5 traps the LA Rams must avoid in the 2020 NFL Draft

Pitfall 3 – Drafting a kicker

The LA Rams lost kicker Greg Zuerlein to free agency, so the team needs to find a replacement. And, of course, many mock drafts grab that concern of “the Rams need a good kicker” and run with it. One mock draft has the Rams selecting a kicker in round 4.

That strategy is a pitfall. From the moment the LA Rams draft a kicker, all competition in training camp is over. Why? Because the LA Rams have already invested value into a player, and that value will not be easily discarded by a special team coach nor coordinator.

Drafting a kicker becomes a shackle to the LA Rams. How so?  From the moment the LA Rams announce a name at the podium, there is no more competition for the job of the kicker on the team. That is not a good thing. Rookie kickers are difficult to find in the NFL. Many teams determine who will land the job by signing multiple kickers as undrafted free agents and allowing an open competition to determine who will win the job.

Even if the Rams completely strikeout, there are many NFL teams who are currently carrying multiple kickers on their roster today. That duplicity will be corrected as the teams pare down their roster to the season limit of 55. At that time, the Rams can choose from among the “almosts” who are released and sign the best of the bunch.