Rams get quality football player in second round with Taylor Rapp

The Rams have finally made a pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, selecting Washington Safety Taylor Rapp. Here is the breakdown of the pick.

After watching 60 other names get called by other teams, the Los Angeles Rams finally sent a representative to the podium themselves on Friday.

Seven-time Pro-Bowler Orlando Pace was the iconic Ram asked to announce the pick, and with the selection, the NFC champions took Washington Safety Taylor Rapp.

Without question, Rapp was definitely one of the best players left on the board, and it’s hard to disagree with Los Angeles for taking a risk on him.

Dane Brugler had him as his second-ranked safety overall, putting him over players like Darnell Savage (who went first round) and Jonathan Abram (drafted on Day 2).

Rapp is a physical ball hawk who has a high football IQ, all elements that make him a fit for Sean McVay‘s team.  His downside is that he has below average speed for a safety, running a 4.78 40-yard dash at his Pro Day.

Safety may seem like a bit of a luxury pick since the Rams have John Johnson and Eric Weddle, who they signed this offseason slotted to start.

But Rapp may have been the best prayer left, and taking the best player available is a recipe for winning football games.

With a lot of picks left, they have the opportunity to fill needs in good time, so there’s no reason to panic over this selection of Rapp.

For now, they add a quality football player in Rapp to their defensive back room that has the potential to work out for the best in the long run.

Moving on from Lamarcus Joyner in the offseason wasn’t the easiest decision in the world by the Rams, but from a financial standpoint, it was certainly the right move to help them address other areas.

Plus, the argument can be made that if Joyner were still around, Los Angeles never would have considered Rapp in the second round at No. 61, so in a way everything happens for a reason, right?

Even if Rapp needed a little extra time to develop as a rookie while adjusting to playing at the NFL level, the good news for the Rams is they’re in great position to allow this to happen if necessary thanks to the Weddle signing, as discussed before.