7:44 AM EDT, Thu March 28, 2024
Turf Show Times

Rams 7-round mock draft: ESPN picks 11 new prospects for L.A.’s roster

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Rams pick Jared Verse in first, two kickers at the end of the draft, in ESPN’s 7-round mock The L.A. Rams picking three defensive players to start their draft would not be surprising at all, but going with a punter in round six would be since the franchise already seems to have a punter who they like. However, ESPN’s Matt Miller either thinks that the Rams want a competition...at punter...or he just didn’t really notice. Maybe this was an A.I. draft? In either case, Miller or A.I. made 11 picks for the Rams in this new 7-round mock draft...

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Rams mock draft: Post-Tre’Davious White signing edition

Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK The Rams signed Tre’Davious White and could be done with free agency, now all that’s left is the draft The Rams opted not to fully address the edge defender spot after swinging and missing on the top available options in free agency. The team signed Tre’Davious White who many believe is the last signing the Rams will make until after the NFL Draft. In this mock draft, I will be drafting using the Pro Football Focus software in the position the Rams are currently right now. Before the Rams even make their selection in this mock I...

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NFL Insider says Rams are sleeper team for this quarterback in the draft

Photo by Tom Hauck/ NFL Insider Jordan Schultz says Rams are a sleeper team for Michael Penix in NFL Draft. When it comes to the Los Angeles Rams, they have seemingly been connected to the quarterback position throughout the draft process. Early on in the process, JJ McCarthy was a player that was commonly mocked to them with the 19th overall pick. However, since McCarthy’s has picked up potential top-5 buzz, that clearly took the Rams out of the running. Now, however, they are getting connected to the other quarterback that was in the National Championship game,...

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ESPN analyst mocks college star QB to Rams in first round

Set Number: X164476 TK1 ESPN’s Michael Tannenbaum has the L.A. Rams picking Michael Penix, Jr. at pick 19 in his mock draft The L.A. Rams have two quarterbacks who are guaranteed to be on the 2024 roster, veterans Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo, and Les Snead has let it be known that Stetson Bennett will return and give it another shot to make the team after a disappointing rookie season on the inactive list. This won’t stop people from speculating that quarterback is a potential need for the Rams in the draft, perhaps as early as the first round, and maybe...

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Random Ramsdom: Stetson Bennett hoping to help team this year?

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports Los Angeles Rams News and Links for 3/25/24 According to the article below Stetsn Bennett is hoping that he can still get a chance to compete with the Los Angeles Rams. The reported quote is from Bennett’s former college coach so it’s not like we are hearing it from Bennett himself. Only Stetson knows what he truly wants to do, but if he can help the Rams in any way then I am opended minded, however I must admit I am of the opinion that LA may want to draft another quaterback this year, and or be prepared to go another season...

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A mock draft pick for the Rams that I haven’t seen until today

Would the Rams be willing to take edge Darius Robinson in the top-20? Since the news broke that Aaron Donald is retiring this year, mock drafts everywhere have shifted focus from Cooper DeJean or some cornerback to Johnny Newton or some defensive tackle. That is what you can expect from the “original ideas” that are typical NFL mock drafts between January and April: “We swear this is the player your team will NEED! Until something happens tomorrow that makes someone else the player your team definitely needs.” Recently, mock after mock has gone with Illinois defensive...

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Rams mock draft: Chad Reuter gets same prospect as CBS, but with trade down

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/ Could Johnny Newton be the next man to take snaps left by Aaron Donald on Rams? What will the L.A. Rams do in the 2024 NFL Draft and could they trade down, potentially all the way to the last pick of the first round? Anything is possible with Les Snead. I was going to do a showdown between a CBS mock draft by Tom Fornelli and an NFL.com mock draft by Chad Reuter, but they both had the Rams picking the same player: Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton. There was one key difference though. Reuter had the Rams trading down 13...

