Who says it's too early to look ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft? In the wake of the 2024 NFL Draft, plenty of analysts have released a "Way-Too-Early" 2025 mock draft for the first round. It's always a helpful exercise to get to know prospects ahead of time and how the consensus starts to establish itself.
Who are analysts projecting to the Rams so far?
Dane Brugler, The Athletic
Pick 17: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
"Burden is a playmaker with the ball in his hands because of his athletic balance to play through contact, stay afloat and consistently get more yards than expected. At the catch point, he makes up for average size with smooth adjustment skills on the football."
Jordan Reid, ESPN
Pick 19: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
"Even after they drafted Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske along the interior in back-to-back drafts, I'd still like to see the Rams bring in a true gap-eater inside. Interior defenders who are 6-foot-6 and 348 pounds almost never move as well as Walker, who is nimble-footed for his size. He collected 7.5 sacks last season, and 30 of his 39 pressures came while aligned as a defensive tackle. Walker has quick hands and a wide array of moves as a pass-rusher, but his pad level has to improve."
Bleacher Report
Pick 17: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
"Matthew Stafford turned 36 years old in February and only has two years left on his contract after this upcoming season. Next year's draft would be a good time for the Los Angeles Rams to start thinking about a succession plan.
While last fall got off to a bumpy start for Jalen Milroe, he finished strong and ended with a 65.8 completion percentage, 2,834 passing yards and 23 touchdowns to six interceptions while also contributing 531 rushing yards and 12 rushing scores. He's a dynamic quarterback who makes plays with his legs and big arm.
Milroe's subpar accuracy may prevent him from being a starter as a rookie, but that's partially why Los Angeles would be a good destination for him. The Alabama product can sit behind Stafford for a year or two and then take over the reins."
Pro Football Focus
Pick 15: Kevin Winston Jr., SAF, Penn State
"The Rams selected Kamren Kinchens in the third round, but they could still stand to add another safety, with Kamren Curl on just a two-year contract. Winston is as sure of a tackler as they come, as his 2% missed tackle rate ranked second among all college football safeties. He also was the only FBS safety with 85.0-plus grades in coverage and run defense."
Eric Froton, NBC Sports
Pick 15: Connor Weigman, QB, Texas A&M
"As with Carson Beck, there has to be projection when it comes to most quarterbacks. Weigman (6-3, 215 pounds) is a former five-star signal caller who earned a 92nd% passing grade with a 10.1 ADOT and 7.3% P2S rate before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in the fourth game of the season against Auburn. He would give the Rams a soft exit strategy for when QB Matt Stafford invariably calls it a career."
Blake Brockermeyer, 24/7 Sports
Pick 18: Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon
"The Rams are rebuilding their defensive line following Aaron Donald's retirement and selected Florida State EDGE Jared Verse on Thursday night. Let's give them another beast. Caldwell is a physical presence at the point but also as a dynamic rusher from the interior — remind you of anybody? Caldwell has more twitch than given credit for and plays extremely hard for a big man. Excellent hands that can shock and shed offensive linemen."
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today
Pick 10: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
"Everything seemed much easier for Los Angeles when the offense could count on Andrew Whitworth to lock down the left side. Unless Matthew Stafford indicates he's ready to retire anytime soon, the Rams might be wise to consider Campbell, an ascending pass blocker who could follow in Whitworth's footsteps as LSU's next standout offensive lineman."
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports
Pick 18: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
"Morrison is a long corner who had 3 interceptions in 2023 and 6 as a freshman the year before."
Ralph D. Russo, Associated Press
Pick 14: Tyler Booker, OT, Alabama
"Can there be a first-round of the NFL draft without a Crimson Tide offensive tackle?"
Rob Rang, Fox Sports
Pick 19: Smael Mondon, LB, Georgia
"As the NFL increasingly spreads horizontally, as well as vertically, linebackers with true sideline-to-sideline speed are jumping in value. Mondon is a 6-foot-2, 230-pound heat-seeking missile who could be on the verge of a Butkus Award season."
Amazingly enough, not a single analyst had any overlap with their picks. The wide variety of players is intriguing. Of course, needs and prospects are still in development this early in the process, but it is interesting to see that there isn't any consensus at all.
The positional focus is what's important here. Most of these mocks went DT, OT, or QB, all of which are long-term needs for the Rams.
I am deeply intrigued by the idea of Luther Burden III in the Rams' offense, suggested by The Athletic's Dane Brugler. That would be a fascinating fit and would drastically improve the long-term outlook of their wide receiver room.
