Tag: rams draft

If you’ve been paying any attention to the Los Angeles Rams in the last few days, you’ve probably heard that they didn’t take a single offensive lineman in the 2021 NFL draft. Shocking, isn’t it?

It’s not as if Les Snead and Sean McVay were ignorant to the fact that the Rams lost Austin Blythe in free agency, or that Andrew Whitworth could retire after this season. They simply didn’t have the right players fall to them and they weren’t going to reach for a position that already has great depth on the roster.

There’s one overlooked aspect to the entire equation that Snead and McVay are both privy to: Chandler Brewer’s return after opting out of the 2020 season. Brewer isn’t a big name and has only played a total of 17 offensive snaps in his career, but he could factor into the offensive line competition this summer.

McVay even referred to Brewer as the Rams’ draft pick this year, almost treating him as a bonus player thanks to his return in 2021.

“Chandler Brewer was our draft pick this year opting back in. A guy that we have a lot of excitement about that can play inside and outside,” McVay said. “Chandler Brewer was the guy we added to the mix that wasn’t with us last year. There you go.”

It was partly McVay trying to appease reporters and fans who are asking why the team didn’t take a lineman, but there’s also some truth to it. The Rams like Brewer’s versatility as a tackle and guard since joining the team in 2019 as an undrafted free agent.

Back in March, Snead discussed overlooked players who the Rams really like moving forward – guys such as Xavier Jones, Tremayne Anchrum and J.R. Reed – and Brewer was one of them.

“Chandler Brewer, back from an opt-out, who actually played well in our San Francisco game way back in ’19 when we went up there,” Snead said. “It was a heavyweight fight, he played well.”

Brewer is 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds with good length and size to play either tackle or guard. He shouldn’t be expected to start at any of the five spots, but he at least provides depth at multiple positions.

Don’t be surprised if he makes the 53-man roster.

The immediate reaction to the Los Angeles Rams’ 2021 draft class has been lukewarm, with both analysts and fans questioning some of Les Snead’s picks – primarily his decision not to draft an offensive lineman. But there’s a lot to like about the nine players the Rams drafted this year.

We highlighted one reason to be excited about each player drafted by Los Angeles, whether it’s their fit with the Rams or their performance in college. This is a group with good potential, even if some of them won’t contribute right away as rookies.

After turning six picks into nine, the Los Angeles Rams came away with a larger class in the 2021 NFL draft this weekend. They traded back three times and selected four players on offense, with another five coming on defense.

For the most part, fans and analysts aren’t very high on this group. There were quite a few picks who were viewed as reaches, with the Rams taking players that projected to go later in the draft.

Obviously, Les Snead and his group have their own draft board, but based on the rankings of analysts before the draft, the Rams lacked value with some of their picks. We went back and looked at where seven different outlets had the Rams’ nine draftees ranked.

The outlets are listed below with links to the rankings.

• Draft Wire, Luke Easterling: Top 300
• PFF: Top 311
  
• The Athletic: Top 300
• CBS Sports, Chris Trapasso: Top 275
• NFL.com, Daniel Jeremiah: Top 150
• ESPN, Mel Kiper: Top 150
• The Draft Network: Top 100

The Los Angeles Rams’ roster got a big injection of talent over the weekend after the team drafted nine players and signed another 10 as undrafted free agents. Position battles won’t truly begin until training camp in July and August, but it’s never too early to look at how each spot on the roster could shake out.

Coming out of the 2021 NFL draft, we projected the Rams’ depth chart on offense, defense and special teams, laying out starters, backups and reserves at each position. This is obviously just a prediction and there’s still a ton to be decided on the field, but the Rams have good depth at a number of positions.

We only have one rookie penciled in as a starter, with several others backing up veterans.

After adding nine players in the 2021 NFL draft, the Los Angeles Rams moved quickly to land another nine undrafted free agents. They agreed to terms with some intriguing players, including two offensive linemen and two potential return specialists.

Going player by player, here’s a little bit of background on each prospect, helping you get to know the undrafted rookies who will be competing for a spot on the 53-man roster in L.A. this year.

There is an elite group of cornerbacks in the NFL today who young defensive backs often watch and take tips from. Jalen Ramsey might be the best of the best, proving to be an absolute playmaker and shutdown cornerback in the secondary.

Rams fourth-round pick Robert Rochell is joining a defense that features Ramsey and he’s very familiar with the All-Pro’s game. Rochell told reporters after he was drafted by L.A. that he models his game after Ramsey and looks up to him.

“He’s a guy that I modeled my game after. He’s a guy that I love watching,” Rochell said. “He’s a guy who I really look up to in ways of playing cornerback. I just recently changed to the position. He definitely one of the guys I picked up on. Same kind of body style, same type of attitude about football. He’s a guy that I’m ready to get beside of and work and learn from.”

Rochell isn’t quite as big as Ramsey, but he’s got good size at 6-foot and 193 pounds with 32.5-inch arms. At the combine in 2016, Ramsey weighed in at 6-foot-1 and 209 pounds with 33 3/8-inch arms, so he carries more length and weight than the incoming rookie.

But both players are aggressive in coverage, consistently make plays on the ball and are rare athletes. Ramsey ran a 4.41 in the 40 and jumped 41.5 inches in the vertical, while Rochell ran a 4.39 and jumped 43 inches.

With Rochell joining the mix, the Rams now have some real athleticism in the secondary, which should make it difficult for quarterbacks to attack their defense.

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As is often the case with Les Snead and the Los Angeles Rams, they prioritized value over need in the 2021 NFL draft. They didn’t reach for players at a position of need, instead taking the top prospects on their board.

It’s a good strategy, but only if you take the right players. Looking at the Rams’ class, there are quite a few picks where not only did they fail to fill a need, but they felt like a reach for a player who was expected to go later.

Unsurprisingly, experts aren’t high on the Rams’ haul when looking at draft grades around the internet. We rounded up some prominent ones and also handed out our own grade for L.A.’s 2021 class.

The NFL draft tells us a lot about the Los Angeles Rams each year. The decisions they make and the positions they address give us a good feel for how they view not only certain groups, but specific players.

This year, there was a good mix of offense and defense, with no lack of surprising moves made throughout the weekend. With no offensive linemen drafted, it speaks great volumes about the players the Rams already have up front. With three pass catchers added, there could be an offensive philosophy shift coming.

Here are our seven biggest takeaways from the haul the Rams came away with in the 2021 NFL draft.