Los Angeles Rams: Full 2016 Draft Guide and Preview
The Los Angeles Rams own the No. 1 overall pick, so the team is officially on the clock. On Thursday night, the selection will be announced, and the Rams will reveal their quarterback of the future.
California's Jared Goff or North Dakota State's Carson Wentz—one of these two prospects will be under center for the Rams in 2016.
However, the other rounds will play an important role as well, even for a team with a depleted supply of draft picks, such as the Rams. Los Angeles owns just four picks beyond the first round, so it's important for the team to find late-round gems capable of filling needs.
The Rams have certainly generated lots of excitement by obtaining the top pick, but with so many needs and so few picks, this will undoubtedly be the most challenging draft for the Rams in recent memory.
This article will break down the entire Rams draft, including the team's top needs, top targets, the latest rumors, an updated mock draft and more.
Draft Picks
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Draft Picks
Round 1, pick No. 1 overall
Round 4, pick No. 110 overall
Round 4, pick No. 113 overall
Round 6, pick No. 177 overall
Round 6, pick No. 190 overall
What to Know
1. As reported by ESPN.com, the Rams traded up from No. 15 overall with the Tennessee Titans to obtain the No. 1 overall pick. The Rams gave up their first-round pick, two second-round selections and their third-round pick. Additionally, Tennessee will receive the Rams' first- and third-round selections in 2017. In exchange, Los Angeles received Tennessee's No. 1 overall pick, as well as the Titans' fourth- and sixth-round selections.
2. The No. 1 overall draft pick will be Los Angeles' only draft pick during the first two days of the draft, and the Rams will have zero picks on Friday night—when the second and third rounds air. Having said that, don't count out the Rams entirely on Day 2. The team lacks the ammunition to trade back into the second round, but the two fourth-round selections are enough to jump into the early or mid-third round. If a highly coveted prospect drops to Round 3, the Rams could pull the trigger.
3. The Rams don't have any valuable picks beyond the No. 1 overall selection, but general manager Les Snead has been able to find productive players late in the draft. With two fourth-round and two sixth-round selections, the Rams can still upgrade the team. They selected starting cornerback E.J. Gaines in the sixth round of 2014. Kicker Greg Zuerlein was a sixth-round pick in 2012. The fourth and sixth rounds have produced a number of other contributors for the Rams, such as Chris Givens (Round 4, 2012), Mo Alexander (Round 4, 2014) and Andrew Donnal (Round 4, 2015).
Top Needs
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1. Quarterback
The Nick Foles experiment last season had its moments—the Week 1 win over Seattle—but overall, it was a failure. Case Keenum solidified the quarterback position later in the season. He started the last four games, which resulted in a solid 3-1 stretch to end the year.
Even so, the Rams need to drastically upgrade the position. Poor offensive play has kept them out of the playoffs the last few seasons, and it all stems from mediocre play at quarterback.
The Rams will address this need with the No. 1 overall selection. If the Rams finally get their guy, the team will be a force for years to come.
2. Wide Receiver
For years now, the Rams have been starving for productive pass-catchers. Ever since the departure of Torry Holt following the 2008 season, the Rams have not had a reliable No. 1 receiver.
The team only has one pick in the first three rounds, so apparently the Rams will have to wait another year before drafting an elite talent at the position. Even so, with Stedman Bailey and Chris Givens no longer around, the Rams could still use a couple of solid role players to give the position a boost.
Last season, Kenny Britt led the way with just 681 yards. No other receiver on the team exceeded 500 yards last year, which is pitiful.
It's clear the Rams need more talent at the position.
3. Tight End
Along with a receiver, the Rams can also boost the aerial game by grabbing a pass-catching tight end. Jared Cook signed with the Green Bay Packers, per ESPN.com, and is no longer with the team, so L.A. must replace him.
Lance Kendricks is a capable pass-catcher, but his primary value comes as a blocker. The Rams need another tight end whose main responsibility is catching passes.
4. Defensive Back
The Rams lost a couple of starters in the secondary this offseason. Cornerback Janoris Jenkins signed with the New York Giants, per ESPN.com, and starting safety Rodney McLeod is now with the Philadelphia Eagles, per Conor Orr of NFL.com.
The Rams have suitable replacements for both players—Gaines at cornerback and Alexander at safety—but the team should add some talent in the secondary to improve depth.
Expect L.A. to use at least one of the fourth- or sixth-round picks on a defensive back.
5. Linebacker
With James Laurinaitis out, fourth-year pro Alec Ogletree is expected to take over at middle linebacker, while Mark Barron will replace Ogletree at outside linebacker.
Still, the Rams could use another linebacker as depth.
If the Rams go this direction, expect them to find a linebacker with experience both inside and outside. When it comes to depth, they need someone with decent flexibility.
Top Targets
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Quarterback
1. Jared Goff, California: Goff seems to be the consensus for the Rams' top pick. Goff offers excellent footwork and decision-making, good mobility, an accurate deep ball, and enormous resilience and tenacity. On the downside, he comes from a gimmick offense much different from NFL systems, and he's also a bit underweight at 215 pounds.
