Rams 2017 Draft Recap: High Marks Deserved For First Three Picks

The Los Angeles Rams drafted smart and with purpose. They also drafted for Jared Goff.

The Los Angeles Rams finally had something to talk about besides the avalanche of mock drafts, rumor, and innuendo that always accompany this NFL Rite of Spring. Last night, both literally and figuratively, Los Angeles staked a claim to not just a better brand of football, but a new identity this woeful franchise has been lacking since the move from their previous Midwestern home.

In his first draft, Sean McVay established that business as usual did not wear a Rams helmet. And while the balance of the 2017 NFL Draft has yet to be completed, the optimism in Los Angeles is met with an equally optimistic grade.

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With the team’s first pick in round two, the 44th overall, Los Angeles turned the page from a single dimensional offense to one that promised more options and more opportunity. Gerald Everett will be a guy who gets on the field. The 6’-3”, 239 pound tight end from South Alabama will fit nicely into a scheme McVay had success with in Washington. The Rams will utilize both Everett and Tyler Higbee in an offense Jared Goff WILL LOVE come yesterday.

LA addressed a need: pass catchers. The Rams have three tight ends in Higbee, Everett , and 6th round 2016 pick Temarrick Hemingway who will quickly appreciate a scheme that will feature their position prominently.

With the 69th pick in round three, Los Angeles ignored much of the conventional wisdom and did not draft a receiver whose first name was either “Zay” or “JuJu.” But they did select an impressive player in Eastern Washington’s Cooper Kupp. At 6’-2” and 204 pounds, Kupp becomes a big target for Goff. Some scouts and analysts compare his catching ability to that of NFC West rival Larry Fitzgerald.

As I wrote last night, we’ll see about that.

Best about Kupp, is he’s a player the Rams believe will be ready day one to contribute.

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Los Angeles clearly took the opportunity to address needs on offense with two quality players. Two skill guys who will fit an offensive game plan that will lift the Rams from last in the league statistically, to respectability and potentially more.

LA wrapped up their first night of draft business by going defense, and drafting safety John Johnson from Boston College with the 91st selection overall.

Johnson is a pick that has the team looking forward to 2018 when safeties Maurice Alexander and Lamarcus Joyner are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents.

With work to still be done today, the Rams have thus far touched all the bases by drafting who and what they need. Clearly, last night and today won’t be realistically judged until this time next year.

But McVay and the LA braintrust deserve credit for their efforts.

Based on last night, those effort should yield some high marks.