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Deep group of safeties and cornerbacks left on free agent market

Photo by Ethan Miller/ The Rams should be active in the second, third, and fourth phase of free agency If the Los Angeles Rams were to field a defense today, they would most likely be starting Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick next to free agent signee Darious Williams, as well as Russ Yeast next to safety addition Kamren Curl. And going that route could be fine, or just as fine as if it was Jason Taylor II, Tanner Ingle at safety or Tre Tomlinson and Quentin Lake at cornerback. But between the draft and the next three phases of offseason free agency between now,...

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Should Rams still draft a quarterback after signing Jimmy Garoppolo?

Photo by Maddie Meyer/ Should quarterback be an option for the Rams on day two of the NFL Draft? The Los Angeles Rams addressed the backup quarterback position by signing former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo in free agency. While Garoppolo doesn’t give off a lot of excitement, he is a quarterback that knows the system and has proven that he can win games with the right supporting case. The issue with Garoppolo is that not only is he past his prime, he doesn’t give the Rams much of a future at the position. Stetson Bennett may never have been a...

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Pass Rush Needed: How Rams free agent signings set up the draft

Photo by Scott Taetsch/ What are the Rams biggest needs after free agency? For the most part, the Los Angeles Rams have wrapped up free agency. There may be another small signing or two, but focus will now shift towards the NFL Draft. The Rams did manage to fill some needs in free agency and supplement the roster. However, there are plenty of needs that they will still need to address in the draft, primarily at pass rusher. Here’s how the Rams’ needs stack up. 1. Edge Rusher The Rams still very much need an edge rusher. While Byron Young showed some promised as a...

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Rams looking for an edge in 2024 NFL draft

Edge Bralen Trice is always hunting the football | Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports Eight round-by-round prospects to consider Even though the Los Angeles Rams are facing some tough questions before the 2024 NFL Draft, it wouldn’t be out of character for them to draft an outside pass rusher in the 2024 NFL Draft. No matter how you classify the position, whether edge, outside linebacker or defensive end, General Manager Les Snead has not hesitated in drafting that role. What round he’s been willing to pull the trigger is another story. Since taking over in 2012,...

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Don’t be surprised if Les Snead targets this defensive lineman in the first round

Photo by Tim Warner/ Les Snead could fall in love with Byron Murphy given his similarities to Grady Jarrett The Los Angeles Rams will be looking to fill the massive void left by Aaron Donald following the star defensive lineman’s retirement. While that is easier said than done, the Rams will have a few options to choose from in the NFL Draft. One of those players is Texas’ Byron Murphy. Murphy has been a popular first-round selection for the Rams in mock drafting since Donald’s retirement. In his latest mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. slotted Murphy to the...

Cat Scratch Reader

The Panthers are signing former Rams and Bengals safety Nick Scott

Photo by Andy Lyons/ Add another Evero disciple to the defensive backfield. Well, his name isn’t DJ Moore, but the Panthers have added another former Rams late round pick to their defensive backfield. The #Panthers add one more, agreeing to terms with former #Rams and #Bengals S Nick Scott, source said.— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 22, 2024 The former Penn State Nittany Lion was selected in the 7th round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Rams. He mostly served as a special teams backup from 2019-2020, eventually seeing some time as a rotational player in 2021....

Turf Show Times

3 questions remaining for Rams before the draft

Photo by Ryan Kang/ Without Aaron Donald for the first time in over a decade, how will Rams address these questions? It’s not often in their entire careers that an NFL general manager will suffer a loss as great as the one left by Aaron Donald when he retired last week. They will say (all the time) that “You can’t replace Aaron Donald!” Yeah, we know. But you know that the Rams...have to...replace Aaron Donald, right? Like that’s a spot on the 90-man and 53-man roster that has to be filled with a defensive tackle. That’s one way that you have to replace him....

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Rams find themselves on other end of compensatory formula in 2024

Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/ Les Snead said F them (compensatory) picks this year For years the Los Angeles Rams and general manager Les Snead have used the NFL’s compensatory draft selection formula to their advantage. We’ve seen the Rams target recently released players—such as Leonard Floyd after being cut by the Chicago Bears—because they don’t count against the compensatory formula. Los Angeles usually receives towards the max amount of picks (4) each year after watching several key players earn free agent paydays elsewhere around the league. However, that...

