The LA Rams 2021 NFL Draft rewind: Didn’t deliver just yet

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, there was a growing concern over the LA Rams ‘vision’ for the team and the fact that they drafted for that vision in the 2021 NFL Draft. The problem is, that the team was in the throes of losing some key NFL talent, and needed to hit on some of those players drafted. If that failed to gain any traction then the plan out for the 2021 Draft class was to add the type of athleticism and unique skillsets to simply reload the depth chart with future NFL players.

The Rams certainly accomplished that in 2020, when the team seemed to have added players who could contribute both on offense and defense somewhat immediately. But the Rams skidded off that track in 2021 so far.

Thankfully, we did a deep dive dissection of the LA Rams 2021 Draft class, but now is a golden opportunity to revisit that draft class, and see how effective the team was in meeting present and future needs.

Let’s recap the draft picks eventually exercised by the LA Rams team.

1. Round 2, pick 57     –    WR Tutu Atwell (IR)
2. Round 3, pick 103   –    ILB Ernest Jones (midseason starter)
3. Round 4, pick 117   –    DT Bobby Brown III (low usage)
4. Round 4, pick 130  –     DB Robert Rochell (Starter/IR)
5. Round 4, pick 141   –    TE/WR Jacob Harris (IR)
6. Round 5, pick 174   –    DE Earnest Brown IV (Practice squad)
7. Round 7, pick 233   –    RB Jake Funk (returning from IR)
8. Round 7, pick 249   –    WR Ben Skowronek (Rotational contributor)
9. Round 7, pick 252   –    OLB Chris Garrett (Bench reserve)

It was a fairly diverse group, but keep in mind that the LA Rams had some players coming back from their 2020 roster, whether active 53-man or off the practice squad, presuming to compete for a larger role in 2021. Players like WR Trishton Jackson, DT Michael Hoecht, LB Christian Rozeboom, and more.

Overlaying who was returning with the players who the team drafted, fans and draftniks had a legitimate reason for confusion and concerns. It didn’t make sense. It was as though the Rams did not draft to any given strategy other than letting their eye be caught by some ‘shiny bauble’ and insisting upon having a player like that.