Los Angeles Rams: Grading the John Franklin-Myers selection from the 2018 NFL Draft

The Los Angeles Rams got into the defensive side of their 2018 NFL Draft when they selected John Franklin-Myers, a defensive end from Stephen F. Austin.

The Los Angeles Rams have thrown a few curve balls to fans and pundits alike who were expecting General Manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay to go defense early. For those following mock drafts from here to Neptune, it looked to be linebackers and EDGE rushers all weekend long.

Instead, the Rams made two sound investments on the future of the team and the health on quarterback Jared Goff by selecting a center from Michigan State and an offensive tackle from TCU.

However, as expected. LA got into the business of drafting defense by selecting defensive end John Franklin-Myers  from Stephen F. Austin.

Franklin-Myers is 6’-4” and weighs in at 283 lbs. At the NFL Combine, he posted a 40 time of 4.75 seconds, had a vertical jump of 33.0 inches, and a 3-cone drill time of 7.36 seconds.

He’ll set up well in a 3-4 scheme and displayed some good rush potential.

It’s a smart pick for the Rams who had to fill spots at linebacker and especially an EDGE type end. LA, who already being touted for an impressive list of acquisitions in free agency on the defensive side of the football will add a few more before the 2018 NFL Draft concludes.

Next: 3 reasons to love Rams selecting Joseph Noteboom

Credit Snead and McVay for having a plan that clearly was not the conventional wisdom heading into the draft. Critics will be disappointed that the Rams didn’t select a linebacker or EDGE rusher with their first or second picks, but they have been pretty good at crafting a plan for this team going back to free agency and the acquisitions they made and did not.

For this pick the Rams get a B+, as LA continues to work their Draft Day plan and 2018 offseason.