Commentary

2016 Draft Profile: The Los Angeles Rams and Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell are the perfect match

It’s clear that the Los Angeles Rams need a true No. 1 receiver. Recent experiments with Brian Quick and Kenny Britt have failed for the most part, and they have shown no indication that they can be that go-to receiver. The Ram have to find a solution, and it might come from the draft. When look at this year’s draft class, University of Mississippi receiver Laquon Treadwell stands out. Here’s a closer look at Treadwell:

Pros: Treadwell is a decent sized receiver standing at roughly 6’2” and weighs about 210 pounds. He tends to play bigger than his actual size due to his outstanding athleticism. Treadwell plays the ball aggressively and often fought for the football. He is certainly not afraid to play physically, and proves it by delivering powerful stiff arms and effective blocking. Treadwell also has some of the more reliable hands in this year’s draft.

The former Ole Miss standout made a huge impact even as a freshman reeling in 608 yards. Last season, he dominated opposing secondaries, averaging a solid 14.1 yards per catch. Much of that was attributed to his competitively aggressive nature. He finished his final year with the Rebels with 1,153 receiving yards and 11 touchdown receptions.

Cons: The biggest struggle that Treadwell will face on the NFL level is creating separation from quicker defensive backs. He doesn’t have that explosive break off the snap. Treadwell also isn’t the quickest receiver on the field, and will often rely primarily on his size and aggression. Because of this, he won’t be considered or asked to be a deep threat. Treadwell is not one that can stretch the field and will be limited to short and mid-range passes. Another potential issue is his injury history. Treadwell did sustain several leg injuries, including a broken leg, during his sophomore season. However, he did have a healthy junior season.

Overall: Most of Treadwell’s cons are something that the Rams can work with. Consider this, the Rams’ current quarterbacks on the roster are Case Keenum and Nick Foles, both cannot throw the deep ball. Treadwell is meant to catch shorter range passes, and is big and strong enough to handle passes over the middle and slant routes.

While quarterback Case Keenum is certainly not an ideal starting quarterback, that is the reality the Rams are facing and are content with. The idea is to support the current quarterback with the best weapons around him. Treadwell is exactly the kind of receiver that the Rams need on the roster. Actually, the Rams were linked to a similar receiver in the 2013 NFL Draft in DeAndre Hopkins, and the Houston Texans weren’t sorry that they made that pick up. Passing up on Treadwell could be a mistake that could haunt the Rams for years.

Source: Sport-reference.com

You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.

Most Popular

To Top