Fans of the Los Angeles Rams were stunned by the team’s selection of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson on Thursday. The consensus grade for the pick amongst fans was an “F”.
But the Rams aren’t done yet. There are still many dominoes to fall in the NFL Draft. While the Los Angeles roster is among the most well-rounded in football, they still have needs to fill at receiver, offensive tackle, and cornerback primarily from a depth perspective.
Let’s wait to flunk the Rams until we see their full body of
work. I wouldn’t rule out Les Snead continuing his trademark aggression to move up on day two. LA doesn’t need their 2027 picks in a quarterback rich year now that they have the heir apparent to Matthew Stafford.
We went from “F them picks” to giving the Rams an F. I’m here to try and prove that this is fixable on Friday.
Round 2
36th overall: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Rams send their 2027 first round pick to Raiders
There was a time when Terrell was the consensus pick for the Rams at 13th overall. His performance at the combine and a 4.64 second 40-yard dash pushed him further down the draft board, although he’s still easily a top three to five corner in this class.
Terrell has inside/outside versatility and is a tenacious run defender. He was better in press man coverage in college, and the Rams’ recent investment in the secondary could signal a shift away from zone. If that holds true, Terrell would be a perfect fit for the evolving defense.
61st overall: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss
While many tied Makai Lemon to the Rams as a stylistic fit, Stribling seems to somehow fit LA’s mold better. He’s a big, physical receiver that will dig out defenders in the run game. He should be able to contribute as a WR2/3 from day one and then eventually take over on the outside for Davante Adams.
Stribling is 6-2, 205 lbs. He ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He is an excellent tracker of the deep ball and rarely lets the ball into his body.
If you are concerned about drafting a receiver from the Ole Miss offensive scheme, Stribling had productive seasons at two other college programs in Washington State and Oklahoma State. He caught 23 touchdowns at the collegiate level with only nine drops.
Round 3
93rd overall: Logan Jones, iOL, Iowa
There are fewer sure things in the draft than taking offensive linemen from either Iowa or Wisconsin. Logan Jones brings this pedigree to the NFL, though his long-term fit may be best at center.
The Rams’ more immediate depth need along the offensive line is more at tackle than the interior. Still, Coleman Shelton can be upgraded and is a free agent after the season. Jones can provide depth as a rookie and then potentially take over for Shelton or help LA avoid paying guards Kevin Dotson or Steve Avila as their deals also soon expire.
Admittedly, Jones is undersized. The Rams historically are not concerned with measurables. They chase skillsets and reliability. Brian Allen had a similar frame to Jones, and he’s now and assistant on the offensive staff. Justin Dedich, LA’s backup guard, also has size limitations.
Jones feels like a Rams offensive lineman. He could be the starting center in 2027.
