LA Rams 2020 NFL Draft harvests talented treasure trove – Mock Draft 6.0

Round 2 Pick 57

WR Brandin Cook made up for his shorter than ideal height with blinding speed. But with the second pick in the second round, the LA Rams find both a wide receiver who has both and a lot more in Laviska Shenault Jr. out of Colorado.

Stretching the field is a concept that is somewhat of a myth in the NFL. Defenses will mix coverages and personnel packages to neutralize the opposing offense’s strengths.  While WR Brandin Cooks was fast, he was not much of a threat for much else.  Defenses easily countered Cooks by swapping a linebacker for an added defensive back, without losing any run defense thanks to the degradation of the Rams offensive line, and the wear and tear on Todd Gurley.

By contrast, drafting 6-foot-1 227-pound wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. places the defense on their heels once more. He adds that versatility factor that is so critical in the modern NFL, as he is able to line up at all three receiver positions. And while he cannot replicate Cook’s 4.33 40-yard time, his 4.58 is fast enough to give the Rams a deep threat to counter blitzes and make defenses pay by getting a quick-strike touchdown.

Shenault is a good blend of three wide receiver S’s: Size, speed, and strength.  He has medical concerns, or he would be a likely round one selection for some NFL team. But with so many stellar receiving options, he falls to the Rams at 57.

Despite the roster full of talented receivers Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, and Josh Reynolds, Laviska Shenault Jr.’s ability to line up at any receiver position makes him a great complimentary piece to the Rams offense.  While his ability to catch a pass will not be his out-of-the-blocks featured role, he will grow over time to that swiss-army-knife receiver.

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