The only foregone conclusion is the Las Vegas Raiders taking quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the top pick; everything after that is still up in the air — even just one day out — and the Los Angeles Rams are no exception.
The Rams were originally armed with two first-round picks for what would've been the first time since the team was in St. Louis. However, GM Les Snead opened free agency with a splash by trading No. 29 to Kansas City for top cornerback Trent McDuffie and promptly signing him to a four-year, $124 million contract extension.
There is no shortage of possibilities for what the Rams might do with the 13th pick. They could add depth to the wide receiver room and start planning for a post-Davante Adams future, or they could look to the offensive line in the wake of stalwart right tackle Rob Havenstein's retirement. What LA will actually end up doing depends on how the board unfolds in front of them — and don't rule out the possibility of a trade. Snead alluded to as much on Wednesday.
“I think you're happy at 13, but those options are always on the table," Snead said, via USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon. "Whether you move up, whether you move down because at the end of the day, you have to have 13 players that you'd take. Within those 13, there may be some that you appreciate more than the others. That's when you have to make that decision to move up.
"Then if some of the ones you appreciate more go, that's when you'd make the decision to trade back, collect more picks in the draft and then go from there. It's hard to say right now. This is probably that time. These next few days when teams really start… Here's what I can't say, a lot of times if you're trying to move up, a team may say, ‘Yes, we're willing to move back, but we have to see who's on the clock first.’ It's usually case by case and happens on the clock based on what happens in front of you.”
On the eve of the NFL draft, here is what the experts think the Rams will do with the No. 13 overall pick:
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana2. New York Jets – David Bailey, OLB/DE, Texas Tech
3. Arizona Cardinals – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State
5. New York Giants – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
7. Washington Commanders – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
10. Cincinnati Bengals – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
11. Miami Dolphins – Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.)
12. Dallas Cowboys – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
18. Minnesota Vikings – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
22. Los Angeles Chargers – Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (Fla.)