft Big Board

LA Rams: 2021 NFL Draft Big Board version 1.0

The LA Rams have entered the second half of their season, and many are contemplating the chances of getting to the playoffs. Others are already beginning to size up the competition that may join the Rams in post-season. No matter how you fill your downtime with football-related scenarios, ultimately all thoughts turn towards the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft.

The NFL Draft is always a huge opportunity in NFL organizations for executives and prospects alike and is a highly anticipated event within the fanbases. The new generation of NFL players is underway pursuing their dreams of playing America’s favorite sport for a living. The NFL Draft has become one of the traditional pastimes of NFL fans looking for something to watch during the NFL offseason.

Amplify your draft experience

With so many names and intriguing prospects striving to make their dreams a reality, it has an almost surreal effect on fans who like to find players to cheer and root for. Most NFL fans start with a simple five-minute highlight clip of the prospects on YouTube and make their decisions on who they want their favorite team to draft. Fortunately, for most fan bases, the NFL does just a little bit more research than that.

By “a little bit more research,” I mean that NFL teams hire a dozen people to send all over the country during the college football season to watch these prospects in person and return with a written report on what the prospect can and cannot do. Then, the franchises put the prospects through an excruciating process that tests the prospect’s physical and mental abilities at all-star games, the Combine, and workout sessions. Teams dig into the backgrounds of these prospects looking for any sign that money would drive them mad.

Let’s make it personal

Yes, the NFL Draft is an incredibly insane venture with many wild twists and turns. That’s what fans love about it. The hope, the optimism, and the pure insanity of the process drive people to ride the rollercoaster through a series of mock drafts, “special reports,” and so much more.

It’s the reward system for ‘being bad’ in the NFL. Teams that frustrated and disappointed their fans all season suddenly find themselves looking at the most talented players to emerge from college football programs. It’s almost as though the NFL rewards a fan base for ‘hanging in there’. And in some ways, perhaps they do. Let’s talk about how the Rams are starting to prepare for it.

Current draft picks that the Rams have:

The 2021 NFL Draft is riddled with holes for the Rams. The team has already traded away picks in rounds one, four, and five. Since compensatory picks have not yet been awarded, they are not reflected here. If you want to see how the Rams draft could shape up WITH compensatory picks, you can check out this article.

Second Round
Third Round
Sixth Round
Seventh Round

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• 4 reasons why LA Rams trading back in 2023 NFL Draft seems likely
• Latest PFF mock draft exhausts rookie QBs before LA Rams pick
• LA Rams last game carries huge impact on their 2023 NFL Draft

Onto the draft

It can be expected that the Rams will receive compensatory picks from the league as a result of too many players leaving to free agency. Compensatory picks are announced a couple of months before the draft and are meant to help teams fill their rosters with quality players. They start being awarded at the end of the third round and finalize each round following.

Big boards are put together by every team during the process, a basic list of who they want to prioritize and target first. Each board fluctuates tremendously based on the fact that every team has different needs at positions and will address each position differently.  My idea is to put an idea into your head of what players the Rams will want to target across their board. Let’s get into it.

The Los Angeles Rams’ positions of need

It’s hard to imagine the Rams retaining the entire roster, especially with the cap issues that they will have over the next couple of years. A lot of veteran players will be walking, so it’s even more important that the Rams get their draft right.

The offense has seen a fair share of both success and struggles in 2020. Sometimes, they have been clicking and look like an unstoppable juggernaut. Other times, the team has struggled to move the football and looked bland and predictable. Some of that comes down to playcalling, other bits come down to matchups and the concern at certain positional groups.

We’re going to start with a really solid look at the position groups of need and why the Rams will be focusing on them come draft time.

Center

Austin Blythe is a free agent at the end of the season. The former seventh-round pick has blossomed into a reliable starter in Los Angeles, starting full time in 2018, 2019, and 2020. This position, especially if the Rams can’t get him back, becomes a high priority.

Centers aren’t early picks, normally, as it’s often considered a position interchangeable with the guards. Luckily for the Rams that a good starting level center can be acquired in the third round or even later on day three.

More offensive needs

The LA Rams offense has finally found a balance between passing the ball and running the ball. While that seems like a novice idea for 2020, it was the key to the Rams offensive dominance in both 2017 and 2018.  The Rams were certainly blessed with running back Todd Gurley, who could do everything that head coach Sean McVay asked of him.

