Les Snead traded the Los Angeles Rams’ first-round picks the last two times they were heading into the draft season, and both times he earned big gains. In order to acquire Jared Goff in 2016, the Rams moved all the way up to the top pick. In 2019, however, Snead took a different route and, by the end of the second round, had settled on Taylor Rapp.
Currently, the Los Angeles Rams own the 19th overall first round selection. How likely is it that Snead will switch the choice before going on the clock?
comparatively elevated.
Who has a better chance than the Rams to trade a first-round pick, really? No one.
Should Los Angeles choose to advance, these
Prior to the combine, three players caught my attention as potential fits for the Rams’ needs and goals going forward.
OT Taliese Fuaga, State of Oregon
This graph from NFLMockDraftDatabase shows that Fuaga has risen more than other players in the past month:Fuaga is now a redshirt junior at Oregon State and is listed as 6’5, 332 pounds. He joined the Beavers as a reserve during his first two seasons, coming into the 2020 class as a mere three-star recruit out of Tacoma, Washington. In 2022, Fuaga made the starting lineup and was selected as the right tackle for the Pac 12 second team. He was named to the first team of both the Pac 12 and the All-American team in 2023.
His strengths are listed as “run game dominance,” “NFL frame,” “heavy hands,” and “positional flexibility” by the Draft Network. “Oversetting in pass pro,” “inconsistent footwork,” and “over aggression” are the areas of concern.Fuaga is swift enough to play right tackle at the collegiate level. beginning projects at both OG and RT. A run-first approach with a play-action passing game is a perfect fit for him. Fuaga could go into a guard position to improve an opponent’s offensive line if they are locked into overtime.
Before we reach the combine, Fuaga’s arms are listed at about 33.5″, which may put him on the “elite” side.
It appears that most observers believe he has a great deal of potential to be an elite offensive tackle in the NFL, so it shouldn’t really matter if he plays exclusively on the right side. Take a look at the value that the Eagles have received from Lane Johnson since he was selected fourth overall in 2013
and the teams that selected Luke Joeckel and Eric Fisher above him only because they were left tackles would not have done so if they had known it.
At least in 2024, the Rams will need a left tackle more than a right one since A.J. Jackson might require some competition at left. However, Fuaga might end up being a left tackle in the future. Fuaga may compete on either side because Rob Havenstein, on the right, is turning 32 and might not be someone L.A. wants to hand another extension to. Another scenario is that Fuaga plays right guard for the Rams if they decide not to re-sign Kevin Dotson and receive a third-round compensatory pick in his departure.2024, and determining where he will be required in 2025.
Although it’s a huge ask to move up for someone who might be your right guard in the beginning, and because Fuaga didn’t play left tackle in college, I expect some criticism from fans, but I really believe Fuaga might be that special.If the selection progresses past the 12 or 13th pick and Fuaga still available (perhaps ranking in the top-10), would it really be that risky to give up a third round pick in order to advance, given that we already know that Los Angeles has an abundance of compensatory picks? Snead also likes to greatly admire Fuaga, who made a big impression at the Senior Bowl.
Toledo’s CB Quinyon Mitchell
Quinyon Mitchell, who is undoubtedly one of the greatest prospects to come out of Toledo in history, has also seen a significant increase on the boards recently. Mitchell has consistently been mocked as one of the top-15, if not top-10, picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Forget about the college and the level of competition. The Rams defense’s biggest vulnerability is at cornerback, so how much would Snead and Sean McVay want to work with Chris Shula, the new defensive coordinator, to solve that?
One may argue that Los Angeles doesn’t think its defense requires a top-tier cornerback, but it’s important to keep in mind that the Rams not only had Jalen Ramsey win a Super Bowl, but they also preferred to add skill to the position before Ramsey arrived with players like Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters.
Since all of the players contracted for 2024 must compete to start, nobody on the roster comes close to it right now. Ahkello Witherspoon’s chances of signing a new contract as a free agent, having the same year, or staying healthy as he did in 2023 are all uncertain.
