Should LA Rams draft QB in the 2021 NFL Draft, and when?

The LA Rams have not drafted a quarterback since 2016. Should the Rams draft one from the 2021 NFL Draft? If so, when?

The LA Rams are in the hunt for a 2020 NFL Playoff berth, and so far this season, it’s been an emotional roller coaster.  As soon as the Rams have everyone believing, they look horrifically ugly against the San Francisco 49ers or the Miami Dolphins or even the New York Jets, and confidence in this team is shattered. Then, the Rams immediately put up a fundamentally sound game, and optimism begins to grow once more. They defeat the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It seems to be a popular fad to draft a quarterback in a day two round of the NFL Draft. The Green Bay Packers drafted rookie quarterback Jordan Love. And the Philadelphia Eagles drafted rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts. For the Packers, Love is a savings account, a future player asset to be cashed in or traded away at some point in the future. For the Eagles, Hurts is an insurance policy, and has been cashed in during the 2020 NFL season.

Pro or Con

Whatever side of the street you stand on, pro-Goff or con-Goff, there are valid reasons to follow suit in the 2021 NFL Draft. If Goff is at the cusp of becoming a stable quarterback who consistently throws for 30+ touchdowns and fewer than 10 interceptions, then the Rams will have a future trading chip to dangle in the waters for the NFL trade market. If Goff falls by the wayside like the Eagles Carson Wentz, the Rams will have a player to promote to take over.

So while we await the next emotional hairpin turn,  why not do something to occupy the time. Let’s explore who could be there for the LA Rams in rounds two and three of the NFL Draft, and what any of those prospects might bring to the table for the LA Rams in the 2021 NFL season and beyond?

2021 NFL Draft

The LA Rams are not exactly bursting at the seams with draft currency. Due to the trade for defensive back Jalen Ramsey, the Rams do not have a top-three quarterback option from the 2021 NFL Draft. But as we’d cited earlier, the Philadelphia Eagles have opened the door for drafting a second-tier quarterback on day two and holding him in reserve to gradually rotate into the offense.

That experiment has created all sorts of ‘what about Wentz’ issues, but the enthusiasm over Hurts is tough to overlook. Hurts unorthodox style to what has been a rather contemporary and predictable offense has enabled the Eagle to surprise opponents who simply haven’t seen enough of Hurts to defend him. After defenses see Hurts multiple times, will he be as effective? Perhaps not. Right now, the damn on veteran quarterbacks has broken on Carson Wentz, and perhaps Jets quarterback Sam Darnold. How long before the dam breaks on Rams quarterback Jared Goff, if ever?

Picks

So which picks will the Rams have to use in the 2021 NFL Draft? The Rams likely will have a second round, two third-rounds, one fourth-round, one sixth-round, and one seventh-round draft pick. That will not make a package capable of trading up for one of the top quarterbacks in the draft this year, it does offer some intriguing options for the team if a coveted prospect should fall to them.

The Rams have not addressed the quarterback position meaningfully since drafting quarterback Jared Goff first overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. While Goff has certainly been successful, his development certainly has slowed significantly since appearing in Super Bowl 53.

Is that from bad play around him, bad offensive line, bad coaching, or has he merely hit his ceiling and will not improve further? If it is the latter, the Rams should be ready to pull the trigger on a future quarterback to have ready in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Day Two targets

The LA Rams will not be close to drafting the Top-Three quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft. They are Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, Ohio State’s Justin Fields, and Brigham Young University’s Zach Wilson. At least two will go in the top three.  In fact, five could come off the board in round one. So to be safe, we have pulled North Dakota State’s Trey Lance as well as Florida’s Kyle Trask.

The next order of business is to decide beforehand what type of offense the Rams should be running. Of course, it’s easy to follow the latest NFL trend and lean into the direction of a dual-threat quarterback. But how effective are they in terms of long-term NFL ability? Eventually, the legs give out and the offense is left with a quarterback who used to run well running the offense. Or do you go with a traditional pocket-presence quarterback, and surrender the thrill of watching the quarterback evade pressure and run for a touchdown?

Alabama QB

The first target for the  Rams quarterback search likely begins with the 6-foot-2 205-pound quarterback Mac Jones out of Alabama. If you wanted a rookie to have the ability to change the Rams offense and deliver a threat to run for a thousand yards, then Jones is not your target. He was the backup quarterback at Alabama who backed up Tua Tagovailoa  As such, he had plenty of opportunities.

Jones is a typical pocket passer, which surprisingly may tarnish his attractiveness to NFL teams eager to land the next Lamar Jackson/Kyler Murray prototype. But for the LA Rams’ current offense, Jones is an ideal fit. Jones has thrown for 3,749 yards, 32 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. While Jones is not a dual-threat quarterback, he is mobile enough to evade pressure and remain locked on receivers downfield. He has a great football IQ and knows where he wants to go with the football.

Cincinnati QB

Another target for the Rams quarterback search is 6-foot-4 215-pound quarterback Desmond Ridder out of Cincinnati. What you lose for in passing production, you more than makeup for on the ground. While he has less production than Jones, he is certainly just as if not more athletic. It’s tough to measure Ridder’s development in 2020 with the bizarre season. But he has certainly been very effective at finding the end zone when running. His 12 rushing touchdowns this season dwarf his previous two years combined.

Ridder keeps his eyes trained downfield even as he moves nimbly about the pocket. And he is almost the opposite of what Goff has been, as he is capable of changing the game momentum with his legs. Most importantly, this kid can make things happen when the play breaks down. That improvisation factor could be a huge positive when infused with the Rams disciplined offense. He flashes brilliant accuracy and arm strength. He could be a dangerous weapon for the Rams.

