LA Rams Mock Draft 2021: Trade w Lions, Bears nets 9 picks

As the LA Rams prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft, we are more and more convinced that the team will be seeking ways to move back and gather more picks. In fact, we’ve cited nine NFL teams that could be more than happy to trade up to the 57th pick of the draft to grab a player that falls to that spot.

One such team is the Detroit Lions, a team with a limited number of draft picks but a shopping list that is much longer than that of the LA Rams.  While they need warm bodies, their draft goals differ from that of the Rams in two ways. First, they are seeking future stars. In short, this is a team without All-Pro players to build around. So they are searching for players who can reach that level of play.

Secondly, the Lions are coming off a dismal 2020 performance and will need help on both sides of the football. To help improve the team, the Lions have loaded up on one of the more impressive assemblages of coaches in the NFL. One such coach is former LA Rams cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant.  But coaches need talented players, and the Detroit Lions face some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL on an annual basis.

So it makes sense for the Lions to prioritize securing a competent backfield worthy of Pleasant’s efforts. And so, in our latest mock draft, we allowed the algorithms of the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator to trigger trades wherever the program saw fit. Lo and behold, when the Rams stepped up to the draft, there was a trade offer from the Detroit Lions.

I’m not Lion, the Rams trade the 57th pick in this one

The Detroit Lions had already chosen twice before in the draft. With the seventh pick of the draft, the simulator chose South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn. He is a top-ranked defensive back, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing  205-pounds.

At 41, the same simulator turned the Lions’ attention to the offense to grab offensive tackle Liam Eichenberg from Notre Dame. While he may be a reach at 41, the LIons follow suit with a mini-run on the offensive tackle position, and Eichenberg is the best offensive tackle on the board.

So when the LA Rams arrive at their long-awaited 57th pick, the Lions offer their 72nd pick, to return the Rams 101st pick, and even kick in their 153rd pick of the NFL Draft. The trade looks like this:

With their newly acquired 57th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select another cornerback, University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Aaron Robinson. Robinson is the seventh-best cornerback in this draft per NFL.com’s Draft Board and will give the Lions a complete makeover for the team’s beleaguered secondary.

But so far, all I’ve done in this LA Rams mock draft is cite the Detroit Lions.  Well, let’s recap the situation: The LA Rams trade with the Detroit Lions has given the Rams eight draft picks in the 2021 NFL Draft to work with. They are picks 72, 88, 101, 103, 141, 153, 209 and 252.  Now armed with four formidable draft picks in round three. the Rams can do some shopping. Who will the team select?

Round three, pick 72

With the 72nd pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the LA Rams select offensive center Quinn Meinerz from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater. Don’t you just love a happy ending? The Rams have a huge need for a plug-n-play offensive lineman, and with the first pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, all the way at the 72nd pick of the NFL Draft, they land the player they’ve wanted most.

Now don’t get me wrong. The LA Rams have interior offensive linemen options throughout this draft. But they have coveted this young man and for good reason. This 6-foot-3 320-pound interior offensive linemen came out of nowhere to rock the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Is he the 2021 version of the workout warrior? Perhaps. But if he is fooling anyone, he is fooling everyone.

The young man was voted the top offensive lineman for the national team at the Senior Bowl, voted by defensive linemen. He is making the circuit of self promotion, and his workout video where he’s lived on an island in Canada has been raising eyebrows.

In a year with hit-or-miss football footage from the 2020 NCAA season, Meinerz delivered a crazy performance at the Senior Bowl out of nowhere, and has found his stock rising from the ranks of the undraftable prospects to as high as round two.

I’m not surprised that the Rams get him in round three, but believe their early pick trade gives them an early enough pick to find him still on the board.

Round three, pick 88

With the 88th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the LA Rams select inside linebacker Jamin Davis from the University of Kentucky. In almost all mock draft simulations, Kentucky linebacker Jamin Davis is left unclaimed in round two despite a solid draft profile.  In fact, he has been described as a round seven prospect, all the way up to now flirting with a round one prospect. He was there at 88 in my draft simulation, so the LA Rams made a good choice.

He is a huge bodied inside linebacker, standing all of 6-foot-4 and tipping the scales at 234 pounds. He is touch to categorize, as he has the traits of a very versatile and talented linebacker. While not a legacy of tremendous football experience, Davis has shown incredible improvement in the three years played with the Kentucky Wildcats.

Of note is his 2020 season, where he amassed 102 total tacks, four for a loss, three interceptions for a total of 90 return yards and a touchdown, and a forced fumble. His size alone is enough to place him on the radar of NFL scouting departments, but he has shown more than just a person flailing his arms around on the defense.

The Rams have neglected the linebacker position for some time. Davis will not only ensure that the position is not neglected for the foreseeable future, but his play will restore the value of the role behind Aaron Donald and that superb Rams defensive line.

Round three, pick 101

With the 101st pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the LA Rams select safety Jamar Johnson from Indiana University. No, the safety position is not a position of need for the LA Rams, but Johnson fell to the team at 101, and the talent level is so high that this pick was a must.

