2017 NFL Draft: Los Angeles Rams Five Round Mock Draft
By Jason Reed
Another compensatory selection, the Los Angeles Rams received the 34th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. For the first time in this draft, the Rams are shying away from anything pass related, bringing in a big guy on the line. This big man is junior Carl Lawson coming out of Auburn University.
Despite worries that Lawson may not be able to be a versatile defender, his aggressiveness, physicality, and natural born athleticism give him an extremely high ceiling as a push rusher in the NFL. Standing at six-foot-two, weighing 261 pounds, Lawson has size, strength, and a good amount of speed for his build.
His strength is immense as he registered 35 reps on the bench press drill of the NFL Combine. Because of this strength, Lawson was able to constantly pressure opposing Quarterbacks and become a menace on the defensive line.
In his junior year, Lawson registered 30 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks with one forced fumble. While not the most groundbreaking by any means these numbers are put up with raw strength and athleticism, if you put Lawson in the correct system and allow him to bloom, he could become a starter in the league fairly quickly.
Like the selection of Leggett, Lawson has immense potential that currently seems to be missing that certain something. That exclusion will drop him to the fourth round, and potentially give the Rams consecutive steals in the draft.