2017 NFL Draft: 5 Players Rams Missed Out On at No. 5 From Trade With Titans

3. Christian McCaffrey (Carolina Panthers No. 8)

Before anyone freaks out over the fact that Todd Gurley is the running back of the Los Angeles Rams, and there’s no reason for the team to give up on him after just one disappointing season, keep in mind how Christian McCaffrey can be used at multiple positions. While drafting McCaffrey may have seemed like a long shot with Gurley in the picture, keep in mind how the Rams could have used the former Stanford standout in the slot on offense.

McCaffrey’s ability to be effective at multiple positions made him one of the most attractive players to consider in the first round of this year’s draft, and Cam Newton will certainly benefit from having him on offense for the Carolina Panthers. The fact that McCaffrey was denying teams of private workouts over the last few weeks shows how confident he is about making the transition to the NFL, and from the perspective of the Rams, there’s a chance he could turn into a more successful version of Tavon Austin.

Let’s not forget it was Austin that was selected in the first round (No. 8 overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft by Los Angeles with the intention of becoming a dangerous threat in multiple positions, just like Carolina hopes to see with McCaffrey. But hopefully for the Panthers, McCaffrey doesn’t end up struggling to make an impact like Austin has with the team over the years.