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2017 NFL Draft Round 4: Los Angeles Rams Select LB Samson Ebukam

By Dan Parzych

Apr 25 2017; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead (left) and coach Sean McVay during a press conference at Cal Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25 2017; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead (left) and coach Sean McVay during a press conference at Cal Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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With their second pick in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams added linebacker Samson Ebukam out of Eastern Washington.

The Los Angeles Rams realized the importance of using the 2017 NFL Draft to provide Jared Goff with more weapons, but the team was drawing some criticism for focusing too much on the offensive needs. By using three of their first four picks in the draft to help boost the passing game, many wondered when the Rams would being focusing on other areas for the defense along with the offensive line.

Related Story: Rams Add Another Weapon For Goff in Reynolds

Later in the fourth round, Los Angeles decided to trade up and use the 125th overall pick on Eastern Washington linebacker Samson Ebukam, who will reunite with teammate Cooper Kupp after the team selected the wide receiver in the third round on Friday. His tackling skills may still be an issue, but when seeing Ebukam recorded 11 sacks to go along with 42 hurries during his final season at Eastern Washington, it’s easy to see why the Rams were willing to make a trade in the fourth round to move up and acquire the linebacker.

Now that Wade Phillips is on board as defensive coordinator to Sean McVay‘s coaching staff, there’s plenty of excitement surrounding the defense of Los Angeles moving forward after the unit took a step back in 2016. The defense was one of the main reasons why expectations were high for the Rams prior to the start of last season after finishing 7-9 the year before, but hopefully the addition of Phillips will help turn everything around to help make the team contenders in the NFC West.

Next: Rams Draft Grades: Rounds 2 and 3

As for Ebukam, only time will tell when it comes to the type of impact he will make as a rookie, but clearly Phillips and Los Angeles saw something special in the linebacker if they didn’t want to risk waiting any longer in drafting him. Of all the teams with players from this year’s draft, who would have thought it would be Eastern Washington providing the Rams with two key players?

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