Rams 2022 Draft Prospect Profile: Kalon Barnes (CB, Baylor)

[theramswire.usatoday.com] Rams 2022 Draft Prospect Profile: Kalon Barnes (CB, Baylor)


Skyler Carlin
April 26, 2022 4:00 am PT

The cornerback position appears to be a position of need for the Los Angeles Rams entering the 2022 NFL draft. Jalen Ramsey is certainly a franchise cornerstone player at the position, but the loss of Darious Williams in free agency puts the Rams in a position to find a new No. 2 cornerback.

Robert Rochell and David Long Jr. will certainly get opportunities to earn expanded roles in 2022, however, Los Angeles isn’t exactly deep at cornerback right now. Stephon Gilmore signed with the Indianapolis Colts in free agency and the cornerback market has thinned out, making it even more likely that the Rams target someone in the draft.

In the final days before the draft begins, I’ll be highlighting a few more cornerbacks that could interest the Rams, beginning with Kalon Barnes out of Baylor.

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Background
Barnes was a two-sport athlete in high school and college, with football and track and field being the two sports he participated in. When watching Barnes, it’s apparent that he ran track due to his uncanny speed, which translated to the football field.

After arriving at Baylor as a wide receiver prospect, Barnes made the transition to cornerback ahead of his sophomore season in 2019. In his final three collegiate seasons, Barnes tallied a total of 59 tackles, 13 pass breakups, and three interceptions.

Due to his athletic background, it wasn’t surprising to see Barnes produce a 4.23 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, which is the second-fastest time in combine history. John Ross owns the fastest 40-yard dash at 4.22 seconds.


How he fits the Rams
Given the versatility of the cornerbacks on their current roster, the Rams could be looking to add someone that could excel on the outside. Barnes figures to spend most of his time in the NFL on the outside, though he could be moved to the nickel position against the faster slot receivers.

While Barnes is a supreme athlete, he’ll need time to hone some of his skills at the cornerback position. His speed allows him to make up for mistakes he makes in coverage, which can be viewed as positive or negative, depending on how you look at it.

Also, Barnes will want to improve his ability to contribute in the run game as it seemed as if he was very raw in this area of his game. During his time at Baylor, Barnes showed he was willing to get involved in the run game, so it’s just about improving his technique.


Draft projection
Because Barnes is a raw prospect, he’s currently projected to be a Day 3 pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Most mock drafts have him landing in the fifth round despite him improving his stock at the NFL scouting combine.

The Rams are going to be busy on Day 3 of the draft with seven picks currently taking place from rounds four through seven. Los Angeles could have a few opportunities to select Barnes, especially if Les Snead elects to make trades to acquire more draft capital.

Whether it’s with the Rams or another team, Barnes is going to need time to develop in the NFL. That being said, if he can bolster his game at the cornerback position to pair with his athleticism, he could be a late-round steal in the draft.