LA Rams: 5 CB prospects to replace Jalen Ramsey in 2021

LA Rams could replace Jalen Ramsey with Shaun Wade

Shaun Wade is the top cornerback prospect ranked by walterfootball.com. Wade plays college football for Ohio State University. His former teammate, Jeff Okudah, was drafted as the third-overall selection of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.

He will begin his junior season this fall. Through two seasons, he has intercepted four passes and has made 57 total tackles. Wade is, yet another, big cornerback. He stands 6-feet-1 weighing 194 pounds. Size and speed are good qualities to have when covering receivers. As a freshman, Wade was among the fastest players on the Ohio State team.

Moving on up

It will be a challenge for the Rams to move up far enough in the 2021 NFL Draft to select Wade without making a trade to move into round one. Cover corners are at a premium due to the direction that NFL offenses are moving toward. However, his rookie contract would be less stressful on the Rams salary cap than a Ramsey contract extension.

Daniel Jeremiah of nfl.com is very impressed with Wade. He wrote the following in June:

"Wade has ideal size/length and he plays with tremendous awareness. … He’s very disciplined as a zone defender, showing the ability to quickly read pattern combinations and position himself to make plays on the ball. In man coverage, Wade is patient and avoids false steps. He’s a smooth, fluid mover and he can build speed to catch up down the field. … He’s also a very reliable tackler. I love his overall toughness and demeanor."

Cornerbacks get lots of scrutiny with their play or lack of making a play. Wade appears to be the answer to replacing Ramsey. Let’s see how things play out.