LA Rams January Mock Draft ‘smokes’ the secondary

With the 171st pick…

The Los Angeles Rams select outside linebacker Ali Gaye from LSU. While the position is somewhat deep as the 2021 NFL season winds down, the team will not pursue extending rotational player Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, and there is no guarantee that the team will be successful in extending veteran outside linebacker Von Miller. Two potential losses mean that the Rams will need to restock the shelves once more|

While a defensive end by design, Gaye can develop into that hybrid DE/OLB who can give the LA Rams great flexibility in how they manage their defensive line of scrimmage. Standing a towering 6-foot-6 and weighing a muscular 250-pounds, he has all of the right dimensions needed to succeed in the NFL.

He has all of the right stuff for a player who is drafted much higher. But this is a deep class at edge rusher, and Gaye will face more than his share of concerns over his health, durability, and medical status. He played 14 games, recorded 51 tackles, 4.5 quarterback sacks, seven pass deflections, and one interception. Prior to arriving at LSU, he played for two years at junior college. He is a native of Gambia and arrived in the United States at six years of age.

His performance in either the Shrine Bowl or Senior Bowl will determine how far he rises or falls in the 2022 NFL Draft. He has such tremendous raw potential, but how he performs against other draft prospects will truly define where he lies in relation to others at the position.

I expect that even with a good showing, some teams will look elsewhere for talent without the medical flags. Historically, the LA Rams entrust their own medical teams’ analysis, and that could place Gaye on the LA Rams roster after the upcoming draft.