Terrell Burgess fits LA Rams new D like a glove

The LA Rams go with versatile hybrid safety-cornerback Terrell Burgess with their 105th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft

The LA Rams were very busy in day two of the NFL Draft, having four picks between rounds two and three. That’s 5.45 percent of the day two picks of the 2020 NFL Draft.  Surprisingly, Rams general manager Les Snead did not pull a trade as he has done multiple times in the past. In fact, he stood firm where the picks were and selected running back Cam Akers (52 overall), wideout Van Jefferson (57 overall), edge rusher Terrell Lewis (84 overall), and now former Utah Ute safety Terrell Burgess with the 104th pick in the 2020 edition.

Burgess might be a little undersized for the position, measuring at 5-foot-11 and weighing 202-pounds, but he plays bigger than that. In fact, he is more of a hybrid than a strict safety as he is a converted cornerback. That is the versatility that the Rams are desperate to employ in their new Bradon-Staley-inspired defense.  Much like cornerback Adonis Alexander, Burgess has experience as a multirole defensive back. And there is always the hope that the Rams will pair him up with Alexander, and be able to run a virtual amoeba defense.

Burgess entered college coming from the San Diego area and didn’t receive many starts until his senior season, where he collected 81 tackles, five pass breakups, and one interception in 14 starts, displaying high motor and discipline.

Burgess is better fitted as a nickel corner, and with the loss of Nickell Robey-Coleman and Eric Weddle, the secondary needed depth, that they got in Burgess. He will compete for playing time with cornerback David Long Jr. for the slot role, and with Nick Scott and Jake Gervase for the third safety role.

Yes, I wholeheartedly admit that I liked this pick very much. Was it the most glaring need? No. Were there players available that could fill that need? Yes. Still, the depth in the secondary was necessary, and I’m glad they chose Burgess for that job. Burgess is an ideal selection, because not only can he fill multiple roles, but he has the chops to earn playing time as a rookie.

The current defensive back roster includes starting safeties John Johnson III and Taylor Rapp; Starting cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill, and no nominal nickel starter which is a formation the Rams have used a lot in the past years.

NRC left a hole in that secondary that was expected to be covered by 2019 draftee David long Jr, now, the competition is on.

Burgess will have a chance to contribute early in his career and even start in 2020 (if Covid-19 allows it to happen, safety first) competition is always healthy. In the worst of cases, he will push second-year player Long to earn his spot at the starting lineup as well as be an integral player on special teams.

The Rams are pilling up quality players, that, if they pan out, will give a lot of good games in return.