This 2025 NFL mock draft could be great news for the Los Angeles Rams

What position should the LA Rams target in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft?
LSU v Arkansas
LSU v Arkansas / Wesley Hitt/GettyImages
facebooktwitterreddit

The Los Angeles Rams could potentially undergo a ton of change next offseason. Would this be a good start in this 2025 NFL mock draft? The biggest need that LA may have heading into the 2025 NFL Draft could be quarterback.

Matthew Stafford is now in his age-36 season and has been banged up for most of his NFL career. It's an unfortunate reality that Stafford could hit the Father Time wall this season. I am betting that he does not, but you just never know.

If the Rams are not yet in a position to make a move for a new QB, they could turn their attention to other positions in the first round next April. Bleacher Report unveiled a mock draft, and with it, they had the Rams taking tackle Emery Jones Jr from LSU:

"The Los Angeles Rams (will) achieve two goals with the selection of LSU (OT) Emery Jones Jr.

First, offensive line fortifications will be a necessity next offseason. Left tackle Alaric Jackson is not signed beyond this season. Right tackle Rob Havenstein turns 33 next May, with only one more year remaining on his current deal.

The Rams have made big investments along their offensive interior, but tackle is clearly a major need.

Secondly, added help to keep Matthew Stafford upright should keep the aging quarterback happy. The Rams must maximize the 36-year-old (over the) next few years after he endured significant punishment throughout his career.

Jones would be a bit of a stretch here to play tackle and may need to kick inside to guard as a pro due to shaky movement skills, footwork, and overall technique as a pass protector. But his size and raw power fit into the general mold that the Rams prefer in their linemen. Jones is a viable option because of the Rams current setup.

The junior prospect has been a starter since his true freshman season. Yet his technique requires significant work. Jones must show improvement as the 2024 campaign progresses to remain in the first-round conversation."

B/R Brandon Thorn

So, I understand their logic here but do not at the same time. They note that Jones may have to kick inside to the interior, but the Rams did just invest big-time resources in signing Jonah Jackson, extending Kevin Dotson, and drafting Steve Avila in 2023. And to me, taking a potentially interior offensive lineman in the first round of any draft is not good business.

And of course, that completely fails to comprehend that the Rams are ultra deep with interior offensive linemen with rookies Beaux Limmer, Justin Dedich, and veteran Logan Bruss as well.

It's not as hard as you may think to find stable interior OL play in free agency and in later rounds. Now yes, if the Rams would think that Emery Jones Jr would be a fine tackle, this pick makes sense. As Bleache Report notes, Alaric Jackson isn't signed beyond 2024, and Rob Havenstein is getting older.

The Rams could potentially have two new starters at LT and RT heading into the 2025 NFL Season. It'd be a huge change, but could very easily happen. The pick of Jones in this mock draft also does fit the recent roster-building trends of Les Snead, who has made a huge commitment to rebuilding the trenches over the last few seasons.

Would this first round pick in 2025 make sense for the Los Angeles Rams next April?

feed