The NFL Draft process is officially underway. These kids who have dreamt of playing at the NFL level for their entire lives finally get the job interview of a lifetime.
Last week was the East-West Shrine game and this week is the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Top juniors and seniors from around the nation will practice in front of an NFL coaching staff and compete in the all-star game this weekend.
In the 2017 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams selected four players from the Senior Bowl, including the first four. It’s hard to say that was a coincidence. These guys from the Senior Bowl have experience and more often than not they are mature individuals.
For a team like the Rams that wants to change the culture of the team, this game is a perfect place to look for talent.
Because the Senior Bowl could have huge implications on what the Rams do in April, below is a list of 10 players to keep an eye on.
1. G Brett Toth – Army
Toth will play on the North side and was one of the standouts last week at the East-West Shrine game as he shut down some of the top pass rushers on the West squad.
The Los Angeles Rams need to build a future on their offensive line. Whitworth, Saffold, and Sullivan played well last season, but all three are aging.
Toth was one of the best run blockers in the nation for an Army team that liked to run the ball. He’s listed as a tackle, but I see him more in a guard role in the NFL.
2. OLB Shaquem Griffin – UCF
Griffin probably fits more as an outside linebacker in a 4-3, but I could see him as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 as well. Griffin is missing one hand, which is why it will be interesting to see how he competes at the Senior Bowl.
This is a guy that has the speed to success at the next level. In the Peach Bowl against Auburn, he played all 90 snaps on defense and came up huge in the big moments. He turned in one of his best games when it mattered most.
The Rams are going to need somebody to take over for Connor Barwin. Maybe that’s Samson Ebukam, but depending on what the Rams see in Ebukam, they could seek out Griffin who would also give some insurance for Robert Quinn.
3. DE/OLB Marcus Davenport – UTSA
Davenport would make a ton of sense for the Rams in the first round at No. 23. He compiled 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss last season and scouts will be looking to see what he can do against tougher competition.
The Rams need pass rushers, especially if they sever ties with Quinn and don’t want to pay his large salary.
Davenport has great size at 6-7 and is just an incredible athlete to watch. He possesses more raw ability than NC State’s Bradley Chubb. Definitely keep an eye on him this week and moving forward.
4. OT Brian O’Neill – Pitt
It will be interesting to see if he’s even available when the Rams pick at 23. ESPN’s Mel Kiper mocked him to the Ravens at 16 in his last mock.
However, if he does drop, he’s a guy to watch. The Rams need a future at the tackle position. Whitworth’s play started to regress toward the end of last year and Rob Havenstein isn’t a future all-pro.
O’Neill is a great athlete as a former tight end. He’s better suited to succeed right away playing right tackle, but O’Neill could play left tackle or guard as well. The Rams need to start building a future on their offensive line. O’Neill could be that future.
5. OLB Uchenna Nwosu – USC
In Southern California, you have to love those USC guys. Nwosu is a guy that comes screaming off the edge and is constantly in the backfield. The Rams need players that can get after the passer, because it wasn’t something they were able to consistently do last season.
Nwosu is one of the best pass rushers in a class that is top-heavy with pass-rushers. He had 11.5 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks last season. He’s a perfect fit in a 3-4. If the Rams cut ties with Quinn, Nwosu is a guy to keep an eye on this week.
6. RB Akrum Wadley – Iowa
The Rams have Todd Gurley, why would they need a running back? Well, the Rams don’t need to take one in the first three rounds. However, taking one on day three wouldn’t be a bad thing to do.
Gurley is a great player, there is no denying that. However, if they use him in the manner that they did last season, they are going to shorten his career.
Sean McVay needs to maximize Gurley and that starts by extending his career. To do that, this is a team that needs a legitimate third-down pass catching back. Lance Dunbar last season was supposed to fill that role last season, but that didn’t work out to say the least.
Wadley is listed at 5’9 and 188-lbs. He lacks interest in pass-blocking, but this is a kid that can make plays out of the back field. Last season he recorded 28 catches for over 350 yards and three scores.
This is a draft that is extremely deep at the running back position, therefore you’re getting a solid player with Wadley -one that can compliment Gurley.
7. ILB Fred Warner – BYU
Good things happen when the Rams have Warners on their team right? However, this one doesn’t play quarterback. The Rams need to get bigger at the inside linebacker position and by cutting Mark Barron, they will most definitely do that.
Warner is getting moved to inside linebacker for the Senior Bowl and will be someone to keep an eye on. As a three-year starter he will look to boost his draft stock this week.
The former BYU linebacker is fast and physical with great traits that could help him go a lot higher than he should, but that’s not to say he’s not a good player. Warner totaled 87 tackles with nine tackles for loss and is good in pass coverage.
8. ILB Micah Kiser – Virginia
This is the last linebacker I will highlight. The Rams need linebackers both inside and outside. They will most likely at least be without Barron or Quinn if not both in 2018.
With a hodgepodge cast, the Rams began the transition to a 3-4 defense last season. While that transition seemed to go well, a lot of credit needs to go to defensive coordinator Wade Phillips for making it work.
Kiser is a hard-nosed player and student of the game, who combined for 250 tackles over the past two seasons. To say the least, he is a tackling machine. He’s played in both the 3-4 and 4-3 and excelled in both.
Kiser is a high character guy, who brings a ton of leadership and intangibles to the field. Add in his work on the field and you have a solid talent.
9. CB D’Montre Wade – Murray St.
While the Rams drafted players from the Senior Bowl last season, they also took guys from small schools. Cooper Kupp and Ebukam were both from FCS Eastern Washington while Everett came from South Alabama.
The Rams have a need at cornerback and one of those small school guys to keep an eye on is Wade from Murray State.
Wade is versatile with the ability to play off in zone or play where he excels, in physical man-to-man. Additionally, he’s a three-year starter with a lot of experience. That bodes well for a Rams team looking for a guy to take over as a top cornerback.
10. OG Sean Welsh – Iowa
Welsh is one of a few players thus far to have informal interviews with the Rams at the Senior Bowl.
Taking an offensive lineman from Iowa, you know you are getting a mauler, and that’s exactly what Welsh is. He is aggressive at the point of attack. He’s versatile and can play guard or center.
One intriguing thing about Welsh is that he also excels pulling out in space, which is what the Rams did a lot this season with Gurley in the run game. Saffold and Whitworth were in space a lot whether it be in the screen game or outside zone.
My Closing Thoughts
These are just ten guys in what is going to be a very exciting senior bowl this weekend. Given that the Rams have a history here from last season, this will be a good chance to see potential future Rams in action.
