Los Angeles Rams Look To Replace Cooper Kupp In New 2025 Mock Draft

Is it too early to start talking about the 2025 NFL Draft. Not for Ian Valentino at the 33rd Team. In his recent article, he predicts where and who the Los Angeles Rams take next year.

With the 15th Overall Pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams Select…

Perhaps the most troubling part of the prediction is that Valentino has the Rams drafting at pick 15. In this year’s draft, the Indianapolis Colts were the 15th pick and they finished 9-8. His draft order reveals that Valentino doesn’t see the 2024 Rams as a playoff team, missing out on the wild card spots behind the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys.

As for the player, Valentino picks Ohio State’s wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. Here is what he writes about the selection and Egbuka.

EMEKA EGBUKA, WR, OHIO STATE

“Eventually, the Los Angeles Rams will come to terms with Cooper Kupp ‘s continued regression. If it’s not already clear he’s on the downside of his career, the Rams won’t sit idly and wait for injuries to continue piling up.

Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka isn’t a perfect replacement, but he’s about as good as the Rams could ask for as someone who thrives after the catch.”

Despite missing two games in 2023, Egbuka remained a productive receiver for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He finished the season with 41 receptions for 515 yards, averaging 12.6 yards per catch. While his numbers dipped slightly from his breakout year in 2022, he still proved to be a reliable target for the Buckeye offense. He averaged 6 yards after the catch last season.

According to this mock draft, Egbuka was the second receiver taken off the board.

The Rams famously have only had one first-round pick in the Sean McVay era, but they have drafted several receivers. Most recently, they selected Jordan Whittington in the sixth round. Altogether, the Rams have drafted eight wide receivers. The last receiver they drafted in the first round was Tavon Austin in 2013, Les Snead’s second draft as general manager.

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