Grabbing Johnson here give the Rams a huge talent boost in the secondary, and another deep zone defensive back for Raheem Morris’ plans to make ample use of the Cover-Three defensive scheme. Johnson is one of the ‘super-safety’ types I have described before. A super-safety is a large bodied safety whose skillset is such that he could be used in multiple roles in the secondary. Johnson’s 6-foot-2 and 205-pound frame is ideal for what the Rams do on defense. And get this – he is compared to John Johnson III in his NFL draft profile.

He does a little bit of everything, but he is particularly good at deceiving quarterbacks. And he has been a thorn in the side of a certain quarterback who may be selected by the rival San Francisco 49ers.

The LA Rams won’t pass up a chance to add Johnson here. While they still have positions to fill, the addition of draft picks gives them the option of adding a best player available (BPA) in round three.

And the chance to add a John Johnson III like rookie to the team that just lost the original to free agency is just too convenient. The Rams have added three very talented players, and they are just getting warmed up.

Round three, pick 103

With the 103rd pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the LA Rams select  cornerback Tay Gowan from the University of Central Florida. Now don’t shoot me for this one. In some draft boards, Gowan is a Day Three prospect.  By the Draft Network, Gowan is their 213th ranked prospect. At the NFL.com Draft board, Gowan is the 37th ranked cornerback. But, he certainly warranted plenty of attention from the LA Rams and other teams, and per the Pro Football Focus mock simulator, he was the 69th ranked player in this draft.

So let’s go with what we know. We know that Gowan is a 6-foot-1 186-pound beast who will fit the LA Rams needs from the get go with his ability to show up and play in a disciplined defensive scheme surrounded by Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams.  Of course, Tay Gowan is accustomed to playing among great defensive backs.

The fit of Gowan in the Rams defense is solid. The problem? He opted out of the 2020 football season, which creates room for other cornerbacks to rise in the ranks. Per the PFF profile, he only allowed a completion rate of 40 percent in 2019. Wow.

The challenge for any football analyst is how to objectively rank a player with just one year starting in collegiate football to a player who has started three or four years? Gowan has good size, great speed, and played lights out when he lined up on the football field. The Rams met with him to flush out any concerns. I believe they like what they heard, and do not hesitate to call out his name at the end of round three.

First Lions, no Tigers, but Bears? Oh my!

With the 141st of the 2021 NFL Draft, the LA Rams have  TRADED their 141st pick plus their seventh-round pick (252) to the Chicago Bears in exchange for the Chicago Bears fifth-round pick (164), the Bears sixth-round pick (204) and the Bears sixth-round pick (208). The Chicago Bears are now on the clock.

As a result, the LA Rams will have 2021 NFL Draft picks at 72, 88, 101, 103, 153,164, 204, 208, and 209. That makes the LA Rams draft haul at nine picks, just where we expect them to end up. As a result of the trade, the Chicago Bears jump on selecting Illinois offensive guard Kendrick Green.

Meanwhile, the LA Rams upgrade their late seventh-round pick to a sixth-round pick, and add another sixth-round pick for the inconvenience to move back 23 spots in this draft.

So let’s recap. The LA Rams used the 72nd pick of the draft for OC Quinn Meinerz, the 88th pick of the draft for ILB Jamin Davis, the 101st pick of the draft for S Jamar Johnson, and the 103rd pick of the draft for CB Tay Gowan. That’s four picks down, and now five more to go. Day one and day two have concluded. The Rams have one more day to round out the roster.

Round five, pick 153

With the 153rd pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the LA Rams select  cornerback Shakur Brown from Michigan State University. This second pick of the draft aimed at the cornerback position once more. Unlike the previous drafting of Tay Gowan, Brown is a player who competed in 2020 and is rated very favorably by many of the current draft big boards.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Brown is a thief. In just 79 targets in college football, he has seven interceptions. That’s eye-popping stuff and just what the Rams are looking for in a prospect in round five. Similar to the Jordan Fuller selection from 2020, Brown is a high ceiling selection who could explode onto the NFL scene with the right coaching and opportunity.

But that is not to say that he is not ripe and ready now. In fact, he had an excellent display of pass coverage prowess, as shown here:

Shakur Browns shows up in round five because he is not quite that finished product, and that’s okay. He has the right chops for an outstanding NFL career, and the Rams have the right persons to ensure that he gets there.

The LA Rams entered the draft needing at least two cornerbacks, and have succeeded in drafting two very talented players. The great part of all of this is that neither will be expected to deliver in the first game of the 2021 NFL season. But don’t be surprised if both are ready to do exactly that.

Round five, pick 164

With the 164th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the LA Rams select wide receiver Austin Watkins Jr. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The LA Rams have plenty of speed and route running techicians in the receiver room. With this pick, the Rams torque up their physicality.

