LA Rams 2021 NFL Draft: 5 post-draft surprises

V-  Rams did not choose an offensive lineman in the draft

The LA Rams used nine picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, yet found not a single offensive lineman worthy of a selection throughout the draft. That’s, surprisingly disappointing. Penn State offensive center Michal Menet did not come off the board until late in round seven. Alabama offensive guard Deonte Brown and Tennessee offensive guard Trey Smith came off the board in round six.

The Rams did not select either Creed Humphrey or Quinn Meinerz despite the presence of both when the Rams chose in the second round and traded back in the third round. Later in the draft, Florida OT Stone Forsythe found a home with the Seattle Seahawks in round six. Western Michigan OT Jaylon Moore found a home with the San Francisco 49ers in round five.

Now, I’m not about to profess any belief that my skills at assessing talent are greater than that of the very sophisticated and accomplished expertise of the LA Rams personnel and scouting departments. I’m simply in a state of belief that the Rams could not find any potential rookie offensive linemen this year.

Perhaps equally bewildering is the fact that the LA Rams did not wish to find an offensive lineman in this draft. Was it merely an inconvenience to a coaching staff whose mind insisted on new offensive weapons? Was it the educated opinion of the team that this year’s draft class was worth passing on?

Perhaps the most surprising thing about the LA Rams 2021 NFL Draft is the volume of surprises. Sometimes, draft results like this are so insightful and inspired that it leads to a phenomenal season. Other times, it makes less sense on the football field than it did on draft day.

The Rams have a solid track record when it comes to recent NFL drafts. But this is the first NFL draft after the Rams had lost both Brad Holmes and Ray Agnew. Did the Rams lose some draft perspective when they both hired one with the Detroit Lions? Perhaps. And perhaps we are just wound tighter than a drum after the high-risk stakes the Rams have invested in the roster to win now.

Life is certainly not boring as an LA Rams fan. After all of the surprises from this draft, that is just as we have always expected it to be.