Mel Kiper's latest mock draft reveals Rams have tough choices ahead

The Los Angeles Rams had opted to sit out Day 1 of previous NFL drafts, only choosing once since hiring head coach Sean McVay in 2017. Of course, that one selection resulted in adding outside linebacker Jared Verse. And many fans can legitimately argue that he was well worth the wait.

But the days of sitting out on Round 1 of the draft appear to be over. Los Angeles enters the fray armed with two first-round picks this year. And with a roster that advanced all the way to the NFC Championship Game, the team may package several picks of its existing 10 selections to ensure it lands plug-and-play-ready rookies.

And the team has a wide-ranging shopping list to address in the draft

While the team may need plenty of help, both as replacement starters and key depth pieces, the team almost certainly wants to open this year's draft with a surefire starter. Well, if ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper's latest mock draft is accurate, general manager Les Snead will face some impossible choices:

After just five seconds in the above embedded video, Kiper's mock draft for the first 10 selections is revealed. The thing is that he leaves plenty of elite talent on the board. Talent at positions Snead may target in Round 1 remains, creating a dream-like scenario for The Horns.

Mel Kiper leaves Rams multiple elite prospects to select

If the LA Rams have a desire to add an elite cornerback, Mel Kiper's mock draft has all rookie defensive backs, sans Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, still on the board after 10 selections have been made.

And he only has one quarterback off the board after 10 selections. From that alone, he ensures that Snead can choose from Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, LSU cornerback Mansoor Delanie, or Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy.

That's incredible.

IF this scenario pans out, Snead has one of the most perilous decisions of his career. Should the team aim for a shutdown cornerback, at the risk of passing on a future franchise quarterback? Or should he aim for the quarterback, trusting the depth of a solid rookie cornerback class to yield an adequate alternative in later selections?

Of course, the same team that exchanged picks for players in the past is already suspected of revisiting that all-in strategy. But even in the whispers of newly proposed blockbuster trades, NFL analysts do not see both first-round picks as trade currency.

Despite the urgency to optimize veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford's remaining NFL seasons, the team cannot ignore the need to remain competitive in the future. Thankfully, Mel Kiper's latest mock draft sheds hope that LA needn't choose one or the other. Both options may still be in play.

As always, thanks for reading.