This year that is not the case. The Rams have a running back by committee, and each member is responsible for their role.  That means Gurley’s job has been divided among the Rams trio of active running backs.

Running Back

Malcolm Brown’s contract ends at the end of the year. While the team still has Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson, I don’t think that the Rams feel quite comfortable with either of them entering next year. Brown has added a surprising element of power to his game this year as well, and I’m anticipating Brown wanting too much money to stay in LA.

No, Rams fans, don’t get excited and think that there’s a chance to land a top running back in the class. If the Rams had more draft picks this year, I’m sure it would be at least a consideration. At this point, however, I don’t foresee the Rams trying to invest a pick early on in the draft on another running back. I think the Rams are going to look for a running back later in the draft who can provide some of that element of power to the run game, and contribute in the passing game as a receiver.

Tight End

Gerald Everett and Johnny Mundt are both scheduled to be free agents in 2020. It’s pretty certain that Everett could return on a pretty small contract, around $2-$3 million per year, but it comes down to what he and the team are both willing to do. The Rams have used Everett as a change-up on the field to Tyler Higbee oftentimes, like an H-Back or fullback.

That being said, the Rams don’t really have a vertical threat at the tight end position on this team. Higbee has seen success but isn’t really schemed as a deep threat. Imagine where this team could be if they added a vertical threat, assuming that the opportunity provided itself?

Rams positions of need (Defense)

The Rams defense, too, has had its ups and downs this season. It’s hard to keep producing every single week in and week out in this league. Everyone is professional.

That being said, Brandon Staley has done a masterful job with what he has had to work with. The team has relied heavily on star defensive tackle Aaron Donald to create opportunities across the line for everyone else to get the quarterback, and seen good success doing that. On the back end of the defense, star cornerback Jalen Ramsey has led a talented group who has been able to mix up their coverages across the board and cause a lot of confusion with the coverages that they have played.

Outside linebacker (Rush edge)

The Rams tried an experiment this season with Leonard Floyd playing at the strongside linebacker position, where Clay Matthews played last season. Floyd has seen his share of pressure on the quarterback and really produced this season – which means he can earn himself good money. Anyone who can make good money won’t be making it in Los Angeles next year, as this team has really strapped itself long-term against the cap.

The thing with Floyd, and why the Rams would let him walk anyways, is that he’s not very effective as a tackler against the run. Floyd struggles to see run lanes and plug them correctly, as his main style of play is to go after the quarterback. He can pressure the quarterback tremendously, he just doesn’t drop well into coverage or stop the run.

The Rams are going to be looking for an edge prospect who can play the run better. I don’t think their scheme asks for the position to play against the pass very much, they do a great job mixing the inside linebackers and defensive backs. They will, however, want someone who can go after the quarterback and play stiff run defense.

More defensive needs

The Rams will need to size up their roster and seek help for the secondary as well as the interior linebacker roles.  While coaches all towed the company line for the good of the team, you know that the Rams were very much in need of linebacker help when they were so excited to land one with their last pick of the 2020 NFL Draft when they named Baylor Bears linebacker Clay Johnston.

Cornerback

It’s no guarantee that Darious Williams or Troy Hill will return to the team next year, especially with the season that both players are having. Now with Jalen Ramsey locked into a long-term deal, the Rams need to make sure that their other boundary is covered by someone who can continue to bring the versatility to the back end that Rams defensive coordinator, Brandon Staley, seems to love to do.

That being said, it’s time to start thinking about the future at least for the Rams. Troy Hill will be 30 next season (if he returns) and is now hitting his best stride at football. Even if the Rams don’t draft early at cornerback, they can use a piece to hold up the depth (only four cornerbacks are currently on the active roster) and develop to take over in the future.

Inside linebacker

Inside linebacker is a position you have seen a lot of articles hounding on this website from our site expert, Bret Stuter. When Micah Kiser went down with an injury for a few weeks, it really exposed the concerns that many team analysts had on the positional group – and the Rams had to find ways to account for it. Kenny Young probably needs to move to a back-up role on the team, and an upgrade should at least be considered.

Kiser has been the perfect addition to the team. However, the Rams simplified the linebacker position for both players, and Young still seems to be struggling to grasp what he’s being asked to do. Troy Reeder, a 2019 undrafted free agent, filled in when Kiser was down and did some things impressively (like go after the quarterback), but overall the Rams continued to struggle because of Young.

