The Los Angeles Rams have a first round pick for the first time since 2019 and I believe they are going to stay there and make their first pick in the first round since 2016. There might be a catch to that though. Here’s my final mock draft of the year for the Rams. It’s worth noting this isn’t just what I would do but this is my best attempt to get the Rams draft accurate and it includes some trades so buckle up.

Round 1: Picks 12 & 32

The Rams hold the 19th-overall selection and if you’ve followed my draft content this year you will know that I have said from day one they won’t be staying put and making the selection here. That, however, does not mean they won’t pick in the first round. I have the Rams kicking off their first pick of the draft at 12th-overall instead after they decide to move up seven spots with the Broncos.

12th overall via TRADE with Denver: OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State

The Rams were reportedly in attendance and represented well at a few Penn State games during the college year. Immediately when this came out I assumed they would be interested in Olu Fashanu as a potential bookend left tackle of the future. It’s not to say that Alaric Jackson is a bad player, he’s actually quite good. It’s more so, both Jackson and Joe Noteboom are set to hit free agency next year and if Jackson has an even decent season he will command around $20 million per year in all likelihood based on the market.

Insert Fashanu here. I’ve been told the Rams are very interested in trading up and I was told from a source that they are eyeing at the very least a trade up to 12th overall. I do believe the Rams want Joe Alt and that would be their dream scenario but that dream sadly might not come true seeing as the Titans are almost surely picking him at seventh-overall. Fashanu falls outside the top ten in this scenario and with teams like the Raiders, Saints and Seahawks all waiting to pounce on offensive line, the Rams trade up to snatch a day one franchise left tackle.

What does that mean for Jackson? That’s not the important thing. Fashanu is ready to play right away and is someone I believe can be an All Pro some day. The Rams add a blindside protector for Matthew Stafford now and for his successor in the future. The best part of this is that Fashanu will essentially be locked into a fifth-year option which is very cost effective for the Rams especially at the tackle position.

32nd overall via TRADE with Kansas City: EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State

As of right now you may think I’m a Penn State homer but the truth is I have no affiliation to Penn State. The Rams met with Chop Robinson last week, they even flew out to meet him in Happy Valley in a heavily reported story. Chop Robinson is my top edge defender in the draft. While he may not have the floor to maximize production right away like Laiatu Latu or Jared Verse, Robinson makes up with it by having the most explosive first step in the draft. Robinson has unique and elite traits aside from his size (which the Rams don’t care about) that make him a no-brainer addition.

I’m very unsure where Robinson goes in the draft but I have a suspicion this is the Rams master plan. They move their 2025 first round pick to get back into the first and take Robinson who is 21 years old and offers immense potential, not to mention securing the last fifth-year option available with the final pick on day one. I would not be surprised if the Rams traded up earlier or even if they picked him at their original draft spot but my sense is they want to grab a starting edge defender that changes the game for them and put him next to Byron Young. Chop with the proper development could be an elite pass rusher and I think the Rams clearly saw that which is why they flew out to meet with him in the first place.

TRADE RECAP:

1. RAMS & BRONCOS

• Rams ACQUIRE: 1.12
• Broncos ACQUIRE: 1.19 & 3.83

2. RAMS & CHIEFS

• Rams ACQUIRE 1.32 & 2.64
• Chiefs ACQUIRE 2.52 & 2025 1st

Round 2: TRADE DOWN

In the last trade with the Chiefs, the Rams traded away a 2025 first round pick but also pick swapped and moved down 12 spots in the second round. In an effort to replenish some draft capital, the Rams decided to move down to pick 74 with the Atlanta Falcons.

TRADE RECAP:

1. RAMS & FALCONS

• Rams ACQUIRE 3.74 & 5.143
• Falcons ACQUIRE 2.64

Round 3: Pick 74 + TRADE DOWN

74th overall via TRADE with Atlanta: WR Javon Baker, UCF

I’ve said the Rams will take a receiver in the first three rounds and in this case they do. Javon Baker might not be the first receiver you are thinking of right now but he has a chance to be eerily similar to what the Rams found with Puka Nacua. Baker is an explosive receiver that isn’t afraid to get physical, he’s the Sean McVay brand of receiver which is evident when you turn on the tape and watch him blocking and making plays after the catch.

Baker gives the Rams an option here for 2024 but it’s more than that. The Rams before this pick will only have Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp on the roster in 2025. While DeMarcus Robinson could be hard to take the job away from, he’s only slated to be in Los Angeles one more year, same with Tutu Atwell and Ben Skowronek and even Tyler Johnson. Baker can be a deep threat with his ball tracking ability and mid-air body positioning. Make no mistake about it, betting against Baker with Stafford, receiver coach Eric Yarber, Kupp, Puka and Sean McVay around him to help would be a big mistake. Baker has high-level starting upside and fits the Rams like a glove.

TRADE RECAP:

1. RAMS & JETS

• Rams ACQUIRE 4.111 & 4.134
• Jets ACQUIRE 3.99

Round 4: Pick 111 & 134

111th overall via TRADE with New York Jets: IDL Mekhi Wingo, LSU

Mekhi Wingo fills a need in the trenches where Aaron Donald vacated this off-season when he hung up his cleats. Wingo is an explosive interior pass rusher who has a quick first step and has the power to boot. This pick would give the Rams a 21-year-old interior defensive lineman with the upside to be a very good starter at the NFL level and at worst be a very solid rotational interior rusher.

