LA Rams Draft: Who are the winners and losers?

Secondary

Winner – CB Decobie Durant

Rookie cornerback Decobie Durant must also be in dreamland when considering his new home. Like Bruss, Durant should benefit from the departures that preceded his arrival, the outgoing free agent DB Darious Williams signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars during free agency. That exit was further complicated by the LA Rams’ release of CB Kareem Off, and not re-signing CB Donte Deayon.

It is well known that the Rams love cornerbacks that are capable of moving around in the secondary, much in the same way they deploy one of the best in the business right now, DB Jalen Ramsey. In fact, when asked what he was most looking forward to when it came to meeting up with his new colleagues, Durant wasted no time in replying that playing with Ramsey was high on his list.

Indeed, getting the chance to work with the best in the game on a daily basis, study him on the practice field, and even pose the occasional question and ask for his advice, should be an opportunity any rookie cornerback should absolutely relish. Durant is not without his own bit of pass defense prowess, as he picked off 12 passes at South Carolina State, including two in the biggest game of his career against Clemson, and should only get better in the new company he’s keeping. As though Ramsey wasn’t enough, the cornerback’s room for the Rams also includes the excellent pairing of Troy Hill, Robert Rochell, and David Long. Durant offers the team added depth, primarily for the future, and the fact that the Rams are so stacked at the position means he will be afforded plenty of time to sit and learn from the best in the world.

Loser – Terell Burgess

As so many defensive backs have been added to the Rams roster this year, you have to wonder what message is being sent to defensive back Terrell Burgess? He may well be squeezed out of the organization thanks to post-draft overstaffing at his position. Terrell Burgess was selected in the third round of the 2020 draft out of Utah. While he displayed significant potential in his rookie season, Burgess suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 7 of his rookie season.

While many expected him to pick up where he left off in 2021, he never seemed to be held in high regard by the coaching staff. Perhaps the lingering effects of his ankle injury were the reason he failed to reclaim playing time that following season. Injuries and a COVID-19 breakout throughout the secondary didn’t help the continuity of the secondary.

Neither, perhaps, did a change of coordinator help, as former Rams DC Brandon Staley left to take over as the Chargers’ head coach, replaced by current DC Raheem Morris, who brought with him new ideas and a new approach. Staley had envisioned Burgess as a number three safety for dime packages. Under Morris, those opportunities vanished.

Burgess can tackle, no doubt about that. In his final season at Utah, he recorded 7.5 tackles for losses. Head coach Sean Mcvay has always spoken positively of Burgess’s attitude and energy, noting how he is one of those guys that is always smiling. And he has had his moments, most notably as part of the team that vanquished the Arizona Cardinals in week 14 of last year’s drive to the Super Bowl. However, with the Rams having drafted two safeties in Quentin Lake and Russ Yeast, it seems highly unlikely that he will get many more.