Rams selects Blake Corum with 83rd overall pick: Instant grade and analysis

The LA Rams certainly did a nice NFL draft day tango to land two of the defensive front players on many Big Boards. The team seemed to do so well that NFL analysts praised their first two selections. So will the team pivot to the offensive side of the football? Or will the team continue to load up on defense? Well, you may or may not believe it, but the team turned to the offensive side of the football.

The Rams know that playing RB Kyren Williams, a 5-foot-9 195-pound featured running back who put up an outstanding season in 2023. But Williams has been a bit injury prone, and if this team intends to win games consistently, the Rams need to take care to manage Williams' workload going forward.

The Rams had a wide set of players to choose from rookie running backs. Only two rushers were chosen before the Rams made their selection. Despite the wide open field, the Rams settled in on Michigan running back Blake Corum. Corum is a 5-foot-8 205-pound. That is very similar to the Rams current top two runners: RB Kyren Williams and RB Ronnie Rivers.

I have learned not to doubt this team's decision making process. Despite the fact that there were many players on the draft board who were more highly regarded, I will trust the Rams to get this pick right for their team, their culture, and their needs.

But I will point out that Corum joins the league of undesized running backs who seem to find their way to this roster. The Rams seem to be missing that big-bodied power back rusher. While Corum tips the scale at 205 pounds, I don't know that he has the ability to run on all three downs. But when you check out his touchdown production, he scored 45 touchdowns in the past two seasons.

He is not without some concerns. He was seriously injured in 2022. And he struggles to pick up blitzes in pass protection. He clearly appears to be a red zone play for the Rams offense. The question is, he was almost certainly going to be on the board at 99, and perhaps even in Round 5.

Did the Rams sacrifice a chance to improve at inside linebacker or at wide receiver in order to pick up a running back? This is a rookie prospect who will need time and more research to grow on me.

Grade: B-