Final Rams Mock Draft: Defense dominates in this outstanding Rams draft haul

With the 196th overall pick

The Los Angeles Rams select Brennan Jackson, outside linebacker, out of Washington State. While fans may want to see the team add an outside linebacker earlier in this draft, the team lands a huge bargain with Jackson in Round 6. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 264 pounds, Jackson is a robustly powerful outside linebacker who is undervalued in this draft. Playing for the Washington State Cougars out of Pullman, Washington, Jackson remained under the radar of many NFL teams. But they will notice him once he arrives in the NFL.

He showed steady growth and development throughout his five seasons, culminating in 57 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, 8.5 quarterback sacks, three passes broken up, one forced fumble and four fumble recoveries, three of which were returned for touchdowns. Because he is massively muscular, he has the ability to stunt with his hand in the dirt. But his best role is standing up, where he will give quarterbacks and offensive coordinators fits. He is bursting with intangibles like high football IQ, very passionate player, and a great teammate. But he is a young man who, despite being selected on Day 3, can compete for a starting role.

With the 209th overall pick

The Los Angeles Rams select Tip Reiman, tight end, out of Illinois. Even as the Rams have added TE Colby Parkinson in what appears to be the future starting tight end role, the team continues to seek a blocking tight end to assume the role vacated by former Rams tight end Johnny Mundt. 6-foot-5 271-pound TE Tip Reiman may be that guy. He is a blocking savant, who was team captain in 2023. That alone is enough to get him on the team. But he brings so much more.

He possesses the ability to process plays as they develop, and modify his tactics in live-time to ensure the success of the play. He was seldom targeted in the passing game, but he did not drop a single pass. His 207 receiving yards and three touchdowns is just the tip of the iceberg for him in the offense.

You simply cannot ignore the fact that he is nearly an offensive tackle at 6-foot-5 and 271 pounds, and that lends itself to the possiblity of cross-training into an NFL offensive tackle at some future point in his career. Reiman brings instant impact to the team, but his future upside is where his true value lies.