National analyst picks right Rams position battle but whiffs on the players

When it comes to the Los Angeles Rams, we often defer the hottest issues to the NFL experts who love to weigh in on the hottest topics of every NFL team. Sometimes it's just a superficial 'check the box' perusal of something talked about over 32 NFL teams. Occasionally, you see evidence of someone putting in the work to grapple with what matters to Rams fans.

The Rams are anything but settled. The recently published first unofficial Rams depth chart is more like a starting point than a finish line for how the Rams roster will ultimately shake out. So, pointing at any position on the team and declaring it ripe for fierce competition offers no insight. It's better than a 50/50 chance of being correct.

When ESPN NFL analyst Sara Barshop described the most heated position battle on the Rams roster, she ended up at one of the correct positions. She correctly concludes that there are competitive players and fierce competition at the wide receiver position. But she falls short of naming all entrants in the battle.

ESPN overlooks Rams raining camp hero Konata Mumpfield

The article cites veterans Davante Adams and Puka Nacua as the two primary targets for passes this season. Then the author details why the wide receiver position is such a hotbed of competition:

"Behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, the Rams have a group of Tutu Atwell, 2024 sixth-round pick Jordan Whittington, and 2023 undrafted free agent Xavier Smith, who are competing to be Los Angeles' third receiver."

"The role is especially important in the Rams' offense because of Sean McVay's significant usage of 11 personnel (three receivers on the field)." -- Sarah Barshop

Well, I don't mean to disagree, but if the conversation includes the speedy Smith, it most certainly must include the most impressive rookie on the roster so far, Konata Mumpfield.

Mumpfield has earned his spot in the discussion. And that is not by excelling at simple tasks. Rather, he has the start/stop/pivot mobility of a Peregrine Falcon. And it's that very quality that makes him such a valuable addition to the WR room.

Wide Receiver: Davante Adams | Jordan Whittington | Mario Williams | Tru Edwards
Wide Receiver: Tutu Atwell | Xavier Smith | Britain Covey | Brennan Pressley
Wide Receiver: Puka Nacua | Konata Mumpfield | Drake Stoops

As soon as you look over the team's current wide receiver room, Mumpfield somehow being behind his colleagues feels like a bit of a stretch. I'd wager that he is very much in the mix for a contributing WR role this season.

There are many issues that need to be sorted out. And there is still enough time to do so. But we can't close the doors to promising rookies this early. Konata Mumpfield may not win the third wide receiver role, but it's more about experience than performance.

As always, thanks for reading.

National analyst picks right Rams position battle but whiffs on the players

ESPN overlooks Rams raining camp hero Konata Mumpfield

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