2018 NFL Draft: Los Angeles Rams 7-round mock
By Conor Dorney
Round 5
The Rams will likely address the offensive line at some point during this draft and one player who could make sense in the fifth round is Pittsburgh’s Jaryd Jones-Smith.
Jones-Smith is an absolutely massive human being (6-foot-6 and 320 pounds) with an incredible 36 and 1/4-inch arms. He’s pretty raw as a prospect and lacks the short-area quickness and push in the run game that you might need to move him to the interior, but it’s hard to pass up that kind of size and length.
The Rams were one of the teams to meet with Jones-Smith during the East-West Shrine Game, so there certainly seems to be some interest in the Day 3 prospect.
Round 6
With a plethora of sixth-round selections, the Rams start by hedging the loss of John Sullivan in free agency by selecting Iowa’s Sean Welsh.
Welsh played both guard and tackle during his Hawkeyes career but his lack of size and length likely pushes him to center in the NFL. He’s not the most athletically-gifted interior talent in this class, but he was a key cog in an Iowa offensive line that has opened up tons of holes for its running backs over the past several seasons.
The Rams haven’t spent a selection on an offensive lineman in the last two drafts, but figure to add a couple developmental prospects in Day 3 of 2018.
Lamarcus Joyner is scheduled to hit free agency, meaning the Rams could look for a safety on day three.
Connecticut defensive back Jamar Summers cooled off after a sophomore season where he posted eight interceptions, but those ball skills could still get him drafted early in the sixth round. He’d be a nice pickup at this spot for Wade Phillips’ defense, especially if he’s able to get back to his 2015 ballhawking form. If not Summers, South Alabama’s Jeremy Reaves is another possibility in the middle rounds.
Next: 30 richest players in the NFL
It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle on a defense loaded with NFL talent, but Ohio State’s Chris Worley still managed to produce solid tape that should get him drafted.
His Combine numbers were a bit concerning (4.86 40-yard dash) and that sluggishness was often reflected on tape. Despite the lack of athleticism, Worley has the outstanding instincts and awareness that could at the very least could be a valuable special teams contributor.
Todd Gurley is likely due a massive contract extension in the near future, so the Rams could certainly opt to take a late-round flyer on a running back in an extremely deep class.
South Florida’s D’Ernest Johnson had a nice showing during the Shrine Game and is one of the best pass-catching backs in this class. He doesn’t have any one trait that stands out in particular, but his balanced game and experience on special teams as a returner could certainly help him find a role in Sean McVay’s offense.