The 6’5″, 195-pound Mitchell is described as “an explosive athlete” by the Draft Network, which is why I have him listed here ahead of Terrion Arnold of Alabama, a player who may or may not possess the top speed that Snead favors. TDN lists “explosive downhill trigger,” “ball production,” “reactive athlete,” and “coverage instincts” as strengths.
Moreover, “overaggressiveness,” “recovery vertical speed,” and “late backpedal transitions” are considered faults.
Quinyon Mitchell plays zone coverage and off-man coverage a lot. He has very good route recognition skills. Mitchell does a good job of squatting before descending a hill and interpreting routes from his landmarks. He avoids the deep ball by keeping everything in front of him with a side-saddle or bail approach.
Over the past two seasons, Mitchell has produced a ton of runs and shown amazing ball skills. He fights with a haughty demeanor at the capture point. At the catch point, he is every bit as disruptive and competitive as any CB I’ve studied in this class. I adore how he punches through the pocket and assaults the receiver’s hands to force incompletions. Mitchell is adept at cutting corners and generating chances for turnover. Anticipating the receiver’s break, he proceeds to drive on the
ball.
Mitchell is a Cover 3 or 4 outside cornerback overall. Mitchell might be most effective when he has his back to the sideline and can focus on the quarterback and route ideas. Ability to fill a slot in a set of three or four cornerbacks. His ball production—27 pass breakups and six interceptions since 2022—makes him a dangerous deep safety to target.
It’s reasonable that Mitchell might not be the ideal match for L.A.’s secondary in your opinion. At the combine, we’ll check the corners’ measurements. However, the Rams should be able to get a cornerback in the draft and may even be willing to move up two to five spots to get one.
EDGE Florida State’s Jared Verse
Unlike the other two rises, Verse might have witnessed a decline in value during the 2023 college campaign because some believed that, had he declared earlier in the year, he could have been selected in the top 5. Verse did not have particularly poor stats (9 sacks, 12.5 TFL) upon his return to Florida State, but they were comparable to those of 2022.
Nevertheless, statistics don’t tell the whole picture, and Verse’s athleticism gives us hope that he may be a Rams-type prospect in a position of need and significance, keeping his stock among the top-14 picks:
Superior physical prowess — Ranked number 26 on Bruce Feldman’s 2023 “Freaks List” “He has been able to continue to develop, both physically and in his skill set for on-field play, by attending FSU for another year,” he wrote. Verse, who is 6-3 1/2 and 260 pounds, can power clean 360 pounds, squat 555, and bench 455 pounds. He also possesses a great burst, as seen by his 21.14 MPH time in a game where the maximum acceleration and deceleration were 5.85 and -6.98 m/s, respectively. Not being the deepest position in the draft, edge rushers are another reason to wonder if the Rams will move up for them rather than a corner or tackle. At 19, you can acquire strong corner and tackle prospects without having to advance. Edge is a narrative unto itself.
As of right now, first round selections like Verse, Dallas Turner, and Laiatu Latu. Maybe there aren’t any more first round edge picks available.
The top three seem to be the best, and considering the value at edge, they may all be selected in the top-16. However, there may be twice as many as there appear to be. The Rams need to decide between Ochaun Mathis and Nick Hampton, who they recently selected, and Byron Young.on Michael Hoecht, a free agent under restriction. However, unlike Verse or Turner, they do not have a player on the verge of greatness who has a high ceiling.
Young benefited the most from double-teams by teammates and players forcing quarterbacks to run into him for sacks, more so than Kobie Turner. Therefore, I believe it’s not too much to pay to move up for Verse or Dallas Turner in exchange for a mid-round pick.
And while I am aware that I have no idea how much it would take to advance or how far L.A. can go, not every trade up in the first round necessitates giving up a potential first-round pick. An abundance of them in the middle of the first round; it might be a subsequent second or third round, or something similar. At times, it is even lower. We’ll see how much the Rams would have to pay, but let’s be clear: Les isn’t scared to approach someone to show his affection.
