2021 NFL Draft: 5 LA Rams positions best filled by UDFAs

Defensive backs

With six picks from the 2021 NFL Draft, the Rams can ill afford to spend multiple picks on cornerbacks and safeties. But the team can shop at will after the draft ends. And the depth in this draft class warrants it.

The LA Rams held a lot of defensive backs on the practice squad roster in 2020, and those players are now all in play for the Rams 2021 53-man roster. The problem is that the Rams lost two cornerbacks, Troy Hill to free agency, and Tyrique McGhee, a prospect planned for a bigger role this year, to discipline problems.

Help us settle this one: Should the LA Rams trade for WR Julio Jones? GO Julio
Help us settle this one: Should the LA Rams not trade for WR Julio Jones? NO Julio

While the team will look long and hard at a cornerback on day two of this draft, the shopping won’t stop there. To address the need to replace Darious Williams in 2022 (presuming that the team won’t have sufficient funds to re-sign him), the Rams will need a starting cornerback from this draft plus two developmental cornerbacks to stash on the practice squad and have ready for next season.

The Rams defense used the practice squad with expert precision last year to stash safety prospects who become solid contributors later in the season. Players like Juju Hughes and J.R. Reed were solid finds. Now, that same safeties coach, Ejiro Evero, runs the entire secondary. You can expect a similar style of draft approach from the Rams at the cornerback position this year.