It won’t be long before the Los Angeles Rams make their first pick in the 2023 NFL draft, holding the 36th overall selection in Round 2. It’s impossible to know which direction they’ll go with that pick, especially with the way the board fell in Round 1.
Will Levis and Hendon Hooker are both still available and could be there for the Rams at No. 36. Several experts believe the Rams will end up taking one of the two in the second round, grabbing a backup to develop behind Matthew Stafford.
We compiled nine different mock drafts from around the internet and four of them have the Rams selecting either Levis or Hooker.
Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire
36. Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
Sanders is more than just an inside linebacker. He’s an athletic, rangy defender who can play off the ball or rush the quarterback off the edge, which makes him more valuable. The Rams need help at both inside linebacker and edge rusher, so Sanders would be a perfect fit in their defense.
Pro Football Focus
36. Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
69. Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane
77. Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama
Smith would be a nice value at No. 36, although it would be disappointing for the Rams to settle for him instead of Joey Porter Jr. or Brian Branch. In Round 3, Spears is a popular pick, and not just for the Rams. He’s a playmaking running back who will help an offense early on. It’s just not the Rams’ biggest position of need.
Steen can play either left or right tackle, which makes him a good backup option behind Joe Noteboom, Alaric Jackson and Rob Havenstein.
ESPN
ESPN has the Rams ending Levis’ wait by taking him in the second round as an insurance policy behind Matthew Stafford, who’s 35 years old. Here’s what Steve Muench wrote about the pick for the Rams.
The slide for Levis stops here. Matthew Stafford is 35 years old and coming off a season-ending injury, and there’s no insurance policy. Levis gives the Rams depth at QB.
Sports Illustrated
36. Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
69. Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU
77. Byron Young, OLB, Tennessee
Another quarterback projection for the Rams in Round 2. Hooker is undoubtedly a talented player but he’s also 25 years old and coming off an ACL tear. If Matthew Stafford plays another two seasons, Hooker will be 27 by the time he gets on the field.
This is clearly a full rebuild for the Rams, so it would make sense to plan for the future at quarterback. Hooker is 25 years old and coming off a late-season ACL tear, but he could wait patiently behind Matthew Stafford until he’s fully healthy and ready to take over.
Hodges-Tomlinson is a quick and talented nickel corner capable of covering the slot or even playing outside, while Young is a pass rusher with a ton of explosiveness off the edge; he ran a 4.43 at 250 pounds.
SB Nation
36. Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami
This is a bit early for Stevenson. He’d be a much better value in Round 3, potentially with one of the Rams’ two picks in the third. He’s good in coverage but he’s not the most physical cornerback and is better in a man defense than a zone one like the Rams’.
CBS Sports
36. Keion White, DE, Georgia Tech
69. Nick Saldiveri, OL, Old Dominion
77. Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
The Rams would probably be thrilled if the board fell this way for them. White fills an immediate need at defensive end or outside linebacker, giving the pass rush another impactful player alongside Aaron Donald.
Saldiveri is projected to play guard in the NFL after lining up as a tackle in college, which is exactly where the Rams need help along their offensive line.
Mingo is a late riser in the draft process and it’s hard not to like him. He’s 6-foot-2 with 4.46 speed and a physical mentality that allows him to make catches in traffic. He’d be a nice replacement for Allen Robinson.
The Athletic
36. Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
69. Zach Harrison, OLB, Ohio State
77. Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane
In this mock draft, Hooker actually goes ahead of Levis. There’s no denying Hooker’s talent and skill set, especially in the Rams’ offense, but the risk is that he won’t get on the field for two years if Stafford keeps playing and stays healthy.
Harrison has great size at 6-foot-5 and 276 pounds, but that might be a little bit too big for the Rams’ liking when it comes to their 3-4 outside linebackers.
The Draft Network
36. Adetomiwa Adebawore, DE, Northwestern
Adebawore is a polarizing prospect with a wide range of projections that ranged from the first round to the third. He’s a versatile defender who can play anywhere from defensive tackle to outside linebacker, so Raheem Morris would have a lot of options and possibilities with him in the front seven.
Bleacher Report
36. Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
69. Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
77. Nick Saldiveri, OT, Old Dominion
Levis to the Rams has a lot of steam in these mock drafts, clearly. It’s easy to connect the dots and he could end up being the pick, but they have more pressing needs to address.
Hyatt is a smaller receiver with game-changing speed, similar to DeSean Jackson. Unfortunately, the Rams were unable to make it worth with Jackson and they haven’t found a good role for Tutu Atwell, either. They would probably be better off with a bigger, more physical receiver like Cedric Tillman.
