For the entire month of April, it seemed like every mock draft out there had the Los Angeles Rams selecting a cornerback with their first-round pick. Now, just a few days into April, and every mock is all over the place.
Some have the Rams taking a quarterback, others a tight end, and others trading out of the pick entirely.
Chad Reuter of NFL.com just released his latest five-round mock, and he has the Rams trading back with the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Los Angeles Rams Trade Back And Draft Wide Receiver
In this scenario, Reuter has the Rams trading their 26th overall pick for the Eagles’ 32nd overall pick and an extra third-round pick. Everyone, including the Rams, would love to get a second-round pick, but it is a tall ask to move back only six spots. They would more than likely have to move out of the first round altogether into the second.
In trading up, the Eagles select Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen. The Rams decide to add more talent around Matthew Stafford and select Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond.
“Matthew Stafford can never have too many targets,” writes Reuter. “Bond splits time in the slot with Tutu Atwell while Davante Adams bedeveils secondaries outside.”
While this would not be the worst pick, to me, it would not make much sense. Reuter did not mention Puka Nacua, who also played 186 snaps in the slot last year, per PFF. He played more on the outside (377 snaps), so that can be his primary, but Sean McVay will still want to move around his best weapon.
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They also drafted Jordan Whittington last year, who proved that he can have an impact when given a larger role.
There is also the simple fact that Stafford loves to key in on one receiver. We have discussed this many times on the Rams LAFB Show, but Stafford is not typically a quarterback who is going to spread the ball all over the field. He likes to find his go-to targets and then pepper them.
I would not be shocked in the slightest if the Rams do draft a WR at some point, but selecting one in the first round would be…interesting.