Watkins is the cousin of NFL receiver Sammy Watkins, a former receiver of the LA Rams and currently playing for the Baltimore Ravens. But Austin Watkins Jr. catches the LA Rams eye in round five because he is a glue-handed tough sonofagun coming off the line. Nobody is talking about how the LA Rams new quarterback Matthew Stafford can throw into contested coverages. So the LA Rams grab a receiver who can wrestle the ball away from defenders.

The Rams move outside their comfort zone of crisp route runner into the realm of physical receiver, but it’s for a good cause. Austin Watkins Jr. stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 207 pounds. While not a blazer, his 4.52-second 40-yard dash time is perfectly acceptable. After all, the team love standout performers in the Senior Bowl, and he certainly showed up and played well. The receiver group of the 2021 NFL Draft class is both talented and deep.

The Rams lost WR Josh Reynolds to free agency, but added speedy veteran DeSean Jackson in free agency, and now pick up a rugged and feisty rookie receiver as well.

Round six, pick 204

With the 204th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the LA Ramsr select defensive end Chauncey Golston form the University of Iowa. The LA Rams know that they will need help at defensive end. With the loss of both Morgan Fox and  Michael Brockers, the strength of the Rams 2020 defense is suddenly a bit shallow. Well, not for long.  With this selection the Rams selected three players they had met with prior to the draft.

The Rams love to focus upon players who do well in the Senior bowl and that fits Golston to a tee. The 6-foot-5 270-pound defensive lineman has one heckuva week at the Senior Bowl. Not only is he extremely effective, but he is very versatile as well.

A good defense in the NFL is predicated upon players who can line up at multiple positions and let ‘er fly. With Golston, the Rams will find that he can line up at all three defensive line positions and attack the ball carrier as soon as the ball is snapped. In many draft boards he is a fourth-round prospect, but this is a zany year and he falls to 204 and to the Rams here.

With this pick, the Rams roster is truly beginning to take shape. Golston is one of those twitchy dangerous defensive lineman who wilts when the offensive line puts multiple blockers on him. But that won’t happen when he lines up to Aaron Donald. He slides in nicely to the spot vacated by Morgan Fox.

Round six, pick 208

With the 208th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the LA Rams select outside linebacker Patrick Jones from the University of Pittsburgh. Hailing from the same school that deliver All-Pro Aaron Donald to the NFL, Jones is a player with no clear consensus. In some draft boards, he is a round two prospect, but in others, he falls to round seven.

Outside linebackers are fairly deep this year, and that is a huge plus for the LA Rams. Even though the team could squeak by as is, the stock of outside linebackers was exhausted over the course of the season. And the team lost two players from the position during free agency. Jones is a healthy size and weight at 6-foot-4 and 261 pounds.  And yes, he played very well at the Senior Bowl

The Rams need a player who can get to the quarterback, and Patrick Jones II excels at that. In 40 games at Pitt, he racked up 21.5 quarterback sacks. In fact, he plays solid defense all around with 112 tackles over his career, including 32 tackles for a loss, and 81 quarterback hurries.

He is a two-year team captain, an honor that is bestowed upon respected players. Jones lined up all over the defensive front, but played little true pass defense at Pitt.  With those limits, he’ll need to work into the Rams rotation. But if he is on the field when the quarterback drops back to pass, it could be a footrace to see who gets to the quarterback first.

Round six, pick 209

With the 209th pick, the LA Rams select offensive tackle Jaylon Moore from Western Michigan University. Not very surprisingly, the LA Rams find an offensive tackle with their last pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and he is a decent-looking prospect. He is the twelth ranked offensive tackle at NFL.com’s draft board, a position with no true consensus. Moore stands 6-foot-4 and weighs in at 311-pounds, which will cause some analysts to project him at offensive guard.

Why Moore? With the arrival of new quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Rams will need an offensive lineman who creates a phalanx like wall against defenders. Moore is a very accomplished pass blocker, and he could show tremendous upside for the Rams future. He is to the left tackle spot what Rams Tremayne Anchrum is to the right tackle spot. Oh, how did he do at the senior bowl? Need you ask? Yes, he played well.

Jaylen Moore’s 2020 season was a modified schedule of just six game. but he did start 32 college games at the left tackle position, and he delivered solid play when he faced tougher competition.

Moore may not end up as the replacement for either offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth or Rob Havenstein. in 2021, but he will certainly have a chance to earn his place with an offensive line that is suddenly getting older at critical positions, and facing expiring contracts elsewhere.

That’s a wrap folks. With the Rams currently boasting 67 players under contract, the addition of nine more rookies brings their total to 76. That leaves 14 open roster spots to sign priority free agents. Who might the Rams sign?

For offensive linemen, the Rams could have the chance to sign Stanford center Drew Dalman, Pittsburgh center Jimmy Morrisey, Maryland offensive tackle Tommy Doyle, Hawaii wide receiver Rico Bussey, Washington cornerback Keith Taylor, Notre Dame offensive guard Tommy Kraemer, Oregon cornerback Nahshon Wright, and many more.