Los Angeles Rams: Grade for the Justin Lawler selection in the 2018 NFL Draft

The Los Angeles Rams concluded their 2018 NFL Draft with another defensive selection in Justin Lawler, a defensive back from SMU.

The Los Angeles Rams put a wrap on their selections in the 2018 NFL Draft by selecting, you guessed it, a defensive end.

LA finished with 11 picks, seven on the defensive side of the football, with the last being Justin Lawler from Southern Methodist University.

Lawler is 6’-4” and 262 lbs. and as a senior, earned first-team All-AAC honors where he had 74 tackles, 15.5 of them for a loss, 9.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.

While his scouting report is not necessarily noteworthy, he is a guy who would have gotten a camp invite. He was a productive starter for three seasons, an absolute workout warrior, weight room kind of guy.

As for how he does or does not fit in Los Angeles, he’s a player who may get a long look as he is noted to have a football mentality, meaning he has good instincts. As previously written, the Rams defense will be a tough lineup to break into. The talent is significant and deep at key positions.

Perhaps GM Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay are looking for someone who becomes a practice type player. At this point in the draft, especially this deep into the seventh round, contributors can be hard to find. That said, to read his scouting report is to read he is a guy who, under the right conditions and coaching, might result in something for the team or elsewhere in the league.

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Overall, LA has done a good job in an attempt to cultivate talent on the defensive since of the ball. That said, Lawler will get a look. The Rams get credit for kicking over every stone in this draft looking for players they need, and where the need them.

As for this pick, Los Angeles gets an incomplete.