The Los Angeles Rams did have an arsenal of third round picks. Some picks did succumb to trades. One thing is for certain, the Rams got some studs despite the controversial wait and selections.
70th overall pick: Memphis RB Darrell Henderson
You know Henderson is good when the Rams actually trade up to get him. The Rams did surrender the 94th and 99th overall picks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This pick says more about Todd Gurley’s knee injury than anything. Henderson is arguably the best RB in the NFL Draft. He’s a multi-dimensional RB that’s capable of adding explosion in the backfield. It’s understandable for the Rams wanting to add this type of RB with the loss of C.J. Anderson. To put things into perspective, Henderson picked up 8.9 yards per attempt last season. That not only led the nation, but is among the best stats of all-time in NCAA Division I football. Best of all, he’s also a receiving threat in the backfield.
79th overall pick: Michigan CB David Long
The CB position is a concern after the 2019 season. With both Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters having expiring contracts, David Long provides necessary depth. Injuries hurt the secondary last season too, so Long is certainly a nice addition.
A coverage specialist, Long provides an aggressive style of corner. He’s quick, instinctive and can dominate the opposing passing offenses. How much of a shutdown corner is he? Let’s put it this way, Long didn’t see too many balls thrown his way. It’s one of the reasons for the lack of stats, not due to lack of production. Checkout our draft profile on him for more information.
97th overall pick: Oklahoma OT Bobby Evans
After another trade, the Rams did move up with the New England Patriots’ 162nd overall pick. They sent the 101st and 133rd overall picks in exchange. It appears the Rams may have found their future left tackle in Evans. The Rams may be committing Joseph Noteboom to offensive guard.
Evans does possess strong, lengthy arms with great hand placement skills too. He especially excels on the run, which is good news with a talented RB corps. Evans is a little raw and likely should have played one more year at Oklahoma. Still, the Rams present him with an excellent opportunity to learn from Sean McVay and veteran Andrew Whitworth. Evans is a bit of a project, but he’s worth it if he pans out.
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