LA Rams scouts welcome candidates to 2020 NFL Scouting Combine

The LA Rams scouts have the opportunity to welcome quarterbacks, tight ends, and wide receivers to the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine today

The town of Indianapolis Indiana is the base of operations for the LA Rams scouting team once more. This year, the Rams scouts have their work cut out for them.  Over the course of the next ten days, the scouts must measure, track, prioritize, interview, and report on 337 NFL draft hopefuls.  Today, the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine welcomes 17 quarterbacks, 20 tight ends, and 55 wide receivers to a week’s worth of testing, medical and psychological examinations, interviews, and a general exchange of information between prospects and NFL personnel.

This year, the LA Rams entourage will be less than previous years. That’s because the Rams have decided to keep the coaching staff in Los Angeles and track prospects virtually this season. That’s probably a very wise move. Head Coach Sean McVay was very specific about the type of coordinators he wanted to comprise his coaching staff.  He sought other coaches who were like-minded, who would collaborate to develop a full game plan and who would adapt what the Rams did base upon the upcoming opponent the team would face next.

Now the Rams must find the right players to implement their ambitious plans for 2020.  And the new crop of potential NFL Rookies is arriving today.

Many would rather the Rams ignore all but offensive line prospects. Thankfully, the Rams will investigate and vet all college football players. Since the Rams likely only carry eight offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, Should the team re-sign Andrew Whitworth to left tackle and extend a minimum offer to ERFA Coleman Shelton, the team will enter 2020 with a dozen offensive linemen. Draft one more and the team will likely cut five linemen to make the 53-man roster.

The Rams will have other holes in the roster as well. Backup veteran QB Blake Bortles will be leaving. That means the Rams will enter training camp with just two quarterbacks, starter Jared Goff and backup John Wolford. While Wolford has shown good promise in the 2019 preseason, some question whether he is ready to lead the team should Goff be injured. As the first group arrives at the Combine, the LA Rams scouts are gleaning over each arrival to determine if they are worth choosing in the upcoming NFL Draft.

While the LA Rams are set at wide receiver, Sports Illustrated writer Max McAuliffe suggests that the Rams cannot afford to pay WR Cooper Kupp in 2021, so the team should trade him for draft picks this season with a deep WR class.

While I cannot see that happening, I do believe that the 2020 NFL Draft class is incredibly deep at wide receiver. Rather than scramble for players when they are scarce, wise teams load up on the available talent in each draft.  That could likely mean the Rams will select a receiver or two from this draft class.

And tight ends appear to be set on the team’s roster for now. Still, we had mocked a first-round tight end, Cole Kmet, to the Rams at pick 52 as the best player available at that spot. In the very unusual way the NFL Draft plays out, a first-round talent may find his way to the Rams at pick 52. To take advantage of the situation, the Rams must be prepared to choose whoever falls to them.

Today is a day for handshakes and introductions. Tomorrow the quest to find new LA Rams players begins.