What TuTu Atwell brings to the LA Rams

The LA Rams selected speedy wideout TuTu Atwell from the University of Louisville with the 57th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. This pick comes as a surprise as the team had other glaring needs such as offensive center, offensive tackle, and even linebacker.

LA Rams general manager Les Snead (still quarantined with a positive COVID-19 test) and head coach Sean McVay surprised many with their first selection. The team just signed veteran wideout DeSean Jackson to be their speed guy on offense. Now, he has competition with Atwell. Although the move is a head-scratcher, TuTu Atwell is a perfect Swiss army knife type of player for this offense. Let’s dive into what Atwell brings to the team:

Speed

TuTu Atwell is one of the fastest players in this year’s draft class. He posted a 4.27-40 yard dash time during his pro day which opened the eyes of many coaches. He has home run hitting playmaking ability that will take the top off the defense and open up many options for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Not only is he fast, but he also has incredible quickness and with the ball in his hands, he hits second and even third gears and is already 10 yards ahead of the closest defender.

One of the problems with the veteran WR DeSean Jackson is his tendency to be injured. With Atwell, the Rams are clearly committing to the deep ball. That’s the piece to the puzzle that McVay clearly feels is the critical piece to the puzzle. Hopefully, their offensive line will hold up.

Kick Return and Punt Return Ability 

With this pick, the Rams have also found their new returner on special teams. With his game-changing speed, he has the ability to bring it to the house on every return. Special team coordinators will have to think twice before kicking to Atwell. He also has the ability to elude tackles and gain many yards. The LA Rams might have found a secret weapon to put more points on the board. Look for the team to part ways with WR/KR Nsimba Webster.

TuTu Atwell does have size concerns (per NFL.com he is 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds) which is the lightest in this draft. Other than his extremely thin figure, this guy is perfect for a Sean McVay offense. Buckle up Rams fans, you won’t wanna miss this playmaker!