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It’s too early to tell if NFL teams selected “busts” during the 2015 NFL Draft, but that won’t stop experts from speculating if teams drafted the right prospect. In the case of the St. Louis Rams’ draft class, it’s a bit more challenging to analyze. Both head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead went into the draft with the mentality of improving the ground game and they may have done it. That’s not to say the Rams had a perfect draft class. The following is potential prospects that the Rams might have missed on:
CB P.J. Williams, Florida State
The entire third round could have gone better. The Rams selected Louisville guard Jamon Brown at pick No. 72, which wasn’t a terrible pick. That said, Williams was believed to be a second round prospect and the Rams could have used a boost in the secondary. Snead didn’t address the secondary during the draft, but maybe he should have given Williams a better look.
Williams is a scrappy cornerback that specializes in blitz situations. He’s an expert tackler, especially in the open field. He smothers receivers with his coverage and forces them to reconsider their routes. I think the Rams may have passed on a gem here. If the Rams really wanted to draft Brown, he would have likely been available at pick No. 89 which they received from the Carolina Panthers in a previous trade.
QB Brett Hundley, UCLA
There was one pick in this year’s draft that left me puzzled, and it wasn’t selecting running back Todd Gurley in the first round. It was when the Rams decided to draft Oregon State QB Sean Mannion at pick No. 89. Considering the other quarterback talent that was still available, Mannion didn’t make much sense to me. That’s not to say that Mannion can’t thrive in the NFL, but he was likely a reach in the third round. Hundley dropped into the fifth round, which means the Rams could have waited a round or two before selecting a backup quarterback.
It’s hard to say if Hundley or Mannion will have the better career in the NFL, but Hundley does have more upside. Hundley is a dual-threat quarterback, who has decent arm. He is a playmaker that usually extends drives based on his instincts alone. Hundley has led the Bruins to three successful seasons where Mannion has had forgettable years with the Beavers. I believe the Rams will be haunted with this choice. The only reason I can think of for the Rams preferring Mannion over Hundley is if they wanted a pure pocket passer, which is doubtful since they expressed interest in Oregon’s Marcus Mariota.
WR Darren Waller, Georgia Tech
I was fine with the Rams waiting until the sixth round to take a receiver, because there was still plenty of talent. They ended up selecting Bud Sasser from Missouri at pick 201. Sasser could be big target for Rams’ quarterback Nick Foles, but Waller was an even bigger target. He stands at 6’5” and has great hands too. Waller is a receiver that plays to his height and takes advantage of every inch he has over a defender. His routerunning technique needs a little more polishing, but he can be a legitimate redzone threat in the NFL. He was expected to go as high as the third or fourth round but likely fell due to off-the-field issues.
OLB Xzavier Dickson, Alabama
The Rams need depth at all linebacker spots, and they had the right idea when they traded up to draft Baylor inside linebacker Bryce Hager at pick No. 224. They had another draft selection at pick No. 227 and opted for Memphis defensive end Martin Ifedi. This isn’t necessarily a knock on Ifedi, but will he actually make the roster? This is why the Rams should have looked at drafting more linebacker prospects, particularly on the outside. Alabama’s Dickson would have made a perfect candidate.
Dickson is a quarterback’s nightmare. He is overly aggressive and is determined to make a play in the backfield. Dickson is also solid at gaining leverage on offensive lineman. He is most dangerous when he successfully bullrushes the offensive line. He would have been a nice find so late in the draft.
OL La’el Collins, LSU
Collins is part of a major investigation, but he isn’t considered a suspect at this time. He and his agent announced that he wouldn’t sign a contract if he was drafted after Day 2 (second and third round) of the draft, which may have also deterred teams from taking him as well. I certainly believe he was worth the risk in the third round. Consider this, the Rams drafted Mannion at pick No. 89, and there is a possibility that he won’t contribute at all in the NFL. Would there be a difference if Collins is found guilty of something? Not really.
Collins was thought to be a first round prospect, and he would have fit in nicely with the Rams’ draft class. Since Wisconsin’s Rob Havenstein is more suited to play offensive tackle, Collins would likely shift over to guard. This would have easily became one the of the Rams’ better draft classes. There is still a chance that the Rams could pursue Collins if his name gets cleared,but they won’t be the only team interested.
Source: Sports-reference.com
You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.
