NFL Draft 2021: Top 5 LA Rams prospects from MAC

Wide receiver

The next prospect is one of the wide receivers from the class of 2021 that everyone is talking about. Of course, I’m talking about that wide receiver from Western Michigan named D’Wayne Eskridge (6.14-grade per NFL.com)

The LA Rams have met with Western Michigan wide receiver D’Wayne Eskridge at least once. He’s a 5-foot-8, 190-pounder who has exciting speed. He runs a 4.38 40-yard dash. Speed?  This is a wide receiver with a sprinter’s speed. Think of a train. Then think of a bullet-train. Eskridge is a bullet-receiver.

Two words: straight-line speed. Go routes. Game-breaking speed. Think younger, more feral version of WR  Desean Jackson.

Under-sized, yes. Smurfish, yes. But those wheels,  absolutely tantalizing.

Eskridge also returned kicks, so he gets extra points for versatility, a quality the Rams relish.  He finished first in his conference in all-purpose yards per game (213.0) and was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, given to the nation’s most versatile player.

Western Michigan even used him as a gunner for covering kicks. When injuries devastated his college team’s secondary, he filled in at cornerback.  So he’s got the potential to be a bit of a two-way player as well. The Rams will love that about him.

Stat of the day: Eskridge led the Mid-American Conference in receiving yards and touchdowns last year. ‘Nuff said.

The Rams could possibly use a player like this on gadget plays or as a returner to get the ball into his hands in the open field. Eskridge’s speed makes him a home-run threat, but the scouts say he could be one of the steals of the draft if he can expand his route tree.