The Los Angeles Rams are in the midst of a huge culture change and the NFL Draft was a great chance for them to send a clear message to the league that they will no longer accept this long stretch of mediocrity. New coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead, who is on very thin ice, went in with a clear plan and were very active during the three-day event. The front office managed to overcome the handicap of having less scheduled picks from last season’s blockbuster Jared Goff trade, and they picked up top talents and plenty of tools for McVay to begin his first venture as an NFL head coach.
2nd Round, 44th Overall: TE Gerald Everett (South Alabama)
3rd Round, 69th Overall: WR Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington)
3rd Round, 91st Overall: DB John Johnson (Boston College)
4th Round, 117th Overall: WR Josh Reynolds (Texas A&M)
4th Round, 125th Overall: OLB Samson Ebukam (Eastern Washington)
6th Round, 189th Overall: DT Tanzel Smart (Tulane)
6th Round, 206th Overall: FB Sam Rogers (Virginia Tech)
7th Round, 234th Overall: OLB Ejuan Price (Pittsburgh)
Rams 2017 NFL Draft Grade: 8/10
Los Angeles Rams 2017 NFL Draft Review
Best Player: Cooper Kupp
As was stated by contemporary great Steve Smith Sr., Cooper Kupp has all the tools to rise as the number one overall receiver in the 2017 draft. Kupp is an excellent route runner and he has built a reputation of having some of the best hands in college football. His combine numbers brought a lot of eyes to the 6’2” wide out and analysts are already predicting his early impact. Though he dominated the slot in college, he has the skills to transition to the outside, potentially becoming Goff’s top target. With the detrimental lack of elite receivers headed to camp, Kupp’s competitive nature could launch him to the top of depth chart early on.
Head-Scratcher: Ejuan Price
Though he was the last pick for the Rams, the selection of Ejuan Price had a few people scratching their heads. His talent level is not so much the question, but on a team that is desperately seeking corner backs and offensive linemen, it felt wasteful to use a pick on another edge rusher. This is especially so when the team went out to get Connor Barwin in free agency. Defensive co-ordinator Wade Phillips will no doubt get his money’s worth with this explosive impact pass rusher and he will benefit immensely from the tutelage of Phillips and Barwin, so skeptics may be few and far between in the upcoming seasons.
The Surprise: Gerald Everett
Though the talent level may not have surprised fans, tight end Gerald Everett being selected as the first pick had a lot of Angelinos talking. In the weeks leading up to the draft, many debated which receiver the Rams were gunning for: Zay Jones or JuJu Smith-Schuster. With the amount of dropped balls and overall terrible passing game, combined with the need to develop green quarterback Jared Goff, many wanted to see the Rams kick off the draft with a top pass catcher. Then when the initial pick was traded, many expected the Rams to instead pick up a top lineman like Forrest Lamp. In hindsight, a tight end makes complete sense with McVay having shown his prowess with multiple tight end sets and working with talents like Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis. Though few saw a tight end going so early, many will find comfort in the pick.
The Steal: Josh Reynolds
When Les Snead called Josh Reynolds to let him know the Rams would draft him, he asked if Reynolds was angry and if he could use that to motivate him. The star receiver from Texas A&M may not have expected to slip so far down in the draft and with his resume, one can understand why. He holds the record at Texas A&M for most touchdowns in a season, an honor he took from Mike Evans, whom he replaced when Evans got drafted himself. The long, tall deep threat is exactly what the Rams needed in their receiving corps. He is a red zone nightmare and a major mismatch for short corner backs. A motivated pass catcher, Reynolds will be a major weapon for offensive co-ordinator Matt LaFleur, who has yet another reason to be pleased with this year’s draft class.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: Tanzel Smart
On a team that boasts talents like Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers among others, one might not expect to be surprised by a later round rookie. However, Tanzel Smart has surprisingly not received his fair share of attention in this year’s draft class. The true nose tackle has caused trouble for interior linemen for years and his quickness has put quarterbacks from all across the nation into the turf. Even though his size may be lacking, he has the tools to be an impact player in rotation and sneak past slower veterans across the league.
The Rest
The Rams filled the free safety void left by T.J. McDonald by drafting John Johnson, a converted cornerback that shined in the combine. Johnson is a great fit to work in at safety and boost the often-burned Rams secondary with the help of Phillips, a known defensive back guru. Outside linebacker Samson Ebukam should add some speed and solid technique to the defense, not to mention help the transition to the 3-4 scheme. Fullback Sam Rogers is perhaps the most dynamic pick who can be expected to add some extra speed blocking for Todd Gurley and also do a small share of rushes himself. He may also be asked to be a check down for Goff as well as a trick play threat.
The Bottom Line
The Rams were very unconventional in their draft picks this season, but the pattern that emerged sent a solid message. Sean McVay is ready to build this team the way he wants, playing to his strengths. Not only did he draft to improve now, but he spent a lot of value wisely securing the future with strong defensive prospects to apprentice some of his most talented players. He was able to steal a few top talents in late rounds and find some players that can be molded into situational threats. With the right coaching these rookies will lead the Rams to sneak away with some surprise wins this season and beyond.
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