The LA Rams drafted like the NFL’s version of Moneyball

Big Jake

Okay, so if you haven’t caught on yet, the theme of this article is not about the LA Rams seeking the most productive college players. Rather, the team changed the scorecard a bit and went after players who have solid character, great leadership traits, and off-the-chart athleticism.  And yes, new tight end/wide receiver Jacob Harris checks all of the boxes.

He is an outstanding multi-dimensional athlete. Per Kent Lee Platte, his Relative Athlete Score (RAS) ranks Harris at the 41st best WR out of the past 2,517 players from 1987 to 2021. Now the problem is, how will the LA Rams make use of him? Well, one of the great things about an athlete who buries the needle on almost all the measurements.

And that’s quite the testimony, isn’t it? He is a fourth-round pick. So what is his downside? Well, this 6-foot-5 219-pound prospect is rather new to the game of football. He was initially a walk-on in 2017, and a special team’s ace in 2018.  He finally cracked the team’s offense in 2019, and in two seasons put up nine touchdowns in just 21 games, while averaging 20.1 yards-per-catch.

He has only been involved in the offense for two years of his life, so he will arrive at the Rams with the ‘some assembly required’ disclaimer. He needs to work on his hands, his routes, and how he sets up defensive backs through the course of the game. Despite these weaknesses, the Rams are confident that they can coach him up. And with route runners like Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, and Van Jefferson on the roster, it’s nice to see the Rams change it up a bit.