Darnell Savage emerges as another potential first-round pick for Rams

With the 2019 NFL Draft getting underway later this week, Darnell Savage is another name to keep an eye on for the Los Angeles Rams.

In a matter of days, the Los Angeles Rams will be participating in the 2019 NFL Draft, and unlike the previous two seasons, they will actually have a first-round pick.

Between giving up a future first rounder in 2016 to land Jared Goff on top of the surprise trade last offseason to acquire Brandin Cooks, the last two drafts have seen the Rams go without a first-round pick, but it looks like that’s about to change on Thursday.

While Los Angeles could always pull off another surprise move by trading down to increase that streak of years without a first-round pick to three, the amount of potential prospects may be too good for the NFC champions to pass on.

Whether they decide to add depth to the offensive line or focus on the defensive side of the football at No. 31, the Rams will have plenty to consider once officially on the clock Thursday night.

Like every other team, Los Angeles has already been linked to numerous prospects they already met with, and it looks like Maryland’s Darnell Savage can officially add his name to that list in regards to a potential selection for the Rams in the first round.

The fact that Savage met with that many teams shows how much interest there is surrounding the Maryland product over being one of the top safeties from this year’s draft class, although the most important factor will be seeing what kind of impact he makes as a rookie.

Despite the Rams coming up big in free agency by convincing Eric Weddle to come on board to help fill the void left by Lamarcus Joyner at safety, Los Angeles knows the veteran is only the short-term answer at the position.

If the Rams were to end up strongly considering Savage in the first round, the strategy would most likely involve the Terrapins star using his rookie campaign to learn from some of the veteran defenders like Weddle to benefit him in the long run.

Savage has proven to be the kind of playmaker who is ready to take on the challenge of adjusting to the NFL, and while there are no guarantees this is the direction Los Angeles is leaning towards, it’s another sign that safety could be addressed early on.

Thursday night will quickly be here before the Rams know it, and while rumors are only going to continue to swirl over the next couple of days, it’s tough not to consider how great of a fit Savage could be in this kind of defense, so keep an eye on this possibility.