Josh Norris Rams draft recap

[www.rotoworld.com]

NFL DRAFT RECAP
DRAFT DECISIONS: NFC WEST

BY JOSH NORRIS
Updated on May 10, 2019, 12:53 am ET

I love producing this series every year. It takes time, but digging into the reasons behind each and every selection, straight from the decision makers, is very valuable. Sure, head coaches and general managers might not reveal every piece of information, but immediately following the draft is as open and honest as they will be. These notes come directly from post-draft press conferences and any extra videos team sites pump out. Some quotes are verbatim, others are paraphrased.

LOS ANGELES RAMS
Traded to Falcons
2019 first round pick (31)
2019 sixth round pick (203)

Received
2019 second round pick (45)
2019 third round pick (79)

Early in the process the team knew the pool of players they would be selecting from at 31. A few favorites that if they fell you would hold the pick, but if not the goal was to drop back and add a third-round pick, leaving you four in the top 100. When asked about Montez Sweat: Big fast pass rushers are always intriguing.

Traded to Patriots
2019 second round pick (45)

Received
2019 second round pick (56)
2019 third round pick (101)

Traded to Chiefs
2019 second round pick (56)

Received
2019 second round pick (61)
2019 fifth round pick (167)

2.29 (61). S Taylor Rapp, Washington - The goal of this draft was to get as many shots in the top 100 basket as possible, that would benefit the Rams. In the short term and long term. In year 3 of the program Sean’s schemes have evolved and we’ve evolved with him. The things we want are more specific than in years past… Was one of their favorite football players in the draft. Rare instincts, short area quickness… Has a feel for navigating tackles. As a blitzer. In the box. Helps them disguise and activate different coverages… He plays fast and that is what is important.

Traded to Bucs
2019 third round pick (94)
2019 third round pick (99)

Received
2019 third round pick (70)

3.6 (70). RB Darrell Henderson, Memphis - Think back to signing Lance Dunbar, McVay has always thought his offense could be more explosive with a change of pace back. Attempted this with Dunbar, knee didn’t work out. Thought about it in last year’s draft. “A few enemies” chose those backs ahead of them. Something they have wanted to do since hiring McVay… Being able to add a playmaker is the biggest thing. Have 5 skill guys on the field at once, so having a playmaker in that group is important. Todd Gurley and Malcolm Brown offer 3 down ability, Darrell is more change of pace. Again similar to their plan of Lance Dunbar, skill set to activate different personnel groupings… McVay is very specific in the skills for this role, so the week of the draft they went out and worked out COP backs as receivers, like James White. Stealthily conducted private workouts…

3.15 (79). CB David Long, Michigan - Local guy. Snead met him a few years back before Michigan when he was dropping his son off for school… Can come up and play man coverage, stay in guys hips, mirror, cancels guys out,

Traded to Patriots
2019 third round pick (101)
2019 fourth round pick (133)

Received
2019 third round pick (97)
2019 fifth round pick (162)

3.33 (98). Oklahoma T Bobby Evans, Oklahoma - Brian Allen and Joe Noteboom likely slide in to start, Evans now to depth. Played left and right tackle, OL coach will work him at left and right guard too.

Traded to Patriots
2019 fifth round pick (162)
2019 fifth round pick (167)

Received
2019 fourth round pick (134)
2019 seventh round pick (243)

4.32 (134). iDL Greg Gaines, Washington - A priority of Day 3 was to get into a spot to draft Gaines to fill the nose tackle role in a base defense. Three of the trades were with the Patriots. Just a good rapport with them.

5.31 (169). OL David Edwards, Wisconsin - The last tackle on the board that we desired and could work with. Coach Kromer won’t let linemen play just one position. Played through an injury. Toughed it out. We talked the morning of when he played well versus Chase Winovich.

7.29 (245). S Nick Scott, Penn State - Goal of helping position coach and special teams coach. One of Coach Bones’ favorite special teams players he’s ever graded. Joked that he was a “priority” because of that.

7.37 (251). LB Dakota Allen, Texas Tech - Interviewed him at the Combine. How does someone react to adversity (Last Chance U). Hopefully he will cover a lot of kicks for us.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/2019 08:29PM by Rams Junkie.