Sometimes in the NFL, the best way to make your team better is addition by subtraction. The Los Angeles Chargers have taken this approach during the 2023 off-season to bolster their 2024 squad. With training camp and pre-season coming very soon, undrafted free agents and former draft picks will get their time in the spotlight. Sometimes you get gems like Austin Ekeler, and sometimes you get draft picks who cannot perform even in the preseason, like Tre’ McKitty. This former fourth-round selection from the Chargers is likely to be cut for a variety of different reasons.
Possible Farewell to a Chargers’ Former Fourth-Round Selection
Reasoning for Selecting Chris Rumph II in The Fourth Round
Chris Rumph II was the Chargers fourth-round selection in 2021, drafted as the pass-rushing specialist out of Duke. His father was an NFL defensive line coach, and the polish of his hands showed up on tape. However, throughout his draft profile the red flags were apparent. Standing at 6’2 244 furthered with his 18 bench press reps, his draft stock was going to go much lower of a player that had refined hands at the collegiate level. These results gave him an extremely poor RAS score of 5.11.
The reason you take Rumph II is a player who should be ahead of his years, considering he entered the league at 23 and had NFL coaching from his father for as many years as he possibly wanted it. Can the Chargers coaching staff turn this underweight, yet talented pass rusher into someone who can match his technique with power? After three seasons of seeing Rumph II’s play on the field, the answer is revealed.
Chris Rumph was drafted with pick 118 of round 4 in the 2021 draft class. He scored a 5.11 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 671 out of 1371 DE from 1987 to 2021. https://t.co/1tr0k3bXUf #RAS #Chargers pic.twitter.com/uYEJ6K2SPJ
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) May 1, 2021
Lack of Strong Play & Injuries: The Breakout That Never Happened
Simply put, the Los Angeles Chargers investing a fourth-round pick in the very undersized Chris Rumph II was a project that was never going to be completed. Shorter, stockier pass rushers could very well work in the NFL landscape; guys like Shaquil Barrett and Mohamed Kamara are proof that they are draftable and/or good players. However, the lack of strength and weight type of pass rushers usually never work out in the NFL. That was the archetype of Rumph II.
A college player can win with just technique at the college level, however, once you get to the pros, power is extremely important to squeeze pockets and stop the run. The Chargers’ plans seemed to bulk him up, but that never happened. In the three years that Rumph II was in the league, he put on zero pounds. This can not all be Rumph II’s fault. This also had to be a failure on the part of the coaching staff. Either way, the weight gain did not happen, and his strength was not improved enough to prove he is a valuable asset to the Chargers.
The former fourth-round selection has only three sacks in his entire career, doing so on 318 pass-rushing snaps. At times, the strong technique will shine through, and Rumph II will collect a sack. However, far too often Rumph II could not hold his own in the run game and this would limit his snaps. Beyond his lack of consistent play, the former Duke athlete broke his foot pre-game in 2023 and will be coming off a major injury in his return in 2024. The future seems to be quite grim for a soon-to-be 26-year-old pass rusher and has been even before the signing of a former 82.5 million dollar pass rusher.
In just two minutes, Terron Armstead put into words why I tend to favor Edge prospects that actually have power.
Cross chops and spin moves are all fun and games until you have to actually win. pic.twitter.com/BhJwLfsK4D
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) July 12, 2024
Chris Rumph II: The Odd Man Out
The Chargers’ new coaching regime knew that Chris Rumph II would likely be at the bottom of rostered players to pledge allegiance to. This regime did not draft Rumph II and did not set out to fix his issues with strength. Sure, this new regime is much more capable of increasing his deficiencies, but unfortunately, it is far too late for Rumph II.
Joe Hortiz brought in Bud Dupree to be the Chargers’ fourth EDGE rusher, shutting the door for Rumph II’s chance at a roster spot by proxy. Joe Hortiz, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens, only kept four EDGE rushers in 2023. The chance of the former fourth-round selection making this Chargers 2024 roster is unlikely. His next destination will likely give him a chance to make a roster, and possibly even become the pass rusher the Chargers drafted him to be. As for now, it seems as though everything is far too little, far too late for Chris Rumph II.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
