Tag: Donte Deayon

Donte Deayon partners with NFL to start youth flag football league in California

Donte Deayon is starting his own youth flag football league in California thanks to a partnership with NFL Flag.

Donte Deayon has spent the majority of the last two years on the Rams’ practice squad, waiting for his chance to make an impact on the active roster. He remains on the team heading into the 2021 season, which could be his best opportunity to step up on defense with Troy Hill gone.

Despite not being a marquee player, Deayon is very popular among fans for his personality, as well as his willingness to give back to the community. He’s doing just that this year by partnering with NFL Flag to start his own flag football league for kids in California, specifically the Inland Empire.

It will be called the Goodeatz Flag Football League and will be held in Rialto, Fontana, Corona and Chino Hills, running from the fall of 2021 to next spring. It will be a 5-on-5 and 7-on-7 co-ed league, with three divisions: Lombardi (1st-5th grade), Shula (6th-8th) and Madden (9th-12th).

Deayon shared his excitement on Monday, eliciting support from his Rams teammates on Twitter.

Deayon has one of the best personalities on the Rams and became even more popular during last season of “Hard Knocks” when his infectious laugh was on full display. He’s doing what he can to give back off the field, and hopefully he’ll become a key player on it this season.

Rams elevate QB Bryce Perkins, make 2 other roster moves

The Rams made three practice squad moves on Friday ahead of the divisional round against the Packers.

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The Rams made a few roster moves on Friday ahead of tomorrow’s game against the Green Bay Packers, shuffling their practice squad. They announced they have elevated cornerback Donte Deayon and quarterback Bryce Perkins from the practice squad to the active roster for Saturday, also signing long snapper Colin Holba to the practice squad, as well.

Deayon and Perkins will merely be emergency options against the Packers, while potentially contributing on special teams. The Rams are deep at cornerback with Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams, Troy Hill and David Long Jr., so Deayon isn’t expected to contribute on defense.

At quarterback, Jared Goff will get the start and Blake Bortles will be the backup. John Wolford remains sidelined by a neck injury, so Perkins will be the third quarterback – if he’s indeed active on Saturday.

Report: Rams to waive CB Dont’e Deayon

Deayon was competing for the nickel cornerback role in camp.

Dont’e Deayon became a fan favorite this year on “Hard Knocks” for his charismatic personality and hilarious laugh, but unfortunately, he won’t be making the Rams’ 53-man roster. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Rams are waiving Deayon today as part of their final roster cuts.

Deayon seemed to be having a good camp in August and had gotten work with the first-team defense, but the Rams are extremely deep at cornerback with talent from top to bottom. He was competing with Darious Williams and David Long Jr. for the nickel corner spot, with Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill presumably starting outside.

The Rams added Deayon to their practice squad in December of 2018 after he was cut by the Giants. He was promoted for three games last season but only played 43 defensive snaps.

He should be a priority for the practice squad, as long as he clears waivers on Sunday.

Jalen Ramsey calls Donte Deayon ‘a secret weapon’ for the Rams

Jalen Ramsey seems to have a lot of confidence in his fellow cornerback.

Jalen Ramsey gets most of the attention at cornerback for the Rams, especially considering he was acquired for two first-round picks last year. But he doesn’t want to take away from the potential that the Rams’ other corners possess.

Troy Hill, David Long Jr., Darious Williams and Donte Deayon are the other contributors at corner and Ramsey called one of them a secret weapon for Los Angeles. After talking on the phone for an hour with Deayon, he shared on Instagram that fans should know his name in 2020.

Here’s Ramsey’s post on his Instagram story late Sunday night.

Deayon isn’t a lock for the 53-man roster this year, but the Rams did show some faith in the young corner by re-signing him in March. He played just three games for the Rams last season, primarily contributing on special teams.

Despite being 5-foot-9, Deayon plays bigger than his size, showing a willingness to tackle in the open field and compete at the catch point. Although it might be hard for him to carve out a big role in 2020, he should be on the regular-season roster as a backup corner.

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Rams re-sign Donte Deayon to 1-year deal

The Rams are bringing back the reserve cornerback on a one-year deal.

The Los Angeles Rams parted ways with Nickell Robey-Coleman this offseason by declining his 2020 option, moving on from their starting nickel cornerback of the last three years. They’ll have in-house options when it comes to replacing him, more so now with Donte Deayon coming back.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Rams have re-signed Deayon to a one-year extension. Deayon was a restricted free agent originally, but the Rams decided not to tender him, allowing him to hit the market.

