Who should Rams target if they trade down from pick #19?

By now you’ve heard the names LA is connected with at #19, but what happens if they move down the draft order?

The 2024 NFL Draft kicks off next week and the Los Angeles Rams have a wealth of options at their disposal. Les Snead is equipped with a first round draft pick for the first time since he took Jared Goff first overall in 2016. The Rams have never had a first round pick since Sean McVay joined the team in 2017.

It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see the team trade down from their currently slotted pick at #19, especially considering how deep the draft is at certain positions like tackle and receiver. Why not keep the first round pick streak alive and come away with additional picks in later rounds or into next year in the meantime?

If the Rams do make a move down from #19, who are some players they could target either at the back of the first round or early into the second round on Friday? These names could be a bit different than who you’ve seen the team tied to through mock drafts of late, so let’s dig in:

Chop Robinson, OLB; Penn State

Darius Robinson, OLB; Missouri

Dallas Turner seems to be the consensus top edge rusher and is popularly mocked to the Atlanta Falcons at #8 overall. I’d argue that Laiatu Latu and Jared Verse were both notably more productive players in college and more deserving of a high draft slot. Chop Robinson is the clear fourth-best and Darius Robinson is picking up steam as a potential first-round pick. Darius has been invited to attend the draft in person, which usually only happens if the league expects you to be taken on Thursday night—though we see awkward falls and shots of players still sitting in the green room year in and year out.

Chop is the latest freak athlete from Penn State while Darius is a converted interior defensive lineman that brings a unique blend of power and athleticism to the edge of the defense.

Amarius Mims, OT; Georgia

Tyler Guyton, OT; Oklahoma

Both Mims and Guyton are considered projects rather than NFL-ready prospects. They would likely benefit from a year on the bench to develop behind a capable starter than being thrust into action from day one, and the Rams are equipped to do so with Alaric Jackson at left tackle, Rob Havenstein at right tackle, and Joe Noteboom being the next man up behind each. Jackson and Noteboom are in contract years and Havenstein is getting older. It might be time to secure the future at tackle and Mims or Guyton would be strong steps in that direction.

Troy Franklin, WR; Oregon

Ladd McConkey, WR; Georgia

Sure, the Rams re-signed Demarcus Robinson to secure the WR#3 spot for 2024. But Robinson, Tutu Atwell, and Ben Skowronek are all in contract years, and Cooper Kupp’s future is in question as he ages and is battling injuries often at this stage of his career.

Would LA add a receiver to make the most of Matthew Stafford’s final professional seasons and build for the future? Franklin is a tall body that was still productive as a deep threat despite Oregon’s vertically-challenged offense. McConkey is the prototypical receiver for the McVay-Shanahan offensive scheme, but maybe his skillset is too redundant between Kupp and Puka Nacua.

Nate Wiggins, CB; Clemson

Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB; Alabama

TJ Tampa, CB; Iowa State

Despite signing veterans at outside corner in Darious Williams and Tre White that should slot in as starters for 2024, the Rams could future-proof the position and maybe even come away with a prospect that could compete for playing time as a rookie.

Wiggins was one of the fastest players at the NFL scouting combine. He has a slight but long frame at 6-2, 185 pounds. He’s an excellent coverage player but there are questions whether he can hold up against more physical receivers, and the Rams will often see DK Metcalf, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and maybe Marvin Harrison, Jr. or Rome Odunze with the in their own division (depending on the Arizona Cardinals’ early decisions in the draft).

McKinstry was thought of as a top player in this draft a year ago, though he’s more likely to go in the second round at this point. McKinstry is a capable press corner and can play zone, but based on his limited athleticism you are shooting for a solid to good starter and not a shut-down corner.

Tampa is 6-2, 200 lbs. and has the fluidity and smoothness as an athlete to one day be an elite outside corner. He needs to clean up some technical aspects of his game, but there are tools to work with and the Rams make sense because they don’t need to thrust him into action immediately.