2017 NFL Draft: Latest Seven-Round Rams Mock Draft
By Jason Reed
With their first selection in the sixth round of this mock draft, the Rams reverted back to the defensive side of things to select another pass rusher in Carroll Phillips. This selection would not be bad for the Rams considering where they are in the draft and would add depth to the pass rushing core in Los Angeles.
NFL.com projects Phillips to go in the fourth or fifth round, so snagging him in the early sixth round would be a good selection for Los Angeles. In his senior year with Illinois Phillips logged 58 tackles, 19 for loss, and nine sacks. While his size may prevent him from being an impact player at the NFL level, he has shown the skill set to succeed.
Finally, the Rams address the cornerback position in the 2017 NFL Draft, which is arguably their biggest area of emphasis. Selecting Stribling in the sixth round at least allows the Rams to say they tried to draft an impact corner, but in reality, this is not the corner they need to succeed in the future.
This is nothing against Stribling, who thrived in his playing time with the Michigan Wolverines, he simply is not the impact corner the Rams need. While he may be a fourth or fifth option in the future, his limited athletic abilities compared to NFL level guys will hold him back. Hopefully, the Rams will pursue corners in free agency because this would be a bad attempt at fixing a problem.
The seventh-round selection for the Rams in this mock draft is actually a productive one, and if Collins pans out, would give the Rams an absolute steal. When discussing Collins’ abilities, Zierlein stated:
"The more you watch of Collins, the more you like. His athleticism is the first thing you will notice, but his toughness and determination to stay tied to his blocks are what will start to win you over. Finding the right fit will be the problem. He lacks size and length as a tackle and his below average hand usage will get him in trouble against bull rushers if he moves to guard. Collins is a talented move blocker, but he may need a year or two to get stronger and to tighten up some technique issues."
This is extremely positive news for the Rams, as they could effectively turn an otherwise pointless selection into someone that could thrive in the future. Sure, Collins may not be a huge factor in the near future, but what seventh-round pick is?
Overall, the seventh-round is tricky for NFL teams as there is not much NFL level talent remaining, so picking someone with at least at good upside would be a huge win for the Rams. With a young core and a brand new coaching system, Collins may blossom into a starting caliber offensive linemen – coming out of the seventh-round.
Overall, this mock draft for the Rams 2017 NFL Draft seems to be a promising one. If the Rams follow this basic guideline and pursue corners in free agency, they could create something special.