NFL mock draft: Rams improve draft position through a trade in this scenario

The Rams might be moving again.

They are in the market for a quarterback, and to get an elite prospect they’ll have to trade up in this month’s draft — likely into the top five. As it stands, they have the 15th pick in the April 28-30 draft in Chicago.

In this mock draft, the second by The Times this off-season, the Dallas Cowboys make a deal with the Rams and trade out of the No. 4 slot, allowing L.A. to select North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz. Of course, that would be a costly move for L.A., one that surely would have a far steeper price tag than simply tossing in the Rams’ extra second-round pick.

This mock has Dallas trading back a second time with NFC East rival Washington, an unconventional move but not unprecedented.

The third trade in this mock is one that actually happened, with Miami and Philadelphia swapping spots last month.

1. TENNESSEE — Jalen Ramsey, FS, Florida State: A safety has never gone first overall since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. Ramsey, a rare athlete, could be the cornerstone of a defensive revival.

2. CLEVELAND — Jared Goff, QB, California: Goff has led turnarounds before. Cal, which finished 8-5 last season, was 1-11 in Goff’s freshman season. That’s enticing to a Cleveland team desperate for a U-turn.

3. SAN DIEGO — Laremy Tunsil, OT, Mississippi: Without question, the Chargers need defensive help. But they also need to do a better job of protecting Philip Rivers, and Tunsil would be a start.

4. RAMS (from Dallas) —Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State: There’s urgency for the Rams to address their QB situation. Question is, how much will it cost to move up 11 spots?

5. JACKSONVILLE — Myles Jack, LB, UCLA: When Jaguars Coach Gus Bradley was coaching in Seattle, Jack was a prep star in neighboring Bellevue. Jacksonville needs a playmaker.

6. BALTIMORE — DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon: The Ravens gave up 30 touchdown passes last season, most in team history. Turning up the heat on quarterbacks is key for club’s graying pass rush.

7. SAN FRANCISCO — Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State: The 49ers were 29th in sacks last season with 28. Bosa, who could slip a bit, had 26 sacks in three college seasons, and 51 tackles for losses.

8. PHILADELPHIA (from Miami) — Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida: Eagles covet a quarterback, but with the two top ones gone, they grab the best corner ... and from General Manager Howie Roseman’s alma mater.

9. TAMPA BAY — Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson: Opposing passers had an average rating of 102.5 last season, second highest in the league. Lawson gives QBs less time to get comfortable.

10. NEW YORK GIANTS — Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame: The Giants took tackle Ereck Flowers with the ninth pick last year, but Stanley could give them the luxury of moving Flowers from the left to right.

11. CHICAGO — Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville: Rankins, a disruptive force up front, would help a team that finished 2015 with one active defensive lineman from the training-camp roster.

12. NEW ORLEANS — A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama: The Saints need to build up their front seven. The franchise gave up 45 passing touchdowns last season, the most in NFL history.

13. MIAMI (from Philadelphia) — Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State: The Dolphins, who filled needs by trading for corner Byron Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso, now grab the best running back in this class.

14. OAKLAND — Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State: The Raiders didn’t get first-round value out of cornerback D.J. Hayden (2013) and, with Charles Woodson retired, corner remains an area of need.

15. WASHINGTON (from Dallas via RAMS) — Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama: The Redskins finished 26th against the run last season and need to bolster the middle of their defense. Ragland is the top inside linebacker in this class.

16. DETROIT — Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State: Matthew Stafford was sacked 45 times last season and 44 in 2014, the worst two-year stretch in his career. Conklin can have an immediate effect.

17. ATLANTA — Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama: The Falcons need help up front. They were last in the league with 19 sacks and were tied for worst with San Francisco in giving up 20 rushing touchdowns.

18. INDIANAPOLIS — Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State: According to NFL.com, Colts quarterbacks have been hit a league-high 450 times since Andrew Luck’s rookie season. Indianapolis needs to fix its line.

19. BUFFALO — Robert Nkemdiche, DE, Mississippi: The trouble-prone Nkemdiche is a risky pick, a boom-or-bust prospect. That doesn’t scare Rex Ryan, who already has some of those on his roster.

20. NEW YORK JETS — Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia: The Jets don’t have an outside linebacker on their roster with NFL starting experience. The lanky, 6-foot-4 Floyd is a good fit for Todd Bowles’ scheme.

21. DALLAS (from Washington) — Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis: Tony Romo turns 36 this month and sat out 12 games because of injuries last season. Lynch could learn at his elbow for a couple years, then step in.

22. HOUSTON — Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor: Good news is the Texans have DeAndre Hopkins at receiver. Bad news? That’s about it. Coleman scored 20 touchdowns last fall and 31 the last two years.

23. MINNESOTA — Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama: The Vikings need to strengthen their offensive line, and Kelly would help in that department. They can wait to grab a solid receiver for Teddy Bridgewater.

24. CINCINNATI — LaQuon Treadwell, WR, Mississippi: The Bengals lost receivers Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu in free agency. Treadwell, who ran slow times at the combine, could slip to this spot.

25. PITTSBURGH — William Jackson, CB, Houston: The Steelers haven’t drafted a cornerback in the first round since Chad Scott in 1997, but their pressing need could have them snapping that streak.

26. SEATTLE — Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech: Offensive line is a big need, but the Seahawks don’t feel compelled to go that way in the first round. Watch for them to bolster their defense here.

27. GREEN BAY — Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State: The Packers can ramp up their pass rush with Lee. Don’t rule out them taking an inside linebacker if Ragland falls, or a tight end such as Hunter Henry of Arkansas.

28. KANSAS CITY — Josh Doctson, WR, Texas Christian: Typically, the Chiefs are looking for help at receiver. Doctson could get the nod over Notre Dame’s blistering-fast Will Fuller.

29. NEW ENGLAND — Forfeited pick.

30. ARIZONA — Noah Spence, DE, Kentucky: Dwight Freeney, who turned 36 in February, led the Cardinals with eight sacks last season. Spence has character issues so he could slide to the bottom of the first.

31. CAROLINA — Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson: Despite winning the NFC, the Panthers got too little from their pass rushers last season. Dodd, who played in the Panthers’ back yard, knows how to pressure quarterbacks.

32. DENVER — Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana: Quarterback is clearly an area of need, but the Broncos need blockers, too. They were down to their fourth and fifth offensive tackles last season.