14 draft prospects for Rams to watch at 2021 Senior Bowl

There probably isn’t a part of the pre-draft process that the Rams put more stock in than the Senior Bowl. Every year, they find key contributors from the game in Mobile, drafting players such as Cooper Kupp, Jordan Fuller, John Johnson, Gerald Everett and Terrell Burgess after they attended the Senior Bowl.

Knowing how important the week in Mobile is, we looked at the rosters for this year’s Senior Bowl and picked out 14 prospects the Rams should be watching in practices and in Saturday’s game.

After an unprecedented season and with uncertainty surrounding the NFL Scouting Combine, the Senior Bowl has never been more important for teams when it comes to scouting players.

QB Kellen Mond, Texas A&M

Mond is an intriguing prospect, especially if the Rams are interested in making a change at quarterback sometime soon. He’s a good athlete with a live arm, rushing for 1,609 yards and 22 touchdowns in college and throwing for 9,661 yards with 71 touchdown passes. He improved as a passer this season, too, completing a career-high 63.3% of his passes with 19 touchdowns and only three interceptions. With a strong pre-draft showing, he could be a first-round pick, but as a Day 2 prospect, the Rams should at least give him a look if Jared Goff isn’t the future.

WR D’Wayne Eskridge, Western Michigan

The Rams struggled to create big plays on offense this season, but that’s not something Eskridge has trouble doing. In 2020, he averaged 23.3 yards per reception, scoring eight touchdowns on 33 receptions, gaining 768 yards. He also rushed for 43 yards on two carries. In other words, he’s a big play waiting to happen. Eskridge, 23, is on the older side, but his speed and explosiveness would be huge for the Rams offense.

WR Trevon Grimes, Florida

Grimes is a big-bodied receiver (6-foot-3) with enough speed to win downfield, too, which is a combination the Rams are currently lacking – especially if Josh Reynolds leaves in free agency. Grimes would give Los Angeles a jump-ball receiver who can pull down contested catches in tight coverage, giving Goff a wideout with a nice catch radius. Wide receiver isn’t a priority for the Rams, but adding a big-play weapon is – and that’s what Grimes can be.

C Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma

Humphrey’s size won’t be questioned, standing 6-foot-4, 312 pounds. He’s a physical interior blocker who thrives in the running game and could use work in pass protection. If the Rams let Austin Blythe leave, they’ll need a replacement at center because Brian Allen showed in 2019 that he may not be an NFL starter. Humphrey could be a target for the Rams in the second round if he slips that far.

OT Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State

Andrew Whitworth is likely to be back, but that’s not certain given the Rams’ salary cap situation. Radunz could give the Rams a long-term option at left tackle alongside Joe Noteboom, and because he was limited to only one game this season, he could slip to Day 2 in the draft. Tackle isn’t a huge priority for the Rams this offseason if Whitworth returns, but he could retire after 2021 and Noteboom is entering the final year of his contract.

OLB Janarius Robinson, FSU

Robinson opened some eyes with his weigh-in on Tuesday, standing 6-foot-5, 266 pounds with a wingspan of 87 inches – a mind-blowing number. He has all the physical traits you want in an edge rusher, and fits the mold of what the Rams like at the position; Terrell Lewis, Leonard Floyd, Justin Hollins and Derek Rivers are all at least 6-foot-4 or taller. Robinson will be watched closely in Mobile and if he can consistently win one-on-one pass-rush reps, he should see his stock improve considerably.

OLB Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest

Basham also has good size and length as an edge rusher and could be a Day 2 target for the Rams. He was limited to six games in 2020, but he still had five sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss and forced four fumbles. If he falls out of the first round, the Rams should strongly consider picking him up at No. 57 to improve the pass rush – especially if Floyd leaves in free agency.

OLB Quincy Roche, Miami

Roche transferred from Temple and played the 2020 season with Miami, recording 4.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss in 10 games. He’s only 6-foot-2 with 32-inch arms, so size could be a question for Roche as a draft prospect, but he’s one to watch in pass-rush drills this week. A strong showing in Mobile could put him in the second-round conversation, but if the Rams can get him in Round 3, it’d be a good value.

ILB Jabril Cox, LSU

There’s a good chance Cox stands out in Mobile as a rising draft prospect. He’s a rangy, playmaking defender in the middle of the field, which is exactly what the Rams need on defense. Cox could earn himself a spot in the first round with a great week in Mobile, and is already in the conversation as one of the 30 best prospects in the draft. The Rams would be lucky for him to fall to the second round where they’d have a hard time passing him up.

ILB Justin Hilliard, Ohio State

Ohio State was loaded with linebackers this season, but the one who fits the mold best in Los Angeles is Hilliard. He can drop back into coverage and succeed in a zone-heavy defense. Injuries hindered him greatly in college and he spent six years at Ohio State, so he’s an older prospect compared to his peers. But Hilliard is a mid-round prospect whose stock could improve as the pre-draft process wears on.

ILB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina

Surratt is a polarizing prospect. He started his career at North Carolina as a quarterback in 2017 before switching to linebacker, where he put up big numbers: 207 tackles (22.5 for a loss), 12.5 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in just two seasons. Surratt is still a raw player who needs a lot of work, but the athleticism is there for coaches to work with.

ILB Monty Rice, Georgia

Rice is a smaller linebacker (6-foot, 238 pounds) but he makes up for it with range, instincts and explosiveness. Those are things the Rams need at the linebacker position and Rice would make a ton of sense as a Day 2 prospect for them. This season at Georgia, he made 30 tackles (four for a loss), recorded one sack and forced two fumbles. The Rams need linebacker help and Rice would be an immediate contributor in the middle.

CB Robert Rochell, Central Arkansas

Rochell is a small-school prospect but not one who should be overlooked. He has elite athletic traits and good measurables (5-foot-11, 195 pounds, 79-inch wingspan), making him an intriguing player to watch this week. His ball skills are unquestionable, too, picking off 10 passes with 25 career breakups at Central Arkansas. He could put himself in the Day 2 conversation this week in Mobile.

DB Elijah Molden, Washington

Troy Hill was the Rams’ primary slot defender this season but he’ll be a free agent in March. Darious Williams is a restricted free agent and although he’s expected back, he’s best as a boundary corner. Molden can battle to replace Hill in the slot, while also providing flexibility to play safety, too. The Pac-12 barely played this season so Molden was limited to four games, but he made 26 tackles, picked off one pass and broke up another one – a year after picking off four passes in 2019.

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