The Los Angeles Rams are going to be a tough team to predict in the upcoming NFL draft because of how many holes they need to fill on each side of the ball – especially if they take a passive approach to free agency again. They can go in just about any direction, including quarterback if the right player falls to them at No. 19.
In Curt Popejoy’s latest mock draft for Draft Wire, he has them playing it relatively safe and fortifying the trenches on offense and defense. At No. 19 overall, he has the Rams picking Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton, an impressive interior rusher who can help alongside Aaron Donald and Kobie Turner.
Newton is a great interior pass rusher and a huge piece for the future with the Rams.
In the second round, the Rams select BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia, who was college teammates with Puka Nacua.
Suamataia doesn’t have elite size for an offensive tackle, standing 6-foot-4 and 329 pounds, but he is a powerful lineman who played relatively well at left tackle – a position of need for the Rams if Alaric Jackson doesn’t return as a restricted free agent.
It wouldn’t be a flashy draft, but it’s one that would help the Rams on each side of the ball.
