Rams' 2021 draft class ranked 29th in NFL, given a D+ grade
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theramswire.usatoday.com]
Cameron DaSilva
While there were several teams that got major contributions out of their rookie draft class in 2021, the Los Angeles Rams weren’t one of them. That didn’t matter, though, because they were the only team to win a ring – doing so despite only three of their rookies playing at least 100 snaps on offense or defense.
Tutu Atwell didn’t touch the ball on offense, Bobby Brown III only played 22 snaps, Jacob Harris was buried on the depth chart and Earnest Brown IV spent the season on the practice squad.
Ernest Jones, Robert Rochell and Ben Skowronek were the only rookies to make any sort of notable impact this past season, which is why the Rams’ draft class was ranked so low coming out of the 2021 campaign. According to NFL.com, it was the 29th-ranked draft class, earning a D+ grade – better than only the Seahawks, who received a D.
Something tells me Les Snead’s not gonna lose any sleep over this grade. That shiny new Lombardi Trophy completely validates the general manager’s unique handling of draft currency, succinctly explained by the motto slapped on his T-shirt for the Rams’ championship parade: “F— them picks.” Only he spelled it out — and rightfully so. When you win a Super Bowl after boldly zigging in a world of zagging, let your expletive flag fly! All that said, I’m here to do a job, and that job is to grade L.A.’s rookie returns in Year 1. If the inhabitants of Rams House want me to f— off for raining on their parade, I totally get it.
Granted, the Rams didn’t have much draft capital to begin with in 2021, owning only one top-100 pick. They used it on Atwell, who was a major disappointment in Year 1. He played 10 offensive snaps but never caught a pass or received a carry, returning 10 punts for 54 yards and five kickoffs for 87 yards.
He suffered a season-ending shoulder injury on Halloween against the Texans. The Rams still think highly of him and hope he can become a bigger part of the offense in 2022, but with Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson and possibly Odell Beckham Jr. back in the mix, Atwell’s role could once again be limited.
The savior of this class so far is Jones, who played a pivotal role at inside linebacker down the stretch, including a great performance in Super Bowl LVI with seven tackles, two tackles for a loss, three QB hits, one sack and a pass breakup in the Rams’ win. He should remain a starter in 2022.
The rest of the class has plenty to prove, but with how many pending free agents the Rams have this offseason, they’ll get opportunities to play more next season.
