Los Angeles Rams 2020 NFL Draft No Trade – Mock Draft 1.2

Round 6 pick 199: CB Lamar Jackson

The name says it all but on a different side of the football field. Cornerback Lamar Jackson is a corner from the University of Nebraska with the potential to be a late-round gem. With the subtraction of Marcus Peters and Nickell Robey-Coleman, the Rams need to fill the gap created in their roster. Jackson is a big cornerback who mostly plays in a cover 3 or man single high safety scheme. He is at his best when he can just sit back reading the quarterbacks’ eyes. He does this effectively as he has the tendency to try to jump routes.

His size (6-foot-2 208-pounds) allows him to bully receivers. He uses it well to box out receivers and bait the quarterback into trying to put it over his head. Jackson isn’t afraid to get dirty either, he will blitz and isn’t afraid of contact when trying to stop the run. Such is an example when he played the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

I love his aggressiveness and the fact he doesn’t take plays off. During blitzes, if it’s a run he will stop on the outside and play contain. He has a good press and is decent with his hand play. Jackson is good with his hands using them in conjunction with his size to bat the ball down before the receiver can put his hands on it.

However, there is a reason he is going to be picked day 3. Jackson has a tendency to grab receivers, though he’s been very fortunate to not be called for it on the college level. He also makes some mental mistakes, especially when it comes to situational football. He has sometimes lined up too far back on short downs giving receivers a free release to break on the ball before he can react. if his press is beat he has trouble with his catch up speed and can be burnt. The best comparison for Jackson would be Peters’s mentality for big risk big reward in a Richard Sherman body.