Rams' prescribed linebacker prospect would be painful swing and miss

The Los Angeles Rams may shake up their approach in this year's NFL draft. Typically, general manager Les Snead does not look favorably upon linebackers. This time, he could snag one as soon as the second round.

That's according to ESPN insider Matt Miller, who revealed that, in addition to targeting a receiver in Round 1, the Rams are eying linebackers at pick No. 61. Miller specifically names Missouri's Josiah Trotter as a prospect they could be watching. 

Drafting Trotter, however, would be an agonizing swing-and-a-miss with other options available. What the Horns need is a pass-coverage complement to Nate Landman's solid play against the run. Trotter gobbles up ball carriers for breakfast, but in college, he struggled mightily in coverage. 

Even with an enticing overall profile, he's not a match for the Rams, particularly compared to a more polished player like Cincinnati's Jake Golday. Let's hope Snead addresses LA's need without falling victim to the appeal of Trotter's explosive physical attributes. 

Josiah Trotter would not address thorn in Horns' side 

Pro Football Focus awarded Trotter a pass coverage grade of 47.9 last season, 710th out of 809 graded linebackers in the FBS. Despite his excellent run defense and ferocity as a pass rusher, his weakness in coverage is a glaring red flag.

The Rams might not need a full-time starter as a rookie, but preferably, whoever they take in this year's draft will see significant snaps. They can't afford to invest in Trotter if he will be routinely exploited. As valuable as his pass-rush abilities could be in the right scheme, this defense needs someone who can man the middle of the field. 

The knock on Golday, meanwhile, is that he lacks physical explosiveness on Trotter's level. What he is, though, is a dependable force up the middle, in all phases of the game. He won't help out as much in the pass rush, but at linebacker, the Rams should not prioritize that as much as security in the second level of the defense. 

Alongside Landman, Omar Speights is a fine player, but he gets exposed in coverage. While adding Trotter would make LA's linebacker corps more dynamic, it wouldn't address their current vulnerabilities. 

Of course, Golday could be off the board by the time the Rams hit the clock in Round 2. Rather than settle for Trotter, though, they could explore a wide range of additional options. 

Texas LB Anthony Hill could be there. Snead could trade up to take Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech). He could move back for Kyle Louis out of Pittsburgh. He could bide his time for Alabama's Deontae Lawson. 

Maneuvering for the right match would be preferable to spending a pick on another linebacker who struggles in coverage. Rams fans have seen that movie, and they aren't clamoring for a sequel.