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Sean McVay called Rams’ secret weapon in free agency

Photo by Ezra Shaw/ From “running through a brick wall” to other commitments, Rams new free agents want to play for McVay In March we have free agency, in April we have the draft, but the L.A. Rams have Sean McVay in all 12 months of the year. That’s an advantage unlike what most NFL teams could hope to gain between every Super Bowl. Of all the moves that have happened in the NFL over the last 10 years, including coaching changes, GM hires, free agency, trades, and the draft, the Rams hiring McVay in 2017 has to be among the top-10 most important and impactful....

Turf Show Times

Rams had the least amount of cash spent on departing free agents

Photo by Ric Tapia/ Retaining Kevin Dotson seemed to be a key priority in Rams’ offseason The dust is settling on the NFL’s free agency period. While there will still be moves made before and after the NFL Draft, the bigger names have come off the market and the pace of signings has certainly slowed. The Los Angeles Rams were very active in the first couple weeks of free agency. They started out by retaining WR Demarcus Robinson and RG Kevin Dotson on new deals, placing a second-round restricted free agent tender on LT Alaric Jackson, and then signing a new LG in...

Turf Show Times

The NFL draft QB prospect who already knows the Rams playbook

Photo by Andy Lyons/ Could Devin Leary be a day 3 target for Sean McVay’s Rams? Playing at Kentucky has been sort of a blessing and curse for quarterbacks recently. It was a blessing for Will Levis in 2021, when he was linked up with offensive coordinator Liam Coen, then a curse in 2022 after Coen and top receiver Wan’Dale Robinson departed for the NFL, and perhaps both a blessing and curse for transfer Devin Leary in 2023. On one hand, Leary wasn’t bestowed the best supporting cast and didn’t have quite the rebound year he hoped for after transferring from NC...

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Where should Rams rank in the NFC after first wave of free agency?

Photo by Kiyoshi Mio/Icon Sportswire via Rams have their sights set on taking back the NFC in 2024 The first wave of free agency is complete and the L.A. Rams appear to be in great shape with the NFL Draft now a month away. LA seemingly came out of nowhere to make a surprise postseason run following a 3-6 start last season. The Rams should have a path back to contention in a wide-open NFC, yet not everyone was convinced by their 2023 success as evidenced by this tweet: This is laughable. 10th?!? pic.twitter.com/TH8TksL8aX— JAKE ELLENBOGEN (@JKBOGEN) March 19,...

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Are Rams headed toward an overwhelmingly defensive draft?

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/ Rams offense significantly outweighs defense after Aaron Donald’s retirement The Los Angeles Rams say they knew Aaron Donald planned to retire shortly after their wildcard loss to the Detroit Lions. Still, they mainly focused on offense in the early going of free agency by signing LG Jonah Jackson and adding TE Colby Parkinson. On Friday they chose Jimmy Garoppolo as the backup QB to Matthew Stafford. CB Darius Williams was a relatively affordable signing that immediately upgrades LA’s cornerback room. More secondary help came via...

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Rams 7-round mock draft: Post-free agency edition

Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/ Rams go defense-heavy in post-free agency mock draft While free agency isn’t over, the first week came and went with a lot of excitement. The Los Angeles Rams signed Jonah Jackson, Darious Williams, Colby Parkinson and Kam Curl and their big signings that should help supplement the roster. It’s possible that the Rams still add a player or two in the second wave of free agency over the next few weeks, but for the most part, the focus will now be on the draft. With Aaron Donald’s retirement announcement, it certainly spiced up the rest of...

Turf Show Times

Is Dallas Turner worth the Rams trading up for him?

