LA Rams 2021 NFL Draft resembles 2019 NFL Draft

What a haul!

The 2019 Draft haul was pretty spectacular if you consider that the Rams had one of the worst pre-draft positions in terms of draft pick value. With the exception of linebacker Dakota Allen, the 2019 draft class for the LA Rams includes players who have either started, made significant contributions in a rotational role, or both.

Who are they? What can we learn about the Rams draft plans for the 2021 NFL Draft from the 2019 experience? Well, they are as follows:

Round 2, No. 61l: Taylor Rapp, DB, Washington
Round 3, No. 70: Darrell Henderson, RB, Memphis
Round 3, No. 79: David Long, CB, Michigan
Round 3, No. 97: Bobby Evans, OT, Oklahoma
Round 4, No. 134: overall: Greg Gaines, DL, Washington
Round 5, No. 169: overall: David Edwards, OT, Wisconsin
Round 7, No. 243: overall: Nick Scott, S, Penn State
Round 7, No. 251: overall: Dakota Allen, LB, Texas Tech

The LA Rams truly needed to do well in the 2019 NFL Draft and did. In fact, many of the players drafted in 2019 played huge roles in the Rams’ success in 2020. Imagine the scenario if the Rams did not have Darrell Henderson to handle the early ball-carrying load in 2020? Or David Edwards to slide in to start at offensive guard for his second consecutive season? Or even the robust play of defensive lineman Greg Gaines to step up when the Rams discovered that newly signed free agent A’Shawn Robinson would not be able to go for the first half of the NFL season?

Each draft is crucial. Each selected player has an opportunity to become something very special on the LA Rams roster. And the Rams will be handing out those opportunities in a month’s time. Chaos or controlled restocking? Who can say so far from the event?