Los Angeles Rams: 3 players to target in 2021 NFL Draft
Another year without a first pick could hurt the Los Angeles Rams. Now, they’ll be looking to the draft to fix their issues.
Sean McVay has never suffered a losing season with the Los Angeles Rams. It’s hard to call 2020 a winning year after the debacle towards the end, but the team made it back to the postseason.
For them, it was about proving they could contend with the big guns. That happened against NFC West rival Seattle but then was contained by Green Bay. Home-field advantage can factor into a team’s success. It did on Saturday for Aaron Rodgers.
Los Angeles will have to wonder if Jared Goff is their franchise quarterback moving into 2021. The problem there is the team won’t have a first-round pick after trading for Jalen Ramsey. This marks the fifth-straight season the Rams will not be picking on the first night. That means Les Snead better be swinging big in the mid-rounds to fix the concerns.
Three players from the 2020 draft class made impacts last season. Could three more do the same in 2021? If so, one of these names should be at top of the list.
3 targets for the Rams in the 2021 NFL Draft
EDGE. Carlos Basham Jr.. 51. Pick Analysis. Wake Forest. 3. player. Scouting Report
The Rams defense was one of the league’s best under new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. Surprisingly, Leonard Floyd was quietly one of their better free agent signings, tallying 10.5 sacks on the season. Much like Dante Fowler Jr. could the former bust pass rusher be looking for a massive extension elsewhere?
Even if the Rams were to bring him back, the team managed to tally 53 sacks on the season. Of those 53, 24 came from the hands of either Aaron Donald or Floyd from the edge. It’s never a terrible time to add pass rushers either.
Carlos Basham Jr. was a name many believed could have been a first-round target. A five sack season isn’t going to wow the critics, but he’s a balanced athlete who does a good job defending both the run and pass.
There are certainly flaws in his overall approach, but should Staley remain on staff, he understands how to get the best out of his defenders. Basham Jr. could be a nice pairing with Floyd or at least a cheaper addition to the Rams’ pass rush.