2017-Present - McVay's run

2018 NFL Draft Profile: Expect Penn State CB Christian Campbell to climb the boards

Free agency looms and Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead must tend to a plethora of offseason uncertainties. One of the top questions is what will happen with the cornerback depth? Snead may have to look at prospects like Penn State cornerback Christian Campbell during the 2018 NFL Draft.

Pros

Campbell is the epitome of a “sleeper” pick. He possesses the desired size that defensive coordinators covet, standing over six feet tall. He doesn’t have blazing speed, but is adequately fast. Campbell’s size makes him an intriguing option for blitz packages, in fact, it was a common occurrence for him as a Nittany Lion. His tackling skills are impressive; he tends to go for the legs instead of attempting to tackle high.

Campbell isn’t a huge name yet because his stats aren’t all that impressive. He did progress during his senior season, finishing with 45 tackles, nine pass deflections, two interceptions, one sack and a forced fumble. Those numbers are still a tad underwhelming, but his size and potential will likely allow him to climb the draft boards. If he performs well at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine, don’t be surprised if the Rams take a hard look at him.

Cons

Potential is nice, but most teams are looking for well-developed commodities, especially early in the draft. Campbell played four seasons at Penn State, and his senior year was the only year that stood out. The 2018 NFL Draft is loaded with talented cornerbacks, and many are more accomplished then Campbell.

While his size and strength are pluses, he did struggle sticking with receivers. At times, he gave receivers way too much cushion and gave up some big plays. Campbell has a tendency to play a little too upright, which can be problematic since he gets a bit stiff when attempting to locate the football. He also prefers to play it safe and stick with a receiver rather than attempting to make a play on the football. In other words, he may not develop into a shutdown corner.

Overall

With a little coaching, Campbell may be a solid option depending on the selection. The Rams do have one of the best defensive coordinators in the league in Wade Phillips, so he may be able to coach him up. It’s difficult to see where he will be drafted, because sleeper picks like Campbell will likely climb draft boards. That said, he must also perform well during the Combine and the Senior Bowl. As of now, a team will likely select him between the second and third rounds. The Rams do not possess a second round pick, but expect the Rams to give him the nod if he falls to them at the third round.

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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