2. Carson Wentz, North Dakota State: Wentz is an incredible specimen. According to his NFL combine profile, he's 6'5" and 237 pounds. Even with his giant stature, he's still a good scrambler and even more mobile than Goff. He has excellent accuracy and a nice deep ball. He also comes from a pro-style offense. The only negatives are the lack of competition he faced in the FCS and injury concerns, such as his broken wrist last season, per ESPN.com.
Wide Receiver
1. Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina: Pharoh Cooper is coming off productive back-to-back years at South Carolina. He finished 2014 with 1,136 yards and nine scores. He followed that up with 973 yards and eight touchdowns in 2015. He may not have the blazing speed to be a true deep-ball threat, but he's quick when making cuts and could develop into an excellent route-runner. He's a likely Day 2 pick, but Los Angeles is hoping he slips to Round 4.
2. Tajae Sharpe, Massachusetts: Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com raved about UMass receiver Tajae Sharpe during the East-West Shrine Game and described him as "big, smooth and athletic." He's a 6'2" receiver with great hands and enough speed to get downfield for big plays. He's a sleeper and worth a shot late in the draft.
Tight End
1. Jerell Adams, South Carolina: The Rams need another intimidating red-zone presence now that Cook is gone. How about another former Gamecock? Jerell Adams lacks Cook's raw athleticism, but at 6'5" and 247 pounds, according to his combine profile, he's still a mismatch nightmare in the red zone.
2. Thomas Duarte, UCLA: The Rams need a pure pass-catching tight end, and Thomas Duarte is coming off an extremely productive season. He ended 2015 with 872 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Now that the Rams are in Los Angeles, why not appease the fans by drafting a talented local out of UCLA?
Defensive Back
1. Artie Burns, Miami: It's not easy to find a player with first-round athleticism in the fourth round, but that's what the Rams will get with Artie Burns—if he falls that far. Burns was a 4-star recruit out of high school and a top playmaker in Miami's secondary. Unfortunately, he relied too much on his raw talent and didn't develop enough technique. However, proper coaching can fix that.
2. James Bradberry, Samford: The Rams need depth at corner and safety. Why not draft someone who can play either position? James Bradberry has the size—6'1" and 211 pounds, per his combine profile—to be a physical corner on the outside, but he also has enough skill and versatility to line up at safety. With some development, he could be a productive contributor in the near future.
Linebacker
1. Josh Perry, Ohio State: Josh Perry may lack elite athleticism, but he was an imposing force for the Ohio State defense. He had 16 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks in the last two seasons. The Rams love players who make plays behind the line of scrimmage, so he could be on their radar.
2. Nick Kwiatkoski, West Virginia: The Rams need a middle linebacker to back up Ogletree. Nick Kwiatkoski finished last season with 11.5 tackles for a loss and four sacks. He's a disruptive player and knows how to make plays.
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The Latest Rumors
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Nick Wagoner on Los Angeles' Fourth-Round Possibilities
Most of the attention is on the Rams' No. 1 overall draft pick, and rightfully so. However, as mentioned earlier, Snead is good at identifying productive players later in the draft, so don't overlook Los Angeles' two fourth-round selections.
But what direction will the Rams go once they're on the clock again on Day 3?
According to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com, he feels the Rams will target a receiver with one of their two fourth-round selections, which makes sense. If the Rams invest a No. 1 overall pick in a quarterback, it's only logical that they help him out with a new pass-catcher, as the Rams are thin at wide receiver.
However, while Wagoner seems to think drafting a wide receiver is likely, it's also a possibility the Rams will help their new quarterback by grabbing a pass-catching tight end, which is another huge need for Los Angeles at this time.
Either way, Goff will need some weapons.
Jared Goff to Rams a "Done Deal"?
As pointed out earlier this week, there's no question the experts favor Goff as Los Angeles' pick, and it's pretty one-sided. Is this just speculation, or is it really a lock?
According to Jordan Raanan and Mark Eckel of NJ.com, there isn't much debate throughout the league. They wrote that some league officials feel the pick is sealed.
"There isn't much waffling among NFL teams," Raanan and Eckel wrote. "It seems to be a known deal in league circles that the Rams will take Goff at No. 1 overall, according to sources with four different teams. One individual even declared it a 'done deal.'"
At this point, we can be certain that if the pick is anyone other than Goff, it'll be a major shock.
7-Round Mock Draft
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Rams' Mock Draft
Round 1, No. 1: QB Jared Goff, California
Round 4, No. 110: CB Artie Burns, Miami
Round 4, No. 113: TE Thomas Duarte, UCLA
Round 6, No. 177: WR Marquez North, Tennessee
Round 6, No. 190: LB Antonio Morrison, Florida
Goff is the likely choice at No. 1 overall. The Rams will draft him with the top pick and pray he's their answer at quarterback for the next decade. A competent quarterback, combined with Los Angeles' ruthless defense, will make the Rams a playoff contender for years to come.
In the fourth round, the Rams may target a talented defensive back—such as Burns—to help ease the loss of Jenkins and McLeod.
Expect the Rams to find some late-round targets for their new quarterback. Duarte is an excellent pass-catcher and would give the Rams help in short-yardage and red-zone situations. Meanwhile, Tennessee's Marquez North is a late-round sleeper with 6'4" size—according to his school bio—and excellent speed, so he's worth a gamble.
With the final pick, expect the Rams to take a flier on a player who offers defensive depth. Antonio Morrison has the versatility to play inside or out, so he could be an option.
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