Presumably, the deal is worth less than the $2.1 million original-round tender the Rams could’ve used on Deayon, so this contract won’t impact the salary cap much at all.

Deayon appeared in three games for the Rams last season, making three tackles. He only played 43 defensive snaps and has played only 11 games in his career.

Despite being undersized at 5-foot-9, Deayon is quick in coverage and can stick with shiftier slot receivers. Covering the slot is undoubtedly his best role, and he’ll join the competition at that position with David Long Jr. and Darious Williams.

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Rams 2020 free agency preview: Donte Deayon worth RFA tender?

Donte Deayon will be a restricted free agent, but the Rams should pass on using a tender.

Of all the positions on the Rams’ roster, cornerback might be the deepest. It’s been that way for a couple of years, though the group looks vastly different than it did in 2018 when Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters were at the top of the depth chart.

Now, it’s Jalen Ramsey, Troy Hill and Nickell Robey-Coleman as the projected starters, with David Long Jr., Darious Williams and Donte Deayon further down. Long will be back, as should Williams, but Deayon’s future isn’t as certain.

He’ll be a restricted free agent in March, which makes it easier for the Rams to retain him if they want to. The question is, will they?

  • 2019 stats: 3 games, 3 tackles, 43 defensive snaps played
  • PFF grade: N/A

Analysis

Deayon didn’t contribute much at all in 2019 as a reserve cornerback. He was only active for three games, made three tackles and wasn’t targeted in coverage. He played 43 defensive snaps and 44 on special teams, getting on the field very little.

He does have NFL experience, though, playing eight games for the Giants in 2017 and 2018. He broke up three passes, recovered a fumble and made 16 tackles in that span, but his contributions were still limited.

Deayon is a smaller cornerback, standing at just 5-foot-9, 159 pounds. He’s best suited in the slot against shorter, quicker wide receivers, but with how often teams put big receivers in the slot, that doesn’t always work out in Deayon’s favor.

Positional need: Low

The Rams don’t necessarily need cornerback help right now. They have a solid group of four corners on the depth chart heading into 2020, assuming Robey-Coleman has his option picked up.

Deayon will be buried on the depth chart again behind the aforementioned players, making it far from a necessity for the Rams to re-sign him. They could use some help in 2021, depending on how things go, but it’s not an immediate need.

Prediction: Signs one-year deal with another team

The Rams have the option to apply an original-round tender to Deayon, which wouldn’t net them a draft pick in return if a team were to sign him to an offer sheet and the Rams didn’t match. However, that tender would be worth $2.14 million for the 2020 season alone. That’s only $1.3 million less than Hill will make next year, and he’s going to be a starter.

Instead of using a tender, the Rams should pass on the tender and let him hit the market. They’ll most likely select a corner in the draft, so Deayon may not even make the team.

They could sign him to a cheaper contract, but it’s not necessary and there will be better players available in the draft and free agency.

Rams promote OL Chandler Brewer and CB Donte Deayon from practice squad

The Rams added two players to the 53-man roster, while signing another to the practice squad.

Sean McVay hinted that the Los Angeles Rams might fill the voids left by Brian Allen and Bryce Hager by calling players up from the practice squad, and on Wednesday, they made two moves official. They promoted offensive lineman Chandler Brewer and defensive back Donte Deayon from the practice squad, taking the spots of Allen and Hager on the 53-man roster.

Additionally, the Rams signed center Nate Trewyn to the practice squad.

With all the injuries the Rams have suffered lately, from Brian Allen to Rob Havenstein to Brandin Cooks, roster moves were bound to be on the horizon. There were two openings on the active roster and not enough depth on the offensive line.

McVay said the Rams would look into claiming someone off waivers if that opportunity arose, but they clearly feel more confident in Brewer than any outside free agents currently available.

As for Deayon’s promotion, it comes on the heels of Darious Williams being out at least one week with an ankle injury. He was the No. 4 cornerback behind Jalen Ramsey, Troy Hill and Nickell Robey-Coleman.

With Williams out and Deayon promoted, it’s likely the team will elevate David Long Jr. to the No. 4 CB role. He’s been a healthy scratch for some of the season and played very sparingly, but he was a third-round pick with good potential.

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