New LA Rams trade-filled mock draft swells roster with young talent

Rams draft class sets the bar for future drafts

The LA Rams rookie draft class is quite the haul. It's so impressive, that the sheer numbers will infuse heated competition across the board. So why didn't I include quarterbacks in this hefty haul? To be honest, I believe that the Rams will be interested in re-signing free agents John Wolford and Bryce Perkins to fill their training camp needs. While the Rams will test the waters with QB Baker Mayfield for a future role, I believe that his heart remains set on starting in the NFL now, which will lead him to sign with another team. And then there is always the chance that the LA Rams could lure and sign projected New York Jets FA quarterback Mike White, a player who has strong connections to LA Rams new OC Mike LaFleur.

In the end, the rookie draft class reloads the team with an abundance of promising young talent, particularly in those position groups that need reinforcements and to turn the corner this year. With new positional coaches, the Rams front office delivers a busload of 'their,' guys who fit the new specifications for success on the Rams roster.

LA Rams post-trade pick summary

Round 2: Pick 37 - OT Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
Round 3: Pick 86 - OT Blake Freeland, BYU
Round 4: Pick 127 - DL Byron Young, Alabama
Round 4: Pick 137 - OC Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin
Round 5: Pick 160 - CB Garrett Williams, Syracuse
Round 5: Pick173 - OLB Habakkuk Baldonado, Pittsburgh
Round 6: Pick 190 - OLB Ali Gaye, LSU
Round 6: Pick 192 - S Jammie Robinson, FSU
Round 6: Pick 202 - CB Mekhi Garner, LSU
Round 6: Pick 211 - WR Jacob Copeland, Maryland
Round 6: Pick 212 - RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kentucky
Round 7: Pick 226 - S Daniel Scott, California
Round 7: Pick 251- OL Tyler Skeen, Alabama
Round 7: Pick 252 - RB Tavion Thomas, Utah
Round 7: Pick 253 - OLB J.J. Weaver, Kentucky
Round 7: Pick 258 - TE Noah Gindorff, ND State

The LA Rams already have 52 players under contract. But the team is unlikely to add many players to that number in the NFL Free Agency market. That even extends to the Rams own players, although the team could push to retain either A'Shawn Robinson or Greg Gaines, both of whom would be huge boosts to the defensive front in 2023.

With 16 more players, the LA Rams roster climbs to 68, which is still 22 players shy of the full 90-player roster limit for training camp. This is a draft that can deliver starters, rotational players, and simple depth players for the team in those positions that were strikingly needy in 2022. Will this be a likely draft scenario? Perhaps not. But in this scenario, the Rams were offered multiple opportunities to trade back, and I wanted to follow what that strategy might hold for the team if they do choose that route. I'm quite pleased with the results. What do you think?