Rams Mock Draft 2021: Elijah Molden top target after free agency?

The Los Angeles Rams started the offseason with a bang when they traded for QB Matthew Stafford. The team offloaded QB Jared Goff, who, by all reports, had Sean McVay incredibly frustrated. The Rams now look to make it back to the Super Bowl with Stafford. How can they attack the 2021 NFL Draft in order to make that happen soon? This Rams 7-Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft looks at the team’s needs and presents an ideal mock to get the Rams in Super Bowl LVI in their home stadium.

Rams Post-Free Agency 7-Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft

• Round 2, Pick 57: Elijah Molden, DB, Washington
• Round 3, Pick 88: Brady Christensen, OT, BYU
• Round 3, Pick 103: Kendrick Green, OG/OC, Illinois
• Round 4, Pick 141: Garret Wallow, LB, TCU
• Round 6, Pick 209:  Ta’Quon Graham, DT, Texas
• Round 7, Pick 244: Chris Garrett, EDGE, Concordia-St.Paul

Rams 2021 NFL Mock Draft | Pick-by-pick analysis

Elijah Molden, DB, Washington

While the Rams may have had the best defense in the NFL last season, they lost two critical players from last year in safety John Johnson III and cornerback Troy Hill. With the emergence of Darious Williams, Troy Hill moved over to play in the slot most of the time in 2020. Unfortunately for continuity’s sake, both Hill and John Johnson III are off to Cleveland. As a result, the Rams have two critical voids to fill and not a lot of serious answers on the roster to do so.

Fortunately, Elijah Molden can play both roles. He spent the majority of his snaps playing at nickel in Washington but also played in plenty of single-high and split-zone looks as a safety.

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Molden is a ridiculously smooth and fluid corner in man coverage with the range and instincts to thrive at safety. Most importantly, he brings the mentality that the Rams and new DC Raheem Morris love in DBs. In addition, Molden was a teammate of former Rams second-rounder Taylor Rapp at Washington.

The Rams’ current safety starters are Terrell Burgess, Jordan Fuller, and Rapp. To this point, none of them have played at Johnson’s level, and two of them are coming off of injuries. It’s a lot of young potential, but with how the Rams utilize multiple-safety looks, they need to continue to build that room. With their first selection in this 7-Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft, the Rams do exactly that.

Brady Christensen, OT, BYU

The Rams have tried to find Andrew Whitworth’s replacement for years. They took stabs at Joe Noteboom and Bobby Evans. However, neither of them has worked out. Whitworth is getting up there in years and on the heels of a major injury. Following his injury, he looked rusty and clearly wasn’t the same as he was. As a result, the need for an OT of the future skyrockets up in priority for the Rams.

Fortunately for the Rams, the 2021 NFL Draft boasts a myriad class of offensive tackles. Brady Christensen looked like an excellent athlete on film, and he backed it up with his athletic testing.

With his movement skills and his use of hands in pass protection, Christensen projects well as an offensive tackle. Therefore, he’s perfect for the Rams in this 7-Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft. The best part is Christensen can start at left guard as a rookie and then take over the left tackle position after Whitworth retires.

Kendrick Green, IOL, Illinois

It’s my belief that the Rams need to double-up on the offensive line in this draft. Whitworth’s uncertainty, combined with no projected center on the roster and a turnstile at left guard, means the Rams have at least three spots to address on the offensive line in the near future.

With the short-term left guard and the long-term left tackle taken care of with Christensen, the Rams address the center spot here in this 2021 mock draft with their second third-round pick.

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Kendrick Green is an excellent schematic fit with the Rams. He was All-Big Ten at guard but converted to center for four games in 2020, and looked like a seamless transition.

His explosive athleticism and ability to reach blocks would make him a scheme fit with the heavy-outside zone scheme McVay favors. Green showcases excellent body control and movement skills, especially getting to the second level and opening up rushing lanes. He isn’t powerful, but shows a solid anchor and good ability to handle one-on-ones in pass protection.

Garret Wallow, LB, TCU

The Rams have tried various combinations at linebacker, but seemingly haven’t found one since James Laurinaitis retired. While Wallow doesn’t solve the linebacker position fully, he’s instantly the best coverage linebacker the Rams would have. Raheem Morris developed from a Tampa 2 defense and had rangy, athletic coverage ‘backers in Atlanta with Deion Jones and Foye Oluokun.

A former safety, Garret Wallow has the awareness and athleticism to be a sub-package LB for the Rams’ heavy nickel and dime looks. He can be a critical special-teams player as well. The Rams typically avoid linebackers early on in the draft, and they do so again in this 7-Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft.

Ta’Quon Graham, DT, Texas

The Rams shipped out longtime vet Michael Brockers for virtually nothing in the offseason. They also lost DE Morgan Fox in free agency — that’s 1,000 snaps on the defensive line they have to replace.

While the team has faith in Sebastian Joseph-Day and A’Shawn Robinson, that’s a small sample size to rely on. The team needs another interior pass rusher to help take advantage of the attention Aaron Donald commands, since they have virtually no outside pass rushers.

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Ta’Quon Graham is a long power rusher who does a good job clogging interior running lanes. With Donald on the other side of the line, Graham will get plenty of one-on-ones against guards, where his length and power can help collapse the pocket. He played at defensive end and defensive tackle while at Texas but projects best inside at the NFL level.

Chris Garrett, EDGE, Concordia-St.Paul

The Rams re-signed Leonard Floyd and yet still are in need of a pass rusher on the outside. The team is hoping Terrell Lewis stays healthy and plays a full season, but the depth behind Lewis and Floyd isn’t strong. With Samson Ebukam also gone, outside pass rusher is a weak spot on the Rams defense.

There’s not much tape or buzz about Chris Garrett out there, but he has an intriguing profile. Garrett is an explosive pass rusher at 6’5″ and 245 pounds, but he’s rather raw and more of a finesse rusher.

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In Division II play, he posted an astounding 48 tackles for loss, 36.5 sacks, and 15 forced fumbles! Garrett would be a high-upside swing late in the seventh round as a practice-squad stash, and is, therefore, worth grabbing here for the Rams in this 2021 NFL Mock Draft. That late in the draft, explosiveness and production is a worthwhile gamble on a pass rusher.

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