Rams NFL Draft first-round targets

The Rams may not have a first-round pick this season, but you always label players as targets in the first round. You never know if you’re going to get a chance to trade for a first-round pick or if one of these prospects drops to you in the second round. You have to stay ready and prepare for every angle.

Let’s talk about some of the first-round talents that will potentially land on the Rams boards.

LB Nick Bolton, Missouri

Nick Bolton is one of my favorite prospects in this draft. He reminds me a lot of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Bush, who was a top-ten pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and has been a stellar addition to their defense. Bolton is fast, athletic, and very, very physical.

The Rams need someone with the energy that Bolton can bring. Imagine being able to blitz A-gaps with both Aaron Donald and Nick Bolton charging through the lines. It would be paralyzing for offenses to figure out how to deal with them coming at you and Jalen Ramsey waiting for the throw on the perimeter.

You will mostly see Bolton projected in the second round currently in mock drafts. However, that is going to change over the next couple of months. I wouldn’t be shocked if Bolton comes off the board in the top-twenty. He’s projected to be a monster in the NFL and I think wherever he goes he’s going to make a play for defensive rookie of the year. He’s that ready.

CB Tyson Campbell, Georgia

Tyson Campbell (6’2″ 185 lbs) is a big, physical cornerback who has stepped up big in the Georgia defense this season. Campbell generally takes on the number-one receiver that the Bulldogs face, and has shown up big in much-needed moments this season. He’s seen some good receivers who will play on Sundays, too, like Josh Palmer and Seth Williams.

Campbell is a phenomenal talent in his own right. He was a five-star prospect coming out of high school, he’s been highly regarded most of his football career, and he has great athleticism and range. The only concern that teams will have with Campbell is that he isn’t really a great tackler, he wants to dominate with his coverage ability and not get too involved in run defense. That’s something that shouldn’t concern the Rams too much.

EDGE Quincy Roche, Miami (Fl)

Quincy Roche is a transfer from Temple, where he had been a dominant force off of the edge in 2019. He caught my attention last year while at Temple when he went on a 10 sack-13 tackles-for-loss rampage over four games against South Florida, UConn, Tulane, and Cincinnati. I had half-expected him to declare for the draft last year, but Roche opted to leave as a graduate transfer and play at Miami this season. Roche ended up making a great decision, as the top edge prospect at Miami, Gregory Rousseau, opted-out of the season due to COVID-19.

Roche projects best as an outside linebacker in a 3-down-lineman system, which is what the Rams primarily use. Roche’s skill set, to me, is very similar to that of Clay Matthews, who played with the Rams and had a good season (when healthy) in 2019.

It’s worth noting that Roche’s current projection based on my own rankings as well as most websites currently is late-first round and maybe even a day-two target. He can be a very solid pass rusher, especially in one-on-one opportunities, and is already a stiff run defender.

Rams NFL Draft second and third round targets

The Rams have two picks in day two of the NFL Draft currently, both their second and third-round picks. The hope is that someone like Quincy Roche or Tyson Campbell slides into the second round. At this moment both positions (EDGE and cornerback) are very much up in the air. The reason for the lack of clarity in those positions is that both positional groups are missing elite-tier talents. There is no clear number one prospect but, instead, there’s a lot of good talent.

The EDGE and cornerback positions are going to come down to team preference. We will have a much better idea of what teams will prefer certain players once the draft gets closer. So it’s impossible to know just yet who will be off of the board by the time that the Rams get to pick. However, we will focus on the general projections and who the Rams would prefer based on the scheme.

CB Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina

Isreal Mukuamu (6’3″ 205 lbs) is a lengthy, gritty, and athletic man cornerback who does a phenomenal job with playing press coverage. Mukuamu caught my attention last season against Georgia, when he intercepted now Buffalo Bills quarterback not once, not twice, but three times in the Gamecocks upset victory over the Bulldogs.

Because of his athletic ability, I would like to think that the Rams could potentially slide him into the slot. The Rams back end is really doing a great job mixing up where defensive backs are dropping across the field to cause intensity and confusion. Mukuamu has the ability to play in all three levels of coverage – man, press, and zone. With his length, athleticism, and aggression, he could be a perfect addition to the Rams defense.

LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina

Chazz Surratt (6’2″ 225 lbs) is a talented inside linebacker prospect who would be an upgrade over Kenny Young, in my opinion, pretty early on in his NFL career. Surratt is a former quarterback who played in 10 games at the position for the Tar Heels his first couple of years with the team. He switched to linebacker upon the arrival of Mack Brown and surprised a lot of people with his growth at the position and his on-field vision and intelligence. Surratt collected 115 tackles last season and 6.5 sacks.

