Former general manager gives worst possible outcome pick for Los Angeles Rams in latest mock draft for ESPN
The Los Angeles Rams have been a pretty mixed bag in recent mock drafts, with very little consensus established on their top names. To their credit, they keep things wrapped up in the draft room, and nobody knows just what general manager Les Snead will do in any given year. One recent mock draft that […]
The Los Angeles Rams have been a pretty mixed bag in recent mock drafts, with very little consensus established on their top names. To their credit, they keep things wrapped up in the draft room, and nobody knows just what general manager Les Snead will do in any given year.
One recent mock draft that took a stab at guessing the Rams' first-round pick gave the Rams the worst possible outcome, in my opinion. Former general manager Mike Tannenbaum had the Rams selecting Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at 26th overall to "succeed" Matthew Stafford.
"Dart excelled in Lane Kiffin's scheme at Ole Miss, throwing 72 touchdown passes over his three years in Oxford. He has risen on draft boards in the past few months, too. He had a great week at the Senior Bowl and was, in my opinion, the best thrower at the combine. Dart has a sturdy lower frame and really good movement skills, and he has a lot of upside. Matthew Stafford's contract restructure will make him the Rams' starter for at least another season, but if I'm taking over the Rams' GM role today, I'm absolutely eyeing the future."
It's hard to fathom where the Rams' interest in Jaxson Dart would stem from, other than the fact that he plays (I use that term loosely) quarterback.
Sean McVay's system is a system built around timing and anticipation from the quarterback, with aggressive middle-of-the-field throws. It's a system that requires processing, accuracy, and a willingness to step up in the pocket.
None of those fit Dart, who is a slow processor from an offense that eliminates any responsibility placed on him. He's not a particularly gifted pocket manager and doesn't throw with timing well either, and his decision-making in big games falls apart. To make matters worse, he's not particularly toolsy either. What would the Rams be developing out of him?
Considering the various other needs across the roster, taking a mid-tier developmental quarterback who would be competing with Stetson Bennett for QB3 on the Rams feels like close to a disaster, especially after seeing some of the other names on the board (Malaki Starks, Maxwell Hairston, Emeka Egbuka, Nick Emmanwori, Luther Burden III).
Count me out on that option in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