Photo by Kara Durrette/ The Rams desperately need an edge rusher, but are they desperate enough to trade up in the draft? Dallas Turner has the one NFL draft advantage that every prospect wants the most. Is it speed? No. Is it size? No. Is it a Heisman Trophy like Jayden Daniels has? No. Dallas Turner has “the most buzz” at his position. That’s enough to think that at worst, an NFL owner is going to tell an NFL GM, “Hey, Turner is still on the board, why don’t we take him? I heard he’s the best edge rusher in the class!” and then an edge rusher is off the...

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Random Ramsdom: Some potential prospects in the draft who could help replace AD

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Los Angeles Rams News and Links for 3/18/24 The Los Angeles Rams lost one of the greatest players in their franchise history recently when Aaron Donald announced his retirement. It’s a huge loss for LA who will need to figure out how they can try to replace him. Do you have any ideas or any potential prospects you’d like to see the Rams add? You can read about some potential soluitons right here! It’s Monday, try to have a good start to you week and please comment on whatever you’d like! Thanks for checking out Turfshowtimes! 5...

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What is Rams biggest need after Aaron Donald retirement?

Photo by Ric Tapia/ Replacing Aaron Donald is impossible for Rams, but there are more holes to plug than just defensive tackle It would be easy to say that the biggest hole on the L.A. Rams roster is the one left by Aaron Donald following his retirement on Friday, and it is true to say that the team must now be taking a harder look at defensive linemen in the draft, but the fact is that the depth chart might have even bigger needs than that. The Rams might be considering one of the few defensive tackles getting first round buzz this year, such as Byron Young out of...

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Should the Rams upgrade the linebacker corps in the draft?

Payton Wilson “faces” his next hurdle, the NFL Draft | Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports The unit returns almost intact, will it be good enough? While the Los Angeles Rams defensive front and secondary are being re-tooled for 2024, the linebacking unit appears to be remaining static, at least so far in the young season. The second line of defense returns almost intact. Ernest Jones, Christian Rozeboom, Jake Hummel, and Olokunle Fatukasi are all back under contract. Only veteran Troy Reeder remains out of the stable. And in general, L.A. was a middle-of-the-pack NFL run...

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Are the Rams still contenders without Aaron Donald?

Photo by Nic Antaya/ What are the Rams without their best player, Aaron Donald? The Los Angeles Rams made quick work of their rebuild in 2023 with the help of an impressive 14-member draft class and behind the star performances of QB Matthew Stafford and DE Aaron Donald. They seemed like a team primed for contention in 2024 and beyond, but that was maybe derailed over the weekend when Donald announced his retirement. Donald’s sudden absence leaves a massive void in the middle of the Los Angeles defense that has several promising young players but overall lacks star...

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Rams fans love signing of Jonah Jackson in free agency

Photo by Al Bello/ Rams Reacts: Fans give Jonah Jackson and Colby Parkinson signings their due grades The Los Angeles Rams handed out almost $150 million in new contracts this offseason and $99 million of that went to guards. The Rams gave Kevin Dotson a new deal before free agency, then signed former Lions guard Jonah Jackson to a three-year, $51 million contract to pry him away from Detroit. Rams fans have been begging the front office to beef up and load up the offensive line for years, usually through the draft, so Les Snead complied this time and paid up for Dotson...

Behind the Steel Curtain

Report: Steelers signing WR Van Jefferson

Photo by Cooper Neill/ The Steelers add free agent wide receiver depth. The Steelers are finally making a free agent move to acquire a wide receiver. Per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac, the Steelers are signing wideout Van Jefferson to a one-year deal. Steelers are signing WR Van Jefferson, a former No. 2 draft choice of the Rams in 2020, to a one-year deal, per sources. Move is for depth purposes.— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) March 15, 2024 The move has also been reported by The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov. As Dulac notes, the move is likely for...

Is Todd Gurley worthy of a top pick? Where to draft Zeke Elliott, Melvin Gordon | The Fantasy Show

Matthew Berry addresses the concerns of fantasy football managers on Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley and his unpredictable workload in 2019. Berry also breaks down how to handle the holdouts of Ezekiel Elliott with the Dallas Cowboys and Melvin