If the LA Rams drafting CB at 104, they face a tough choice

Option I: With the 104th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the LA Rams select

The first of three cornerbacks we’ll highlight here, Josh Jobe hails from the University of Alabama.  He stands 6-foot-0 and weighs in at 182pounds. So he clears the basics, as that is a decent size for an NFL cornerback. Better yet, he uses his size to his advantage with his physical style of play. That has come in quite handy for SEC football, where he must defend against some of the best wide receivers in the nation.

Unfortunately, this physical play results in flags at times.  Jobe’s 2020 season was actually significantly better than 2021, which has clearly affected his draft status.  He chose to return to Alabama for his senior season and had he elected to come out last year, would have likely been tagged much higher in the draft.

According to PFF (subscription required), Jobe was targeted 56 times in 2021, allowing 40 receptions and giving up four touchdowns, while only grabbing two interceptions.  Compare these numbers to his 2020 season in which he had been targeted 55 times, allowed 26 receptions, and surrendered only one touchdown.

Also concerning, opposing quarterbacks feasted on him. He allowed a calculated quarterback rating of 109.9 when he was defending the wide receiver in 2021. That was a huge regression from the 2020 football season when opposing quarterbacks rated just 63.4 when targeting his receiver.

But just to be clear and completely transparent, Josh Jobe suffered a troublesome injury to his foot. Rather than stay on the bench, he chose to battle through the injury to help his team. That foot injury ultimately kept him out of the CFP Playoffs and required off-season surgery. He should be fully healed and ready to go for the 2022 NFL season.

But you know how it goes with a prospect with medical flags. Or rather, nobody really knows, do they?