2015, 2015 NFL Draft, Brett Hundley, Bryce Hager, Bud Sasser, Darren Waller, featured, Jamon Brown, Jeff Fisher, La'el Collins, Les Snead, Marcus Mariota, Martin Ifedi, NFL, P.J. Williams, Rob Havenstein, Sean Mannion, St. Louis Rams, Todd Gurley, Xzavier Dickson
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It’s too early to tell if NFL teams selected “busts” during the 2015 NFL Draft, but that won’t stop experts from speculating if teams drafted the right prospect. In the case of the St. Louis Rams’ draft class, it’s a bit more challenging to analyze. Both head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead went into the draft with the mentality of improving the ground game and they may have done it. That’s not to say the Rams had a perfect draft class. The following is potential prospects that the Rams might have missed on:
CB P.J. Williams, Florida State
The entire third round could have gone better. The Rams selected Louisville guard Jamon Brown at pick No. 72, which wasn’t a terrible pick. That said, Williams was believed to be a second round prospect and the Rams could have used a boost in the secondary. Snead didn’t address the secondary during the draft, but maybe he should have given Williams a better look.
Williams is a scrappy cornerback that specializes in blitz situations. He’s an expert tackler, especially in the open field. He smothers receivers with his coverage and forces them to reconsider their routes. I think the Rams may have passed on a gem here. If the Rams really wanted to draft Brown, he would have likely been available at pick No. 89 which they received from the Carolina Panthers in a previous trade.
QB Brett Hundley, UCLA
There was one pick in this year’s draft that left me puzzled, and it wasn’t selecting running back Todd Gurley in the first round. It was when the Rams decided to draft Oregon State QB Sean Mannion at pick No. 89. Considering the other quarterback talent that was still available, Mannion didn’t make much sense to me. That’s not to say that Mannion can’t thrive in the NFL, but he was likely a reach in the third round. Hundley dropped into the fifth round, which means the Rams could have waited a round or two before selecting a backup quarterback.
It’s hard to say if Hundley or Mannion will have the better career in the NFL, but Hundley does have more upside. Hundley is a dual-threat quarterback, who has decent arm. He is a playmaker that usually extends drives based on his instincts alone. Hundley has led the Bruins to three successful seasons where Mannion has had forgettable years with the Beavers. I believe the Rams will be haunted with this choice. The only reason I can think of for the Rams preferring Mannion over Hundley is if they wanted a pure pocket passer, which is doubtful since they expressed interest in Oregon’s Marcus Mariota.
WR Darren Waller, Georgia Tech
I was fine with the Rams waiting until the sixth round to take a receiver, because there was still plenty of talent. They ended up selecting Bud Sasser from Missouri at pick 201. Sasser could be big target for Rams’ quarterback Nick Foles, but Waller was an even bigger target. He stands at 6’5” and has great hands too. Waller is a receiver that plays to his height and takes advantage of every inch he has over a defender. His routerunning technique needs a little more polishing, but he can be a legitimate redzone threat in the NFL. He was expected to go as high as the third or fourth round but likely fell due to off-the-field issues.
OLB Xzavier Dickson, Alabama
The Rams need depth at all linebacker spots, and they had the right idea when they traded up to draft Baylor inside linebacker Bryce Hager at pick No. 224. They had another draft selection at pick No. 227 and opted for Memphis defensive end Martin Ifedi. This isn’t necessarily a knock on Ifedi, but will he actually make the roster? This is why the Rams should have looked at drafting more linebacker prospects, particularly on the outside. Alabama’s Dickson would have made a perfect candidate.
Dickson is a quarterback’s nightmare. He is overly aggressive and is determined to make a play in the backfield. Dickson is also solid at gaining leverage on offensive lineman. He is most dangerous when he successfully bullrushes the offensive line. He would have been a nice find so late in the draft.
OL La’el Collins, LSU
Collins is part of a major investigation, but he isn’t considered a suspect at this time. He and his agent announced that he wouldn’t sign a contract if he was drafted after Day 2 (second and third round) of the draft, which may have also deterred teams from taking him as well. I certainly believe he was worth the risk in the third round. Consider this, the Rams drafted Mannion at pick No. 89, and there is a possibility that he won’t contribute at all in the NFL. Would there be a difference if Collins is found guilty of something? Not really.
Collins was thought to be a first round prospect, and he would have fit in nicely with the Rams’ draft class. Since Wisconsin’s Rob Havenstein is more suited to play offensive tackle, Collins would likely shift over to guard. This would have easily became one the of the Rams’ better draft classes. There is still a chance that the Rams could pursue Collins if his name gets cleared,but they won’t be the only team interested.
Source: Sports-reference.com
You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.
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