LA Rams mock 2022 NFL Draft, grabbing OL and Edge value

Round 7: Pick 246

With the 246th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams select Sterling Weatherford, safety, from Miami University of Ohio. Weatherford is an outstanding prospect for the LA Rams secondary and is perfectly suited for the Rams’ LB/S role which we have affectionately termed the ‘Super Saiyan’ role.

Weatherford is a towering 6-foot-4, 221-pound thumper who truly can use that massive frame to deliver ball-jarring hits anywhere on the football field. Because he is so physically framed, he has an ideal versatility of playing solid defense regardless of whether it is against the run or the pass. Because he has played center field in an NCAA secondary, Weatherford has seen action in single-high and split-field safety coverage. Because he has great size and speed, he has also been used at covering the slot receiver. However, he was most successful as an overhang defender.

Huge DB for big TE coverage

The Rams continue to face an ever-improving set of tight ends and slot receivers. To date, the Rams have fielded smaller but more athletic defensive backs.  Unfortunately, those defenders find themselves overmatched at the instant that the tight end makes a reception. A 6-foot-4 240-pound tight end can run right through a 5-foot-8 180-pound defensive back with ease.

The Rams have tried to make use of deeper defensive backs like Taylor Rapp. But Rapp is very limited in pass coverage, practically guaranteeing that anyone running a respectable route will make the reception.

With a defensive back like Weatherford, the Rams can get the best of both worlds. He can defend even the biggest and tallest tight ends and have the strength to bring them down if they catch the pass. So why will Weatherford fall to the Rams? Like many other rookie prospects, if he does not fit the prototypical dimensions and cookie-cutter role, teams will look past him.

While this mock draft does not add wide receivers nor tight ends, I think it at least serves one purpose in displaying that the Rams can emerge from the 2022 NFL Draft with eight talented rookie prospects who can all contribute in some form or fashion in the 2022 NFL season.