Final LA Rams interviews reveal 2020 NFL Draft moves

LA Rams prioritize linebackers

We know that the LA Rams are most definitely shopping for linebacker depth in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Rams have now lost four starters from the 3-4 base defense. OLB Dante Fowler Jr. and ILB Cory Littleton are signed with other teams, while OLB Clay Matthews and ILB Bryce Hager are all facing the NFL Free Agency market in 2020. With not players resigned, the Rams did sign OLB Leonard Floyd from the Chicago Bears. He truly fits as a younger version of Matthews in the Rams 2020 defense.

The LA Rams wasted no time speaking to Akeem Davis-Gaither, an outside linebacker hailing from the underscouted school of Appalachian State University. He is an undersized 6-foot-1 and 224-pound defender who many scouts hoped to see bulk up for the NFL to about 240 pounds. He has projections as a day three selection, but that may not be a result of poor play, but rather of a young man playing through a stress fracture in his foot in 2019. That injury will be addressed by surgery this offseason, and a full recovery is expected.

Davis-Gaither fills the block of hybrid linebacker that the Rams are looking for. So well that he will be a target of other teams as well

That means, he is too big and slow to be projected as a great safety, but he is too small and quick to be projected as a great linebacker. So scouts have graded him poorly based on an either/or scoring system.

He is the perfect Ninja linebacker coveted by new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. He fits the role of a blitzing defender, in pass coverage or as a run stopper. Yes, he needs more bodyweight to improve his durability, improve shedding blockers, and set a firmer edge to drive plays inside to pursuit. But he would be a key player to draft for the Rams new defense.