LA Rams find talented players in round 4 of the NFL Draft

As the NFL Draft progresses, talented players from later rounds of the NFL Draft who had become major contributors for the LA Rams

The LA Rams completed their 83rd NFL season in 2019. In that time span, they have won 577 games and lost 569 with 21 tie games. They are a winning organization. Thanks to landing quality talent through the annual NFL Draft.

Part of the reason the team is successful at the draft?  LA has been able to find and correctly judge talented young players over time. Perhaps the best Rams draft was in 1945. In that year, LA drafted two players who eventually made their way in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“Crazy Legs” Elroy Hirsch was selected as the fifth overall selection. In the 1945 NFL Draft, there were four players that were enshrined into the infamous hall. LA drafted two of them. In round 11, Tom Fears was selected by LA.

You never know how things will play out over time. John Zook, of Kansas, was a fourth round selection in the Rams 1969 draft class. He never played for LA but was a star in Atlanta under a former Rams round 4 selection as well.

LA Rams draft major contributors in round 4

First, defensive lineman Lamar Lundy was drafted by LA in 1957. Lundy became a member of the infamous “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line. He played from 1957 through 1969 for LA.

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Incidentally, he was taken after the Rams selected Bobby Cox earlier in the fourth round. Sadly, he played when individual defensive statistics were rarely kept. Lundy anchored the defensive end spot opposite Deacon Jones.

Second, the Rams drafted Vince Ferragamo in 1977. The former Nebraska quarterback played seven seasons in the Rams uniform. He threw for 9376 yards with 70 touchdowns.

Ferragamo led the Rams to Super Bowl XIV against Pittsburgh. He completed 15 passes for 212 yards. This game was the first Super Bowl appearance by the Rams.

Third, Norm Van Brocklin was selected in the fourth round out of Oregon in 1949. Brocklin played nine seasons for LA at the quarterback position. He threw for 16,114 yards with 118 touchdowns in his time with the Rams.

Van Brocklin made the transition from player to head coach. He was the head coach in Minnesota, 1961-66 and Atlanta from 1967-74. Zook played for Van Brocklin in Atlanta beginning in 1969.

You never can tell how things will play out. LA may likely find another draft nugget in round 4 in the 2020 NFL Draft. Remember. LA gets two fourth round draft picks. Let’s watch to see who they select.