2018 NFL Draft: Los Angeles Rams 7-round mock
By Conor Dorney
Trumaine Johnson is on his way out of town, so expect the Rams to add a cornerback within their first few selections in this draft. One name that makes a lot of sense in the middle rounds is Virginia Tech’s Brandon Facyson.
Facyson (6-foot-1 and 203 pounds) has some of the best size of any corner in this class and could be a good pickup if names like Auburn’s Carlton Davis and Colorado’s Isaiah Oliver are already off the board by the time the Rams’ first-round pick rolls around.
His size and length give him the ability to disrupt receivers well at the catch point and proved that with a whopping 39 total pass defenses over the course of his Hokies’ career. Facyson is also a reliable tackler in the run game, something that is key to becoming an everyday starter at cornerback in today’s NFL.
One cause for concern is Facyson’s long speed and lack of being able to turn those pass defenses into actual turnovers. After five interceptions in his true freshman season, Facyson failed to record another for the remainder of his Virginia Tech career. He struggles to track the ball at times, with his physicality leading to easy pass interference penalties.
After adding Marcus Peters, the Rams can afford to let a player like Facyson develop in their system without throwing him into the fire right away. This strategy could pay dividends, as Facyson certainly has the physical tools to flourish in the Rams’ defensive scheme down the road.