Latest Rams mock draft claims plug-n-play secondary help for team in 2025

Round 3 - Ohio State OT Josh Simmons

It may be that the Rams roster will be perfectly set at the offensive tackle position in 2025. But we cannot ignore the injury epidemic that impacted the team's starting and backup offensive tackles in 2024. As the Rams currently stand, the team is likely to lose veteran Joe Noteboom to an expired contract, should extend starting LT Alaric Jackson as his contract expires at the end of this season, and will welcome back OT K.T. Leveston after a lost rookie season due to injury.

But even if everyone returns healthy in 2025, the team has to have a succession plan for veteran RT Rob Havenstein. At one point, the team had its top three offensive tackles injured, forcing the team to start backups early in the season. While the team managed to fight through the crisis, there are many reasons to ensure similar circumstances do not appear in 2025.

Ohio State rookie offensive tackle Josh Simmons makes an ideal target in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Simmons stands 6-foot-5, weighs 310 pounds, and projects as early as Round 1. But not all draft analysts view him as a Day 1 rookie. So much the better for the Rams. Simmons hails from San Diego, California, and played for the San Diego State Aztecs for two seasons before transferring to Ohio State to finish off his NCAA eligibility.

Simmons exudes the type of physical presence on the offensive line that Rams fans have come to expect. Blessed with a natural low center-of-gravity and the force of a charging rhinoceros, he is well suited to handle both run and pass blocking at the professional level

He boasts outstanding wingspan, ensuring that he will have the advantage against pass rushers trying to evade his reach with hairpin turns. He has significant experience at both left and right tackle, versatility that will be very valuable in his rookie season. Like many Rams starting offensive linemen, he loves to block downfield, imposing his swift and powerful form against overwhelmed linebackers and defensive backs.

Is he perfect? Of course not. He struggles with proper hand placement, making him vulnerable to seasoned defenders. His awkward hand usage opens him up to penalties, a trait that he must continue to work on in training camp. He also has to work on his ability to slide laterally to mirror defenders. He can be lured into overextending his lengthy arms and risk losing his balance.

Simmons is an ideal Day 2 selection because he has such promising upside. But he arrives as a work-in-process.