Perfect Picks 2023: Los Angeles Rams

By Joshua Edwards

With the NFL Draft approaching we will be looking at each team and evaluating where they need to improve. In this particular series we will run a seven round mock using the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator and find the ‘Perfect Picks’ for each franchise.

We will highlight four players that could help each team. This will feature picks 1 and 2, a mid round gem and a late round sleeper. 

Round 2 - Adetomiwa Adebawore (Edge Rusher, Northwestern)

The Rams are without a first round pick this year (for the 7th straight season) so we’re shaking it up a bit here and highlighting their 2nd and 3rd round selections as well as the usual mid round gem and late round sleeper. Picking inside the top 50 is a rarity for Les Snead, so the 36th selection will be hotly scrutinised.

Outside of specialist positions, everything is on the table, but I think the Rams would do well to go with one of the second-tier edge rushers in Adetomiwa Adebawore out of Northwestern. Adebawore is a hybrid type defender with experience playing in all pass rushing techniques. Highly touted as an intelligent, positive locker room presence, the Wildcat lineman notched up five sacks, six QB hits, five tackles for a loss and 23 total tackles in 2022.

Adebawore’s biggest strengths are his versatility, engine and a somewhat atypical, condensed frame which helps with natural leverage. He has a knack of winning inside, although has sometimes been criticised for failing to finish.

Round 3 - Cody Mauch (Offensive Line, North Dakota State)

The Rams need to help Matt Stafford stay upright. A tackle or guard is very possible with the 36th overall selection, but if the Rams do decide to go in another direction, I expect them to spend their third rounder on a lineman, and Cody Mauch out of North Dakota State could be a great option.

Mauch dominated for the Bison in the FCS and has the physical tools necessary to compete as a starting guard at the next level. At 6’6” and 300lbs, Mauch was a former walk-on tight end who transitioned to tackle and beefed up to play the spot. His lack of length probably precludes him from playing tackle at pro-level so it is likely he shifts inside.

Mid Round Gem - Charlie Jones (Wide Receiver, Purdue)

Charlie Jones had a difficult start to his college career. Redshirting at Buffalo as a freshman and initially being limited to special teams, he finally broke out after transferring to Purdue, where he notched 110 catches for 1,361 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2022. 

Jones excels in the short passing game because of his get-off speed and footwork, as well as what seems like a savviness beyond his years in terms of route running and finding space. Jones ultimately projects as a special teams ace with plenty of YAC potential in a quick passing attack, and could be a nice fit for the Rams in terms of depth at the WR spot. 

Late Round Sleeper - Mohamed Ibrahim (Running Back, Minnesota)

Wait, the Rams taking a running back on day two? Death and taxes people. I’d be willing to wager a substantial amount that LA looks to find value at the position again, regardless of the strength of their depth chart going in.

My swing for the fences here is Mohamed Ibrahim out of Minnesota. Once touted as a potential Heisman candidate, Ibrahim tore his achilles tendon and has been fighting hard ever since to regain some of his original draft stock. He’s my type of runner – exceptional vision, YAC ability and instincts. He had more explosiveness pre-injury, but he’s the type of personality and style of runner that can potentially overcome it at the next level.

I loved watching Ibrahim before the injury and had him pretty high on my draft board. It’s purely that injury and recovery which has him as far down the mocks as this. Maybe the Rams will be the team which take a punt as a late round sleeper, even if he would be a 25 year old rookie when the season starts.

Draft In Full:

Round 2 – Adetomiwa Adebawore (Edge, Northwestern)

Round 3 – Cody Mauch (Tackle/Guard, North Dakota State)

Round 3 – Ivan Pace Jr. (Linebacker, Cincinatti)

Round 5 – Jarrett Patterson (Center, Notre Dame)

Round 5 – Riley Moss (Cornerback, Iowa)

Round 5 – Charlie Jones (Wide Receiver, Purdue)

Round 6 – Hunter Luepke (Running Back, North Dakota State)

Round 6 – Nick Broeker (Offensive Guard, Ole Miss)

Round 6 – Dante Stills (Defensive Tackle, West Virginia)

Round 7 – Mohamed Ibrahim (Running Back, Minnesota)

Round 7 – Josh Whyle (Tight End, Cincinnati)

JOSHUA EDWARDS

NFC EAST & COLLEGE FOOTBALL ANALYST

JOSH IS AN NFC EAST SPECIALIST AND LONG SUFFERING COMMANDERS FAN BASED IN LONDON. CHECK OUT HIS ARTICLES HERE AND FOLLOW HIM @JOSHWA_1990 ON TWITTER FOR SOME WRY CYNICISM