Los Angeles Rams 2020 NFL Draft Grades

Round 7

Pick 234 – Linebacker Clay Johnston (Baylor): In the end, needs are needs, and after losing their two starting linebackers, the Rams needed to add at least some depth in the position.

In Johnston, Los Angeles gets yet another great potential player, with questionable health.

An eye-popping player that jumps out of the screen, he barely stays blocked and has the NFL IQ and instincts that are needed in the NFL. He may lack the athleticism and quickness needed to be a sideline-to-sideline player, but I’ll attribute that to his injury history. In coverage, he would be better as a zone-protector. Good at run-stopping.

McVay and new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley went on a trend lately on the draft and picked players that are rather smart, a characteristic that could make them cover their lack of athleticism with good fundamentals and fast-processing.

A player that improved each and every year, especially under now NFL head coach Matt Rhule.

Clay’s father, Kent, was a strength coach for more than two decades in the NFL, and Brett Favre’s best man at his wedding. Yet another player that has football in his veins.

Grade: B+