LA Rams: Pros and Cons of fielding the youngest team in the NFL

Pro: The LA Rams have become excellent at developing starters from within

The opportunity to earn a starting role as a rookie may not be easy to achieve, but ultimately the Rams uncover one or two players who do exactly that. And the team may not be the best suited for the next-man-up scenario of addressing mid-season injuries, but the coaching staff of the LA Rams has developed some incredible NFL players from some of the most modest beginnings.

We know that current starting defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph Day was drafted in the sixth round, defensive back Jordan Fuller was drafted in the sixth round, defensive back Darious Williams was undrafted and claimed by the Rams from the Baltimore Ravens waiver wire, left guard David Edwards, linebacker Micah Kiser, and outside linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo were drafted in the fifth round.  It’s not a random coincidence.

Due to the fact that the Rams have not been using selecting in the first round of the NFL Drafts, the team has systemically created a sophisticated process of identifying the right type of attributes to succeed as an NFL player, chosen those players, and then reinforced that development with some of the best coaches in the league.

The rapid transition of day three rookies into NFL starters is incredibly impressive. Necessity is the mother of invention, and for all intents and purposes, the LA Rams have needed to succeed in the later rounds of each NFL Draft.  Even now, the team turns to 2020 NFL Draft day three players like tight end Brycen Hopkins, defensive back Jordan Fuller, and offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrum to step up this year. We know that Fuller will be a starter. But keep an eye on both Hopkins and Anchrum in the offseason.