How will LA Rams DC Brandon Staley deploy 4 rookies on D?

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Round 3, pick 104

With the 104th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, the LA Rams selected Terrell Burgess, safety, from the University of Utah. Well, the draft profile claims safety, but the defensive back is a better category. While Burgess did not appear in pre-draft mocks specifically for the LA Rams, he certainly did show up in a number of complimentary pre-draft profiles. Standing 5-foot-11 and tipping the scales at 200-pounds, Burgess possesses a good “tweener” size, a build that will allow him to succeed at either safety or cornerback.

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His college background included both. Based on that alone, Burgess entered the 2020 NFL Draft as a versatile prospect as either a cornerback, a slot corner, or safety. So it’s really no surprise that he was the second player added to the Rams defense. After all, the team stressed versatility and flexibility in the pre-draft rhetoric. Burgess delivers on all fronts.

Post-selection impressions

Ramblin’ Fan contributor Manuel Harari loved the selection, describing his skillset like a hand fitting into a glove. Larry Brake also loved the pick, projecting the Rams starting safeties as Burgess and Taylor Rapp as early as 2021. Contributor Noah Schlaebitz projects Terrell Burgess’ NFL career to fall somewhere between that of veterans Tyrann Mathieu and Jabrill Peppers.

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What are Brandon Staley’s thoughts about Burgess? He had quite a bit to say about him, and all were very positive comments, as cited by Stu Jackson’s interview:

"“Really formed good relationships with his college coaches, who I have a very high opinion of. (They had) like nine players drafted, they were the number two defense in the country. This guy played everywhere for them. I think he’s a safety to start, but he can play nickel (defensive back). He’s a 4.4 guy who’s got movement, and so I think we can activate him in some different roles.”"

Now seeing Coach Staley’s comments, he could be the first backup safety off the bench for the Rams this year. It’s clear that Staley has plenty in store for Burgess.

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