If every team’s mantra ahead of the season is “Super Bowl or bust,” the Los Angeles Rams officially went from one to the other in the span of 12 months. With uncertainty over Sean McVay’s future, this offseason could be another tough test for the team from the NFC West.
This Rams mock draft examines how Los Angeles can begin to turn around their fortunes in the 2023 NFL Draft. In this scenario, simulated trades were active among other teams via the Mock Draft Simulator, but the Rams held steady and did not make any moves.
Latest Los Angeles Rams 2023 NFL Mock Draft
Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma | Round 2, Pick 36
“F’ them picks!” The slogan has become synonymous with the Rams organization under the stewardship of McVay and Les Snead. As a result, they haven’t made a first-round pick since selecting Jared Goff out of Cal. They don’t own a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft either, opening their account in this Rams NFL Mock Draft with the 36th overall selection.
Could the Rams even trade out of this spot in April? While on the clock for this mock, they received calls from the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos where the Rams could have moved up from 168 to 119 to drop back a spot with Seattle or land additional picks by striking a deal with Denver.
Despite the propensity to move around the board, an exciting opportunity at a position of need arises. After giving up the third-most sacks in the NFL during their first season without Andrew Whitworth at left tackle, this Rams NFL Mock Draft allows them to find a long-term replacement in the form of Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison.
It speaks volumes about Harrison’s value that he turned his back on a lucrative NIL offer to remain in college football with Oklahoma to head to the NFL. He’s an ascending offensive line talent with the size (6’5″, 315 pounds) and physical tools to evolve into a standout NFL tackle.
While being a powerful force, the Oklahoma OT is also athletically gifted, exploding out to the second level in the ground game in addition to being able to mirror pass rushers at a high level.
Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa | Round 3, Pick 69
Although they have Aaron Donald wrecking every opposition’s game plan from all over the defensive front, the Rams could seek to add additional pass-rush presence in the 2023 NFL Draft. LA’s sack numbers ranked in the bottom half of the NFL last season, and more troublingly, the Rams’ recorded pressure on 17.9% of QB dropbacks, the fifth worst in the NFL. Donald can’t do it alone and this Rams NFL Mock Draft aims to add some help.
Lukas Van Ness might not be a household name right now. Hell, it wasn’t even a given that he would declare for the 2023 NFL Draft. Nevertheless, the 6’5″, 269-pound Iowa defensive lineman caught the attention of PFN Draft Analyst Ian Cummings, who described him as having “some of the best leverage acquisition I’ve seen” from a player of his size.
Van Ness is powerful, explosive, and has the length to be a true tyrant at the point of attack.
DJ Turner, CB, Michigan | Round 6, Pick 168
With no fourth- or fifth-round pick in April, this Rams NFL Mock Draft speeds along to Round 6, where Los Angeles has a trio of selections. Here, they snag Michigan cornerback DJ Turner, who bolsters a secondary that could lose four cornerbacks to free agency, including Troy Hill.
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A “Feldman’s Freak,” Turner is an explosive athlete with impressive speed and fluidity in coverage, plus the length to impact the catch point. His football intelligence ensures he’s a threat in both man and zone coverage.
Clayton Tune, QB, Houston | Round 6, Pick 175
Who is the Rams’ quarterback of the future? That’s a decision they’ll need to make sooner rather than later with Baker Mayfield, Bryce Perkins, and John Wolford all out of contract. How long can Matthew Stafford continue after battling injury this year? There are several QB questions but very few answers in Los Angeles right now.
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This Rams mock draft attempts to provide one with the selection of Clayton Tune out of Houston. The former Cougars QB has an impressive arm and has been as efficient as any passer out there during his college career. Furthermore, he has the ability to extend plays — particularly down in the red zone, where he repeatedly crossed the plane this season. Tune is a tough and intelligent leader who can wring every ounce out of his teammates.
Bryce Ford-Wheaton, WR, West Virginia | Round 6, Pick 177
Losing Allen Robinson II and Cooper Kupp to injury this season hasn’t helped, but Los Angeles should certainly seek some wide receiver help this offseason. They do that in this Rams NFL Mock Draft with the sixth-round selection of West Virginia standout Bryce Ford-Wheaton.
Coming off a career campaign, Ford-Wheaton gives the Rams a big-bodied pass catcher at 6’3″, 225 pounds, who regularly contests the catch point in often awe-inspiring fashion. He also boasts some impressive speed for his size to be able to take the top off of a defense.
Jacob Gall, C, Baylor | Round 7, Pick 213
This Rams NFL Mock Draft ends in the same way as it began, with the addition of an offensive lineman to a unit that drastically needs upgrading. In the seventh round, you’re not necessarily going to instantly find an impact starter, and that’s okay. Depth is just as important.
With the acquisition of Jacob Gall, Los Angeles picks up a veteran presence with experience at multiple spots on the line. He moves well, is more powerful than his size would suggest, and boasts some impressive hand usage as a technician of the game.