With the roster the way it is especially with hits on Kobie Turner and Bobby Brown III, I felt less inclined that the Rams would go interior defensive line early in the draft like many seem to believe. Wingo’s value here is unbeatable if you can get him round three or four you are getting in my mind a top 60 players at a major discount. This just feels like a player the Rams would be all over.

134th overall via TRADE with New York Jets: RB Audric Estime, Notre Dame

Another Notre Dame running back you say? Yes, the Rams met with Audric Estime reportedly and have shown some interest in adding to their running back room. Kyren Williams was outstanding last year but he missed quite a few games and needs a legitimate backup that can take on all of his workload in a pinch. That’s Estime, who is a well-rounded player but he offers a power element to his game that is not actively on the roster.

Estime’s pass protection and receiving chops are enough in my mind for the Rams to pull the trigger on this pick. Estime is also only 20 years old currently so you get four years of a talented running back who is getting overlooked and you get him at age 20 to provide a potential leverage option in case Kyren Williams proves difficult to negotiate with after his contract.

Round 5: Picks 143, 154 & 155

143rd overall via TRADE with Atlanta: WR Luke McCaffrey, Rice

The Rams double dip at receiver here with plenty on the roster on contract years as previously mentioned. McCaffrey fits the Rams offense like a glove and an additionally exciting this is how consistently reliable he is in contest catch situations. He finished tied for the lead in contest catches made with first round pick Rome Odunze.

McCaffrey is a great athlete with great hands and a knack for winning after the catch. The Rams may have fallen short on Christian McCaffrey but a two years later consolation prize of Luke McCaffrey isn’t all that bad.

154th overall: SAF Malik Mustapha, Wake Forest

Mustapha screams Ram to me. The Rams grab a potential starting safety here on day three who can push Russ Yeast, Jason Taylor II and Tanner Ingle. He offers great ability on special teams to start but the ability in run support can’t go left unstated. Mustapha could play even the STAR role currently manned by Quentin Lake if asked to.

Fun fact: Mustapha confirmed in an interview I did with him that he was the one who got Kobie Turner to transfer to Wake Forest from Richmond where they both started. Could the Rams add another player from Wake? It definitely worked out the last time that’s for sure.

155th overall: C Tanor Bortolini, Wisconsin

The Rams currently do not have a backup center and could use someone that has versatility. Tanor Bortolini fits the bill, not just because he went to Wisconsin (that’s where the Rams have drafted three offensive linemen from) but also because he played all over the offensive line and played every position aside from left tackle.

Bortolini turned heads when he blew up the combine and posted an incredible 1.68 10-yard split at 303 pounds. He has the upside to be an eventual starter in the NFL but with Steve Avila manning the position he just needs to step in at center or guard if injury permits it.

196th overall: CB Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas

This has been my hand-picked sleeper cornerback since the start. I think he has starting level upside as a cornerback and I’m not entirely sure why he’s rated so low by the consensus. If the consensus is right then he will fall into the sixth round and will be a great pick by the Rams here. First off, it’s important to remember the Rams have invested three draft picks in the last two draft classes into the cornerback room. That’s a big reason why I opted not to go cornerback early now especially with the Tre’Davious White signing.

Another thing here? McGlothern posted some of the best zone coverage numbers on PFF. The Rams are a primarily zone coverage team and I found that McGlothern felt like a perfect fit with the situation the Rams are currently in. He doesn’t even have to play right away either, McGlothern can be developed into a starting cornerback on the boundary without having to throw him in the fire with this pick.

209th overall: LB Jaylan Ford, Texas

Ford is an instinctive player who started 29 games while at Texas. He’s not very fast or explosive but he’s a rock solid option for the Rams who could put him in the linebacker room, make him work on special teams and try and develop him into a starter down the road. The Rams current depth chart is consisted of Ernest Jones, Christian Rozeboom, Jake Hummel, Troy Reeder and Olakunle Fatukasi. Ford would be able likely make a run at a starting job sooner than later.

213th overall: EDGE/LB Bo Richter, Air Force

Bo Richter is one of my favorite players in the draft. This is just taking a shot in the dark here, the Rams might not draft him but we all know the Rams tried to get Andrew Van Ginkel in this off-season and they failed to do so. Well, Richter is a hybrid linebacker edge defender who has the skillset Van Ginkel exhibits. Richter had 10 sacks this past year. He’s a bit of a tweener for some teams but I think he has the talent to carve out a role on the defense and if not at the very least speical teams.

217th overall: K Joshua Karty, Stanford

Karty is my top kicker in this draft, he has a range that goes up to 59 yards out and has made 91.1 percent of his field goals over the last tow years. The accuracy is a trait I need to see if I’m taking a kicker and Karty has it, Currently, Tanner Brown is the only kicker on the roster but I imagine that would change anyway. The Rams need a kicker obviously and so welcome Joshua Karty.

254th overall: OT Anim Dankwah, Howard

I know the Rams addressed the tackle position with the first pick of the draft but I think you should use a seventh-round pick on a project pick with a high ceiling if you can. Anim Dankwah stands at 6-foot-8 and 345 pounds. He’s absolutely huge and has some game to him. Dankwah started 25 games at left tackle in college.

One thing is for certain, if the Rams coaching staff can develop Dankwah the right way he’s going to be very good and could very well be the replacement long term to right tackle Rob Havenstein. When in doubt, always take a project tackle in the seventh-round, especially when you have a coaching staff like the one the Rams have.