The inside scoop from LA Rams DB Nick Scott

One of the heroes of the 2021 NFL season for the LA Rams is the undervalued but big-hitting defensive back Nick Scott. While Scott played a huge role for the LA Rams in 2021, all the way to the Super Bowl LVI victory, his status in terms of the depth chart this year remains up in the air.

But he remains one of my favorite defensive backs, if nothing more than the fact this his hit to stop San Francisco 49ers RB/WR Deebo Samuel dead in tracks and has compelled Samuel to demand a WR role only.

Nick Scott was a game-changer in 2021. A game-changer in some pretty big games for the LA Rams. It only makes sense that fans would enjoy having a bit of his perspective on what it’s like to lift weights next to Aaron Donald. Or my personal favorite, when he enjoyed picking off Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady or laying out Deebo more. Well, we have your answers, thanks to ESPN Australia and New Zealand:

Good questions. Great answers.

Gotta prove his worth again

Of course, that was then and this is now. Now is a new season, injured players have healed, and the 53-man roster and depth chart is already returning to last year’s familiarity. Still, Nick Scott has been developing rapidly, perhaps to the point of competing for a starting role?

Entering his fourth season, Scott is coming off his career-best season.  He played in all 17 regular-season games and even started once. He piled up 47 tackles, four deflected passes, and two interceptions. He was targeted 24 times, did not allow a touchdown, and allowed only 16 passes to find their mark.

He started all four playoff games, putting up 14 tackles, three deflected passes, and another interception. He was a solid contributor on the football field as the Rams earned their first Super Bowl victory for the city of Los Angeles. Now? He’s fighting for the right to play defensive snaps.

The chance of Scott earning a starting role in this defense is probably less than 50 percent. But even as a backup, he should get plenty of playing time. He’s gotten better each season. That means that the 2022 NFL season could end up being his best yet.