The Tar Heels ask Surratt to do a lot of things – drop into coverage (both man and zone), play A and B gap assignments, play with some range, blitz the quarterback, and he usually does well at it. He has the size and athleticism to cover tight ends downfield, and that’s a big bonus to anyone entering the league.

Young’s problem is that he oftentimes misreads the play. He can make big plays if he sees it coming, but that’s an awful big if. Surratt showed smart ability last season, his first year at linebacker, and has taken steps this season to improve on that. Surratt has a very high ceiling and could develop into a very good linebacker in the NFL, and with the flexibility that he shows, he could fit into the Rams system perfectly from day one.

IOL Ben Cleveland, Georgia

Ben Cleveland (6’5″ 325 lbs) is essentially a run mauler with great strength and quickness. His size is something that should intrigue a lot of teams across the league, especially when these teams notice just how low he plays. The Georgia offensive line has a lot of talent across the board and dominated most of the games that they played in with careful aggression and brutal strength. Cleveland plays a lot of those strengths. He has the quickness to play center, although he’s played right guard most of his career.

I like Ben Cleveland in Los Angeles because of the need for the interior of the offensive line. Ben Corbett, currently the right guard, played at both center and left guard in college. If the Rams wanted to solidify the right side of the line, they could slide Corbett to the center spot and move Cleveland to the right guard. It would strengthen the offensive line and put Corbett in a more natural position.

Rams late-round NFL Draft targets

The late rounds are when teams start taking more chances on prospects and see if they can land a solid back-up or developmental starter. Not many starters come from this range, per se, but there is still much talent to be acquired and it’s an important part of the draft process. History shows that people who hit on late-round picks are oftentimes the most successful teams in the league.

RB Brian Robinson, Alabama

Alabama has Najee Harris at the helm, producing a Heisman worthy season himself, but his backup the last couple of years has been Brian Robinson (6’1″ 220 lbs). Understand that Robinson isn’t the fastest running back in the class, nor does he have the explosion that some of the prospects do. Here’s the key though: Robinson is big, physical, and he’s a good receiver out of the backfield.

Look at what the Rams are looking at losing in Malcolm Brown – a 5’11”, 220-pound power running back. Look at what the Rams could gain by adding Brian Robinson in the later rounds – a 6’1″ 220-pound running back. It just makes sense, guys.

EDGE Malcolm Koonce, Buffalo

Malcolm Koonce (6’3″ 250 lbs) comes from the same school that produced NFL All-Pro EDGE Khalil Mack, and he’s a fierce pass rusher in his own rite. Is he on the same level as Mack? Absolutely not. If so, he’d be a first-round prospect. However, Koonce shows the speed, quickness, and prowess off the edge that NFL teams love to see. He was the MVP of the 2019 Bahama’s Bowl for his two-sack performance that helped his team destroy UAB.

The Rams are looking for a 3-4 type edge to provide pass rush and play the run, as I mentioned earlier. Koonce provides a developmental prospect who has shown the ability to do both. He’s a tough prospect, plays with a lot of energy, and stands out in the conference as one of the best (if not the best) defensive players in the MAC. Koonce wouldn’t be a plug-and-start guy by any means, but he has potential and can be a fierce competitor contributing on special teams right away.

TE Kenny Yeboah, Ole Miss

Want to talk about a talented tight end who can become a big-play prospect? Look no further than Kenny Yeboah (6’3″ 240 lbs), an incredible athlete and impressive receiver who has been a big playmaker for Ole Miss this year. Yeboah transferred to Ole Miss this season from Temple to play in the high-flying Lane Kiffen offense that just put Harrison Bryant in the NFL on Sundays. It’s been a smart move for Yeboah too.

That size and strength come into play quickly in the NFL and can be a real mismatch across the board for teams to get in on. Yeboah might come off of the board before day three, but in the event that he makes it, the Rams would be getting a real playmaker at the tight end position for the first time in a very long time.

Late round targets (part two)

CB Robert Rochell, Central Arkansas

Robert Rochell (6’2″ 180 lbs) has length and a frame that he still really needs to grow into. That’s really the only reason why I would expect him to slide into the late rounds of the NFL Draft. Rochell has phenomenal core strength and athleticism and stands out on the FCS level as a real performer. He likes to play physically and as a result, will draw some pass interference calls, but people are willing to take that sometimes for the intensity that it creates.

