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LA Rams 2020 UDFAs can mean future impact players

By Bret Stuter

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 15: Cory Littleton #58 of the Los Angeles Rams runs onto the field before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 15: Cory Littleton #58 of the Los Angeles Rams runs onto the field before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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The LA Rams efforts after the 2020 NFL Draft concludes will focus upon signing top UDFAs, which can result in landing future impact players

The LA Rams are trying to find the best players in the 2020 NFL Draft, despite just holding a projected six picks, and no pick on day one. But not all NFL stars are selected on day one of the NFL draft.  In fact, some stars are not selected in an NFL Draft at all.

The San Francisco 49ers won their NFC Championship battle on the legs of running back Raheem Mostert. Mostert was a 2015 UDFA signing by the Philadelphia Eagles, during the tenure of then head coach Chip Kelly.  The inn was already full at the Eagles backfield, with Demarco Murray, Ryan Matthews, Darren Sproles, Kenjon Barner, and Matthew Tucker already fairly entrenched at the position with the team.  The Eagles did the next best thing – cut Mostert and moved him to their practice squad.

Mostert then began a journey through NFL teams as quickly as his running ability. He was signed to the Miami Dolphins, then Baltimore Ravens, then Cleveland Browns, then Chicago Bears, and then finally to the San Francisco 49ers in 2016.  Now, he is their star of the NFC Championship game.

A journey of moving from team to team does one of two things to a player: either his spirit is broken and he surrenders the football dream OR his desire his forged into an indomitable will, a focus so intense that no distraction nor hurdle can turn it away from the goal.

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The Rams have had their own bit of success from the ranks of undrafted prospects.  ILB Cory Littleton, one of the most coveted free agents in 2020, arrived to the team as a 2016 UDFA.  He is just one example from the team’s efforts to glean the undrafted in search of NFL caliber prospects.  From the 2019 UDFA class of 22, the Rams ended up signing six to the 53-man roster.

Looking forward to 2020, the Rams have already signed nine players to reserve future contracts. Based on the free agency market, the six draft picks, and the salary cap status of the team today, we can ballpark the Rams UDFA signings in the 20-28 range. That is another large class of undrafted players, but with a success factor of 5-8 landing on the permanent roster, that’s a very strong scouting effort.

One area we project the Rams to address among undrafted players is one, perhaps two, fullbacks or smallish tight ends who can convert to a fullback position for 2020. The 49ers have some success with a fullback lead blocker, and the addition of a fullback position would give the Rams offense a new wrinkle for defenses to resolve next season.

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First comes the NFL Combine. Then colleges and university pro days. Then the 2020 NFL Draft.  Finally, we’ll go on alert for any news of LA Rams UDFA signings. In the meantime, we’ll have plenty of articles about undervalued prospects, and potential Rams draft targets.  What we’ve seen in the NFL Conference Championship games gives the LA Rams plenty of food for thought. 49ers running back Raheem Mostert proves that undrafted players can eventually shine in the NFL.  It takes the right scouting, and patience, for that to happen.

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