Here’s oldnotdead...
The anticipated cost of keeping Johnson will probably be outside of the Ram's budget. That is why IMO they drafted Burgess who has played well in his limited exposure. As long as there are no complications to his recovery I see him as the starter replacing Johnson. That said the Rams are sitting pretty with Rapp and Fuller both capable of being good starters. Who ever is the 3rd safety is going to see a lot of reps in Staley's secondary. He seems to play a lot of 3 safety sets which is logical considering who is in the NFCW. Without Burgess he's playing Hill and even Hollins (covering TEs).
Akers is a rookie, who has had to deal with injuries slowing his development. He's flashed enough to know he's another Henderson, with good speed, good hands and runs with power and elusiveness. Jefferson will be the #3 WR and Webster #4 next year. Reynolds is having a career year and will definitely find a market for himself as a Y starter somewhere. Playing him now allows the Rams not to expose Jefferson to injury, giving them excellent depth and potentially to market him after the season as trade bait or simply collect their 3rd round comp pick for him. I think it's a wise tactic for a player who they probably won't be able to keep anyway.
They are being cautious in their use of Lewis and he's definitely flashing enough to warrant enthusiasm for next year. He and other rookies lost ground without a normal set of OTA's and TC. Hopkins, was a developmental prospect coming in so consider this a redshirt year. The odds are very good that like Johnson and Reynolds, the Rams will be outbid for Everett next year. IMO it will take hometown discounts to keep any of them. This year will serve him well and allow him to fully take advantage of a full offseason and TC next year. His blocking is an area like Everett that needs a lot of work as well as NFL level route running. He's got a rep as having a good work ethic so I see him being a very good TE next year.
Anchrum is no different than the Rams other o-line who basically use their rookie year as a redshirt year to develop the NFL level techniques they need to play at this level. He looks like a RG or even Center by his physical metrics. It will be interesting where they slot him next year. At the very least he looks like he has the potential to be very good depth at OG or OC.
Guys like Fuller are the exception not the rule in the NFL. The o-line is much more technique heavy in the NFL than rookies have experienced in college. That is why there is such a big bust rate in those units.
By any measure, the Rams had a very good draft this year with 2 rookie starters and potentially 3 more as second-year starters out of 9 picks (3 of them in the 7th round). Only Sloman and Clay Johnston aren't on the team. That is an excellent draft by any measure.
Now add in guys like DT Hoecht, DL Jonah Williams, LBsMoncreif and Rozeboom and there is reason for legitimate optimism.
