LA Rams boast 5 players ripe for Pro Bowl seasons

WR Jefferson

It’s easy to look past LA Rams rookie wide receiver Van Jefferson and not expect much. After all, if it’s not broken, why fix it? Well, that’s all well and good if nothing changes in the NFL. But we know all too well that rookies who perform well circle the date when they enter the NFL free agency market. When that happens, teams either ante up or wave farewell. So the LA Rams face two players who could sign elsewhere – Cooper Kupp and/or Josh Reynolds. In their place? The Rams hope that rookie Van Jefferson will be ready to fill the roster void.

And he could prove to be even more in 2020.  Even should the offense emphasize running the ball more frequently this season, the offense will pass over 600 times. From that total, the team will likely feature the combination of Kupp, Robert Woods, and Tyler Higbee in 360 pass attempts. That will mean 240 passes go to “all others”. If the Rams are willing to throw 150 passes at the combination of Jefferson and Reynolds as a minimum, Jefferson may not see much action.

Play today, plan for tomorrow

If the team held a completely myopic view, that would restrict Jefferson’s upside. But we know that the Rams run risks of injury. We also know that Washington Redskins WR Terry McLaurin needed just 93 targets to rack up 919 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie season.  Now that McLaurin’s offensive coordinator, Kevin O’ Connell, has signed on with the Rams, it makes sense to project similar results from his 2020 version. That happens to be Van Jefferson.

Jefferson stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 200-pounds. Compare that to 6-foot-0 210-pound McLaurin, 6-foot-0 195-pound Woods, or 6-foot-2 208-pound, Kupp, because Jefferson has been compared to all three receivers numerous times.  When Jefferson lines up on the field, he will bring all that potential to the NFL.  Will he record over 1000 yards receiving in 2020? With so many great receivers, nobody believes it is even possible.  But the numbers work, and the talent is there.  Let them sleep on Van Jefferson this season.