NEWSLETTER
It seems like a lot longer than two years ago when head coach Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl.
Last year was a disaster as the Rams went 5-12 and Matthew Stafford and Jordan Fuller were among many who ended up injured. Even worse, the Lions own their first-round selection this year and that ended up being the 6th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Rams General Manager Les Snead and McVay have their work cut out for them in building this roster, as the Rams need a ton of help on each side of the ball after losing Leonard Floyd and Jalen Ramsey this offseason. In short, this is a very important draft for Los Angeles.
Let’s take a look at the picks they have and get this 2023 mock draft started.
Rams Selections
2023 Los Angeles Rams Mock Draft Picks: Latest Rams 7-round Mock Draft
The Rams could use help at edge rusher, tackle, pass rusher, tight end, outside linebacker, starting left guard, and more from this 2023 draft class.
This seven-round draft for the Rams will attempt to address as many of those needs as possible. This will be an interesting week coming up, as the Rams might trade some of their picks that come late in the draft in an attempt to target a specific position higher in the draft. With two third-round selections, three picks in the fifth round, and three more sixth-round picks, the Rams will be busy in every late round on Day 3. However, that also gives them some capital to move around in the draft, as well.
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Rams 2023 NFL Draft – Rams Seven-Round Mock Draft 2023
Round 2 (at No. 36 overall the Rams draft a Ramsey replacement)
Pick: Kelee Ringo, CB Georgia
Cornerback is a specific need for the Rams after trading away Jalen Ramsey to the Dolphins. Ringo is good enough to compete for a starting job right away and shows elite-level instincts. The Rams have been rumored to be interested in players like BJ Ojulari and Nolan Smith, but they would likely need to move up to get either of them.
If they stick with a certain need, Ringo would be a pretty solid selection in round two. They’ll likely have no chance at Christian Gonzalez, Joey Porter Jr, Deonte Banks, or Emmanuel Forbes, so Ringo is the next best option. He may eventually move to Safety but the Rams have a hole there as well.
Round 3 (at No. 69 LA welcomes Hall to the the NFL)
Pick: Derick Hall, EDGE Auburn
Hall was an absolute beast at the NFL Scouting Combine this year, scoring in the top two in athleticism, according to ESPN Next Gen Stats.
The L.A. Rams can’t leave this draft without a pass rusher. Here, the Rams target Hall, who wasn’t a four-year starter at Auburn but really came on this past season and was a first-team SEC performer. His sack numbers were down a touch this last season, but he was still a menace in the nation’s toughest conference. He would clearly help out Aaron Donald and the defensive line.
Round 3
Pick: Jordan Battle, S Alabama
The Rams lost Taylor Rapp to the Bills as a free agent this offseason, so safety is an area of need. Battle was a first-team All-SEC safety in 2021 after posting 84 tackles, three interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), and 15 pass breakups. We know he’s had elite-level coaching with Alabama and should be NFL-ready as fast as anyone from this class. He’s not elite like his teammate Brian Branch, but Battle should make up for the loss of Rapp, who underperformed in his time with the Rams.
Round 5 (No. 167 overall)
Pick: Mike Morris, DL Michigan
There are few players whose stock dropped as much as Morris’ did after his performance at the NFL Draft Scouting Combine. Still, this is a player who was the Big Ten Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year, and his tape tells a bit of a different story than his combine metrics.
He also led the Wolverines with 11 tackles for loss and had 7.5 sacks in 11 starts. There’s no discounting his awful combine performance where he looked like a fish out of water, but he could be a sleeper pick here in round five.
Round 5 (No. 171 overall)
Pick: DeWayne McBride, RB AUB
McBride isn’t going to offer you a lot of catches or receiving yards (he had just five catches in his college career) and needs more experience in pass protection, as well. Still, the Rams’ draft really wouldn’t be complete without a running back, as Cam Akers is hard to trust at this point.
Akers went on a bit of a season-ending tear but was otherwise average last season. McBride was incredibly productive, especially in the final four games where he posted a whopping 567 rushing yards and seven touchdowns for UAB. In fact, he had just eight games in the past two seasons where he didn’t run for at least 100 yards. If Cam regresses again, this would be a solid pick in round five.
Round 5 (No. 177 overall)
Pick: Braaeden Daniels, IOL Utah
Unlike Morris, Daniels showed better at the combine than he did on his college tape. In fact, he was seventh overall in athleticism at guard at the Combine, according to NFL’s Next Gen stats. The Rams need more beef on the interior and Daniels would be a solid selection as a project player with the last of their fifth-rounders.
Round 6 (No. 182 overall)
Pick: Nick Saldiveri, OT Old Dominion
This Los Angeles Rams NFL Mock Draft has us waiting all the way until round six to add a tackle. It’s a long time to wait, but the draft board just didn’t fall the way the Rams wanted in this exercise to avoid reaching for the position with one of their other picks. Saldiveri was another workout wonder whose stock is on the rise. With little more than a ton of late-rounders, the Rams are going to need to take some dart throws at upside, and this one fits the bill.
Round 6 (No. 189 overall)
Pick: Josh Whyle, TE Cincinnati
Tyler Higbee has emerged as a solid weapon over the past two years, but Brycen Hopkins and Hunter Long make up the rest of the depth chart. Whyle would be a good project to work on behind Higbee, as he’s known for his ability to get open and make contested catches.
Round 6 (No. 191 overall)
Pick: Dontayvion Wicks, WR Virginia
You would have loved to see him running a 4.45 instead of a 4.62 at the combine, but the Rams will take it this late in the draft. After a 57/1,203/9 season in 2021, Wicks was a great prospect leading into last year but struggled with just 30 catches for 430 yards and two scores. If the Rams get the 2021 version, it’s a steal. If they get the 2022 version, they’ve only lost out on a pick around No. 200 – that makes it worth the gamble.
Round 7 (No. 223 overall)
Pick: Marte Mapu, LB Sacramento State
Mapu is a bit of a small-school tweener, which means he really doesn’t project to have a particular position.
He could play ILB, DE, or outside linebacker eventually. However, he needs to refine his skill set to find a fit. Mapu does show good instincts, however. There are clearly questions about his level of competition, but he should be a good enough prospect to fall into the draft’s final round.
Round 7 (No. 234 overall)
Pick: Stetson Bennett, QB UGA
At this point, we know the story. Bennett threw for 4,127 yards with 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions last year, leading Georgia to another National Title. He was also a walk-on who worked his tail off to earn his job at an elite school. He will undoubtedly share this story with anyone who doubts him. Stafford isn’t going to be around forever and it’s never a bad idea to have a project QB.
2023 NFL Mock Drafts, LA Rams Mock Draft Needs (cornerback, offensive line, special teams), Los Angeles Rams 2023 NFL Mock Draft FAQ
When is the NFL Draft?
April 27th-April 29th
What are the biggest Rams draft needs?
Conventional wisdom says LA needs a cornerback, defensive line help, wide receivers, a running back, an OT, some special teams help and a backup quarterback the most.
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