WR Khalil Shakir models his game after LA Rams WR Cooper Kupp

Perhaps we will hear from more and more rookie wide receiver prospects patterning their approach to the game of football to that of LA Rams WR Cooper Kupp. After all, Kupp just lit up the NFL in epic fashion. Still, when Boise State’s Khalil Shakir named Kupp as his NFL role model, that stood out for me.  You see, Shakir is a very good wide receiver talent who has all of the makings to be an NFL starter, perhaps even a standout NFL receiver, for the team that drafts him.

But he is just one of the receivers who is looking for work this year. It’s a new draft class, one that many believe is so rich and robust with talented receivers, that many teams will defer their interest for receivers and address positional needs of shorter supply. Defensive backs, Edge rushers, defensive linemen, and offensive linemen are all expected to come off the board quickly this year.

And it really does not help that Shakir’s draft grade places him among the middle tier of this draft.

So Shakir will need an edge, some type of hook to attract the attention of NFL scouts, analysts, and personnel executives. He is a talented NFL rookie prospect entering the 2022 NFL Draft with a Round 3 draft grade. In fact, per the NFL.com Draft Tracker, Khalil Shakir is rated as the 102nd player in this draft. Right now, the LA Rams‘ draft debuts with their first pick at 104.

LA Rams draft receivers frequently

And yes, the Rams do love to grab a talented wide receiver.

So will Khalil Shakir attract the Rams’ attention? Should the LA Rams show him any interest in the 2022 NFL Draft?

The LA Rams are going to do what the LA Rams are going to do in the 2022 NFL Draft. In four seasons with Boise State, Shakir has demonstrated the ability to run precise routes, create separation, and improve with each year. Standing at 6-foot-0 and weighing 190-pounds, the young Boise State receiver is a native of Murrieta, California.

His collegiate career is impressive enough, with 208 receptions, 2,878 yards, and 20 touchdowns. He is also a gifted runner, carrying the football for 71 rushes, 414 yards, and four touchdowns on the ground as well. He has even been involved in special teams, as he has returned 24 punts for 180 yards and seven kickoffs for 167 yards.

Shakir is a swiss-army knife

It’s that versatility and commitment to do whatever is asked of him that makes him such an intriguing prospect for the Rams in this draft. While he stands a bit shorter than Kupp, he is nearly a twin to former Rams receiver Robert Woods, who stood 6-foot-0 and weighs 195-pounds. And with Woods traded, the Rams would certainly have the knowledge and opportunity to bring Shakir onto the roster and add his skillset to a very talented NFL receiver room.

Will the Rams pull the trigger on a receiver at 104 in the 2022 NFL Draft?  Well, how have the LA Rams drafted in the past? In recent years, picking wide receivers has become a more popular position to target for the team.

Year    Pick    Posn    Player name
2017     69      WR       Cooper Kupp
2017   117      WR       Josh Reynolds
2018                 N/A
2019                 N/A
2020     57       WR      Van Jefferson
2021     57       WR      Tutu Atwell
2021   141       WR      Jacob Harris
2021   249       WR      Ben Skowronek

So it is not out of the question for the LA Rams to go back to the wide receiver well one more time. For now, we’ll just put this out there. But don’t be surprised if the LA Rams call out the name of Khalil Shakir in the 2022 NFL Draft.

He is the type of offensive weapon who would be an immediate fit for the Rams’ offense. And, as we’ve seen above, the Rams will choose WRs in the NFL Draft whether we believe it to be a positional need, or not.