A Rams 7-Round “mock” mock draft: Quinn Ewers the QB of the future?

This isn’t your average Rams mock draft — it’s April Fool’s chaos with kickers in Round 1 and Tutu Atwell 2.0.

By the time the month of April rolls around, mock drafts can begin to feel a little tedious. That’s why I’m mixing things up and doing what I call a “mock” mock draft. If there’s any day to make completely irrational draft decisions and get away with it, it’s April Fool’s. Essentially, I’ll be doing a Los Angeles Rams mock draft, but it will be done more so in the light of mocking the mock draft process. We’re having fun on April Fool’s Day and I hope you can have a good laugh. Let’s have some fun with this one!

26th Overall – K Ben Sauls, Pitt

You only have to go back to the middle of last year in which fans were calling for Joshua Karty to be replaced. The rookie kicker out of Stanford missed a field goal or extra point in six out of seven games last year. Clearly, he needs replaced despite going 2-for-2 in tough conditions against the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional playoff round. He also finished 17-for-17 on field goals to end the season.

At the very least, the Rams need to bring in some competition for Karty. In a Super Bowl season, they can’t afford another year of inconsistency at the kicker position. Sauls didn’t miss a kick under 40 yards over the past two seasons and hit from 55+ twice in 2024. A kicker hasn’t been taken in the first round since Sebastian Janikowski in 2000. With Sauls, the Rams would have the valuable fifth-year option. What’s more McVay than zigging when everyone expects you to zag… and then zagging again for good measure?

90th Overall – QB Quinn Ewers, Texas

At some point, the Rams are going to have to find an heir to quarterback Matthew Stafford. Rams general manager Les Snead has been close to the Texas program and was even at the Longhorns’ pro day last week. Snead was spotted talking to Arch Manning and the team has a top-30 visit with wide receiver Isaiah Bond. Is it possible that he’s getting insight on Ewers? Alternatively, maybe he’s just trying to get Peyton’s number so he can finally be invited to the ManningCast.

Ewers wouldn’t start right away and has disappointed at times the last two years at Texas. Still, this was the number one quarterback coming out of high school and he clearly has the arm talent and can throw the ball from several angles. This is the type of developmental prospect that the Rams need.

101st Overall – WR Tez Johnson, Oregon

Yes, the Rams brought back Tutu Atwell in free agency. However, he’s only on a one-year deal and they’ll need somebody to replace him next season. Who’s better to replace Tutu Atwell than Johnson who projects very similarly? If Tutu Atwell is the original, Tez Johnson feels like the 3D-printed replica — same frame, smoother edges, and maybe even a little faster on delivery.

Johnson is 5’10, 165 pounds, but runs very crisp routes. He has the speed to win deep and create after the catch. The Oregon wide receiver also provides some special teams ability which Atwell has never been able to do consistently. Johnson can learn from Atwell during his rookie season and be ready to take over that role in year two.

127th Overall – WR Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas

There’s a lot of controversy over Tesla right now, but the Rams buy into the Tesla stock at its low by drafting Isaac TeSlaa. You always buy the dip, right? As a player, TeSlaa actually projects very well in the Rams offense. He has good size and physicality, adding to the run game as a blocker. He also has the ability to win down the field vertically, but unlike the car, this TeSlaa doesn’t need to charge — he just goes full speed all game.

TeSlaa is a sure-handed wide receiver as he has zero career drops. He’s extremely athletic and caught 54 percent of his contested catches. This is exactly the type of wide receiver that the Rams have had success drafting throughout the Sean McVay era. Let’s just hope this TeSlaa doesn’t suddenly shut down in the red zone and ask you to update software.

190th Overall – CB Mello Dotson, Kansas

Does it get much better than Mello and Kello on the outside at cornerback? That’s a name duo that seems meant to be. Throw in Jell-O at nickel and you’ve got a snack-themed secondary. The Kansas cornerback brings good ball skills and length and is physical against the run. That physicality in the run game, as much as the ball skills with the ball in the air, is what the Rams need at cornerback.

195th Overall – S Shilo Sanders, Colorado

The Rams may not have been lucky enough to get Shedeur Sanders to fall to them. However, they still manage to draft a Sanders. Two years ago, the Rams drafted the nephew of Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson. Here, they draft the son of Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders. He may not have the athleticism or ball skills, but his physicality can certainly be an asset on special teams.

201st Overall, QB Tommy Mellott, Montana State

Two quarterbacks in one draft? Yes, it might seem crazy. With that said, Sean McVay is going to take one look at Mellott and see himself at the quarterback position. Mellott may have a smaller frame, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for in Montana grit and ‘Did-he-just-do-that?!’ moments. His athleticism could give the offense their own version of Taysom Hill. Additionally, as a Montana State fan myself, Mellott won’t end up in many mock drafts this spring. I have to put him in at least one and this one makes the most sense.

202nd Overall – Yahya Black, Iowa

The Rams are notorious for doing what you least expect them to do in the draft. In this case, out of the 322 players that I have graded in terms of Rams fits, Black ended up number 322. He ended with a grade of 5.05 which was 0.45 points lower than any other player. His score for being a Rams fit was significantly worse than anybody else. However, that’s exactly why the Rams will take him. It’s also a very Rams thing to not take a linebacker despite needing one desperately.