Day Three Targets

Of course, if the Rams elect not to draft a quarterback in either round two or three of the 2021 NFL Draft, the likelihood of finding a 2021 impact player drops dramatically. Instead, the Rams will likely seek to develop that prospect behind both Jared Goff and John Wolford for the 2021 NFL season, with the goal for him to compete for playing time in 2022. Of course, that future factor complicates the Rams’ chances of hitting on this pick.

Wake Forest QB

The first prospect is 6-foot-4 230-pound quarterback Jamie Newman. Newman transferred to Georgia from Wake Forest in 2020 but has subsequently opted out for this season. His ties to Wake Forest gives the Rams a solid advantage to vet the young man, as backup quarterback John Wolford is a graduate from the Demon Deacons.  His lack of 2020 playing time will certainly sink Newman’s draft stock. But he has plenty of talent to make his NFL prospects very intriguing.

He is a raw prospect, and the lack of football in 2020 has made him a high risk but high reward draft option. He has accuracy problems on deeper passes but has plenty of arm strength. And despite his threat to run, he needs to polish his footwork and throwing mechanics. He played quarterback in a rushing offense, which means coaching to give him a pass-first mindset

Texas QB

The next day two prospect is 6-foot-3 230-pound quarterback Sam Ehlinger from Texas. He is a fearless leader on the field, a confident young man who amplifies his play on the field with the ability to shine in the brightest spotlights and the biggest stages. He is another quarterback who can play within a structure. But when the plays break down as they often do, he is a master of making something positive out of nothing. A true improviser.

He is a four-year college player, which is a huge plus these days. So why is he a day-three prospect? He has inconsistent accuracy, and his arm strength does not match his size. In short, he dominated collegiate play, but there are deep questions if he can translate into the NFL.  His college production of 11,276 yards, 93 touchdowns to just 27 interceptions suggests that he is worth it.

Louisville QB

The third and final day three quarterback is 6-foot-1 200-pound quarterback Malik Cunningham out of Louisville. While he is also a dual-threat quarterback, his height may prove to be a factor in his draft selection. He has rather good arm-strength and accuracy for a mobile hurler, he tends to track his receiver with his eyes, allowing defensive backs to close to the ball more often than they should. He is also rather reckless with his body when leaving the pocket. He takes unnecessary punishment by not choosing to slide in a timely manner.

While not the biggest and baddest quarterback on this list, he is very similar in stature and style to backup quarterback Wolford. And if the Rams are so enamored with his performance, they’ll certainly take a hard look at Cunningham. Unlike other quarterbacks, Cunningham has demonstrated positive development in each successive year in the NCAA.

Post Draft priority signings

Will history repeat itself? The Rams have not addressed the quarterback position adequately since drafting Jared Goff in 2016. Even with a commitment to him as the team’s starter, the need to have sufficient talent on the roster for the emergencies that eventually happen is wise. So far, the Rams have been content to roll the dice at the quarterback position.

The team has been lucky in 2020. Jared Goff is Mister Dependable under center. Still, banking on no missed time from their starting quarterback is just flirting with disaster. So if the Rams fail to add a quarterback in the draft, they will have some decent options after the draft if they choose to sign one as an undrafted free agent.

Iowa State QB

The first priority signing after the 2021 NFL Draft is to get 6-foot-0 202-pound quarterback Brock Purdy from Iowa State under contract. A three-year collegiate quarterback, Purdy’s development has dipped a bit in 2020, and have many quarterbacks. While he can run for daylight, I wouldn’t call him a dual-threat QB. He can run when flushed out of the pocket, but he will move the chains through the air.

He is a tunnel vision quarterback, looking for and finding most of his targets down the middle of the field. That will need to be coached at the NFL level and will take time. He gets inaccurate under pressure, and his arm strength simply is not up to the task of completing passes off balance. He can place the ball on the money and is quite capable of finding the end zone.

Texas A&M QB

If the Rams fail to get Purdy, they should sign up 6-foot-3 217-pound quarterback Kellen Mond out of Texas A&M. He is another four-year college quarterback and his production did not show a steady trend of improvement over the course of his college career. He peaked in his sophomore season and has been solid, but steady, ever since.

Mond remains poised no matter what is happening around him. That is both a boon and a bane. He doesn’t rattle, but sometimes the defense pressure forces the offense to speed up the tempo, and he doesn’t. He does show an ever-improving accuracy. He doesn’t have much experience in playing under center, mainly lined up in the shotgun. In four seasons, he has thrown for 9,429 yards, 71 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions.

Mississipi State QB

The final quarterback on this list may be the most intriguing of all.  After all, who wouldn’t like to sign a former quarterback of Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach?  Did we save the best for last?  I won’t lie, the thought of 6-foot-5 222-pound quarterback K.J. Costello out of Mississippi State signing on with the LA Rams is enough to fill me with holiday cheer.

He has a cannon of an arm, which is critical for this pocket-passer protege of Mike Leach. While he is accurate, he is also a risk-taker, throwing for just six touchdowns but 11 interceptions in his senior season. He tosses picks when the pocket breaks down, and he needs to ensure he is not throwing to a defensive back rather than taking a sack. Formerly from Stanford, he has the raw talent that flashes brilliantly at times. But he will need to be coached up to realize that potential in the NFL.

And so, there you are. Eight quarterbacks who could potentially be an LA Rams player next season. Do any strike you as a potential draft pick?