Well, I think it's one thing to say they need more 'hits' in the Draft outside the first round- which is of course true- and another to say they have had 'busts' in Rapp (he's not) and that players like Gaines and Scott have disappointed. They were 6th round picks and they've disappointed? That just doesn't fly to me...
I think, like most other teams, the Rams are better at scouting and developing some positions than others. I think under McVay they've been very good overall at finding and developing DBs and OL, for example. To some extent WR too (Kupp, Reynolds, Jefferson, Skowronek- the awful decision to pick of Atwell aside...).
Less so at edge rusher and RB. But even Darrell Henderson- is he a 'bust'? Hardly. He was the 70th pick in the 2019 Draft and he'll end his Rams' career with 2,000+ rushing yards and close to 100 receptions. Not a star by any means but that's not a bust. It's being a contributor. They need to draft a RB every year I think. Maybe Kyren Williams and a 2023 draft pick could combine to be a nice duo next year, for example. Then draft someone else in 2024, etc.
The tight rope the Rams walk by leaning on premium players like Stafford, Kupp, Donald, Ramsey, and Wagner is that the rest of the roster has to be healthy and contribute quickly. The gamble has paid off in past years because they have largely been
really healthy and the numbers game of having an unusually high number of picks outside the top two rounds has born fruit.
This year a ridiculous rash of OL injuries plus injuries to some younger players they hoped would contribute more early on (Bruss, Durant, Williams, Lake) has caused the roster to take big hits they have not previously.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/01/2022 08:38AM by LMU93.
