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

With the 37th pick

Do the LA Rams need a franchise blindside offensive tackle? Not after this pick, no. Anton Harrison is a powerful offensive lineman who has the chops to handle everything that will come his way, both in the running game and in the passing game. He stands 6-foot-5, weighs 315 pounds, and is the type of offensive lineman who is very much like a microwave meal. You set set it and forget it.

While no rookie offensive lineman is a guaranteed starter in the NFL, and certainly the LA Rams have reason to be a bit timid over drafting an offensive tackle from Oklahoma, Anton Harrison is clearly a player who is worth the investment. He is a solid performer, both in pass protection and in run blocking.

In many ways, the knocks on Harrison are similar to those of Rams offensive tackle Alaric Jackson. He is powerful enough, competent enough, but he simply is viewed by many draft analysts as not possessing the type of jump-off-the-screen punch that lays defenders out in the first second or two. But that is hardly the type of demerit marks that should ward off interest.

Harrison loves to block. If he neutralizes one defender, he scans the football field for his next target. On running plays, he loves to engage defenders at the point of attack, and then take off to block linebackers and defensive backs downfield. On passing plays, he will survey the defense as he engages, ensuring that all pass rushers have a blocker. Best of all, he had allowed just four quarterback sacks in three seasons of college football. I believe that anything he might be lacking before entering the NFL is opportunity, refinement, strength and conditioning training, and training repititions. He will get all of those with the LA Rams. Could he become the team's franchise left tackle? That's the plan.