Rochell received some early television time this year in the opening week of college football, in a match-up against Austin Peay that kicked off the season. The very next week, he was on national television again, this time against UAB. Rochell received a Senior Bowl invite and is currently scheduled to perform at the All-Star game in January. He’s a gamer and he’s a lot of fun to watch.

LB Pete Werner, Ohio State

Pete Werner (6’2″ 240 lbs) currently enters his third season as a starter on this Ohio State Buckeyes defense. His growth as a starter has been nothing short of great. Werner is a stiff run defender who plays half-field assignments very well – exactly what the Rams are asking Kenny Young to do right now. That being said, Werner does still have a lot to learn in terms of reading the field, and he’s limited athletically with what he is capable of doing on the field.

Werner would be a back-up on this team that the Rams would have to pray and hope would develop into a serviceable back-up. The talent is there, Werner just needs to finish putting it all together.

IOL Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame

Jarrett Patterson (6’3″ 300 lbs) has been another solid player on the traditionally strong Notre Dame offensive line that might be the best that Notre Dame has ever had together. Patterson is a stronger run blocker than he is a pass blocker, more of a downhill mauler than anything. He doesn’t draw many penalties either, playing with good leverage and technique. He can get beat by speed, he’s not the quickest lineman on the team but oftentimes recovers well.

That all being said, Patterson’s stock dropped with his season-ending foot injury against Boston College. There are going to be question marks surrounding whether he even declares for the draft or not due to his health. That being said, Patterson has been a bad man this year and could be a very nice late-round target for the Rams.

Current Top 50 Los Angeles Rams 2021 NFL Draft Board

So let’s sum it all up for you. The LA Rams are in need of specific skillsets in rookies in 2021.  Now that we’ve gotten a feel for the team’s scheme and philosophy, we were able to isolate those specific college prospects who project to do well for the Rams in 2021. So what did we come up with?

1. LB Nick Bolton, Missouri
2. IOL Trey Smith, Tennessee
3. LB Micah Parsons, Penn State
4. CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
5. TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
6. EDGE Shaka Toney, Penn State
7. IOL Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
8. TE Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
9. EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami (Fl)
10. IOL Ben Cleveland, Georgia
11. EDGE Quincy Roche, Miami (Fl)
12. IOL Drake Jackson, Kentucky
13. TE Brevin Jordan, Miami (Fl)
14. EDGE Ali Gaye, LSU
15. IOL Deonte Brown, Alabama
16. LB Dylan Moses, Alabama
17. EDGE Joseph Ossai, Texas
18. IOL Tommy Kraemer, Notre Dame
19. CB Eric Stokes, Georgia
20. CB Patrick Surtain, Alabama
21. RB Najee Harris, Alabama
22. CB Shaun Wade, Ohio State
23. IOL Alec Lindstrom, Boston College
24. TE Kenny Yeboah, Ole Miss
25. LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina
26. LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
27. CB Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina
28. CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
29. CB Tyson Campbell, Georgia
30. RB Master Teague, Ohio State
31. CB Asante Samuel Jr, Florida State
32. CB Paulson Adebo, Stanford
33. IOL Jarrett Paterson, Notre Dame
34. CB Kary Vincent Jr, LSU
35. LB Monty Rice, Georgia
36. EDGE Malcolm Koonce, Buffalo
37. LB Jabril Cox Jr, LSU
38. CB Robert Rochelle, Central Arkansas
39. IOL Ben Brown, Ole Miss
40. RB Brian Robinson, Alabama
41. LB Charles Snowden, Virginia
42. CB Elijah Molden, Washington
43. LB Pete Werner, Ohio State
44. CB Marco Wilson, Florida State
45. CB Keith Taylor, Washington
46. RB Spencer Brown, UAB
47. IOL Michal Menet, Penn State
48. LB Dimitri Moore, Vanderbilt
49. EDGE TD Moultry, Auburn
50. EDGE Sam Williams, Ole Miss

That’s our 50 top NCAA college prospects.

By creating a Top 50 Big Board for the 2021 NFL Draft, you can search for college matchups to view and focus on players we feel have the best upside to succeed as a player for the LA Rams next year.  And in the process, you may find other players who may intrigue you.  Be sure to let us know in the comments section.