The best 35 candidates off my Top 300 draft board
While the Los Angeles Rams may have written about tight end Brock Bowers in their diary, they asked edge Jared Verse to the dance. To say fans are content with first round selection of Jared Verse is an understatement, fans and pundits alike think they make a handsome couple.
On to pick #52.
Do the reports of Matthew Stafford wanting more guaranteed money bring quarterback into draft play? The Rams still have plenty of areas of need and it may be wise to focus on prospects than can both compete for deep roles and upgrading the team’s overall depth and talent level. Off my Top 300 draft board, there’s a long list. Here’s a look at some possibilities.
The Top 10 best remaining prospects from my draft board
If Day 2 begins by following yesterday’s form and the Rams having 19 teams ahead of them, most of the Top 10 should be gone. S Tyler Nubin may have to wait a little longer, there are at least 10 potentially potent cornerbacks in what’s left of the Top 100. How far will WR Keon Coleman really fall? It’s a deep class. For my money, he’s got talent and the later he goes, the more value he offers. Is Cooper DeJean all hype or the second coming of Riley Moss and destined for Round 3?
21) DT Jer’zhan Newton- Illinois
23) CB Kool-Aid McKinstry- ‘Bama
24) CB Ennis Rakestraw- Mizzou
25) CB Cooper DeJean- Iowa
26) WR Keon Coleman- Florida State
32) C Jackson Powers-Johnson- Oregon
33) CB Kamari Lassiter- Georgia
34) WR Adonai Mitchell- Texas
35) WR Ladd McConkey- Georgia
37) S Tyler Nubin- Minnesota
Many were out on Keon Coleman as a prospect after his combine results.
However, simply flip on the tape and you’ll see that Coleman is as dominant of an athlete as you’ll find. pic.twitter.com/mTi47O00bY
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) April 23, 2024
The Top 25 prospects immediately surrounding the Rams Round 2 pick
The Rams will have options at #52, they obviously filled a need at #19. Where do they go next? My gut tells me that Day 2 starts with teams dipping into the deep cornerback pool and as many as 12 could be selected. If L.A. thinks they need help in this area, most of top-rated talent is still there for the taking.
38) WR Troy Franklin- Oregon
39) T Kingsley Suamaita- BYU
41) E Chris Braswell- ‘Bama
43) CB TJ Tampa- Iowa State
44) C Zach Frazier- West Virginia
45) Cooper Beebe- Kansas State
46) Peyton Wilson- North Carolina State
47) DT Kris Jenkins- Michigan
48) E Bralen Trice- Washington
49) G Christian Haynes- UCONN
50) S Javon Bullard- Georgia
#52) WR Malachi Corley- Western Kentucky
53) CB Max Melton- Rutgers
54) DT Ruke Ohohoro- Clemson
55) T Kiran Amegadjie- Yale
56) T Patrick Paul- Houston
58) WR Roman Wilson- Michigan
59) WR Ja’Lynn Polk- Washington
60) E Adissa Issac- Penn State
61) Braden Fiske- Florida State
62) S Cam Kinchens- Miami
63) DT T’Vondre Sweat- Texas
65) ILB Junior Colson- Michigan
66) ILB Jeremiah Trotter- Clemson
67) S Jaden Hicks- Washington State
Since the #Jets seem to be leaning pass-catcher in Round 1, a Day 2 OT to watch for is Kiran Amegadjie out of Yale.
He’s 6’5”, 323 lbs with LONG arms. Coming from the Ivy League, he’ll take some time to get used to the NFL, but his tape against guys at Harvard is hilarious pic.twitter.com/6Lxm7ptnqV
— Ian Roddy (@IanRoddy_) April 22, 2024
Who should the Rams take at #52?
The Rams mirrored most NFL teams and took the conservative route in Round 1, should they continue on down that path or reach for someone not really within arm’s length? Is it time for some Les Snead incremental bartering? Or pyrotechnics?
As much as I like stockpiling picks in the Top 100, I would counsel the same conservative draft pathway. Grab high floor prospects at #52, #83, and #99 and then try to identify some athletic/physical/hot motor freaks later on. The Rams did more than pay lip service to the defensive front/pass rush in Round 1, keep it up. Mix BPA and needs, improving depth and maybe catching a rising star. Don’t forget special teams in later rounds, they certainly need an overall athletic upgrade.
Where do Rams fans stand at #52?
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