The last 5 Rams Drafts - Graded in 2021

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Los Angeles Rams 2020 Draft Class Graded In 2021

With less than a month to go until the NFL Draft, it is the perfect time to look at the last handful of Rams draft classes. This series looks at the last five years of drafts and assigns a grade on each pick based on how they turned out with one cumulative grade at the end. With 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 out of the way, it is time to look at the most recent draft class of 2020.

This draft was recent enough that the class is still in its honeymoon phase with many of the picks so these grades are more subject to change than previous classes. Like several seasons before it, the Rams did not have a first-round draft pick for 2020. The first pick of the Rams 2020 draft class came in the second round with Cam Akers.

Rams 2020 Draft Class Graded In 2021

Running Back, Cam Akers – Second Round, Pick 52 Overall

Cam Akers rushed 145 times for 625 yards, averaging 4.3 yards-per-carry, and scored two touchdowns. In addition, he caught 11 passes for 123 yards and one touchdown. He played in 13 games and had five starts. Overall, Akers has done exactly what a team should ask for from their rookie running back. If Akers can improve next season, play in every game, and come close to tripling the number of games started, the Rams will have officially found their guy for the future.

Grade: B+

Wide Receiver, Van Jefferson – Second Round, Pick 57 Overall

Van Jefferson found the field 16 times this season and earned a 67.1 grade per PFF. He caught 19 of 31 targets for 220 yards and one touchdown in his rookie season. Overall, his rookie year was pretty slow but it wasn’t a disaster. It should also be noted that with Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods soaking up the targets, Jefferson didn’t exactly need to be a pillar of the offense in his first season. That said, to make this a useful pick, he’ll need to be a bigger part of the offense next season. A good second season would see him earn over 400 yards and multiple touchdowns at the least.

Grade: C+

Defensive End, Terrell Lewis – Third Round, Pick 84 Overall

Terrell Lewis had eight games with no starts but he posted a 70.4 grade per PFF. He had two sacks, five tackles, and four quarterback hits. In the end, his rookie year turned out to be lukewarm but he should get a chance to salvage it next season. That said, he cannot be a third-round pick and have two years with the same level of statistics. In other words, he needs to play in 14 games or more and start a few games in 2021. In addition, he needs to have at least doubled his number of sacks and tackles next season.

Grade: C

Safety, Terrell Burgess – Third Round, Pick 104 Overall

Terrell Burgess finished his rookie season with a disappointing 47.7 grade per PFF. He got work in seven games with no starts. In that time, he had eight combined tackles. Put succinctly, Burgess needs to be better next season to stick with the team long-term. As a third-round pick, he is on the edge of being a reach or worse.

Grade: C-

Tight End, Brycen Hopkins – Fourth Round, Pick 136 Overall

Brycen Hopkins had five games of work in 2020 and never recorded a statistic. Hopkins is on pace to be a bust but he has a fighting chance of maybe, possibly, seeing the field more due to the exit of Gerald Everett. However, he will have to claw back into the picture. Based on what he’s done, he appears to be in a spot where every practice could be his last.

Grade: D-

Safety, Jordan Fuller – Sixth Round, Pick 199 Overall

At the conclusion of his rookie season, Jordan Fuller scored a grade of 63.6 per PFF. He started all of the twelve games he played in and had three picks and 60 combined tackles. As a reminder, this is a sixth-round pick and not a first or second-round pick. In other words, Fuller’s rookie season was quite impressive. However, 2021 will show if 2020 was a fluke. That said, if this is what the Rams can expect every season, he will turn out to be one of their best-value picks in the last several drafts.

Grade: A+

Linebacker, Clay Johnston – Seventh Round, Pick 234 Overall

Clay Johnston was a fan favorite after his video with the Rams after getting drafted went viral. With the lack of depth at the ILB position, he had a real shot to seize the opportunity and have a real impact on the defense. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t a fit with the Rams, and he was waived before the season even started. He signed with the Carolina Panthers shortly after. He may go on to have a great NFL career, but for the sake of this article, his time with the Rams is basically graded as non-existent.

Grade: F

Kicker, Sam Sloman – Seventh Round, Pick 248 Overall

Drafted to be the successor to Greg Zuerlein, Sam Sloman lasted only seven games with the Rams. In those games, he made eight of 11 field-goal attempts and 18 of 21 extra-point attempts. After getting booted, he went to the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans and played in their Week 17 game where he made every kick. Nevertheless, he was released around the end of the season and his career is now in limbo. With only 32 spots in the world for Sloman to see game action and a rough start to his career already in the books, Sloman’s chances seem to be pretty slim in the NFL.

Grade: D-

Offensive Line, Tremayne Anchrum – Seventh Round, Pick 250 Overall

Pro Football Reference has Tremayne Anchrum marked as getting 12 games on the game-day roster but only three snaps in every game combined per PFF, earning a 61.1 grade. In other words, he’s still waiting for his moment. In the end, he needs to find a way onto the field in 2021 to secure a role, assuming he survives training camp.

Grade: C-

Rams 2020 Draft Class Final Grade

Overall, this draft class still has a lot of potential. The best value thus far has been the selection of safety Jordan Fuller in the sixth round. Also, this draft gave the Rams running back Cam Akers and wide receiver Van Jefferson, both of whom could have a chance to be with the team for the long term. Additionally, this draft gave the Rams other pieces that could have breakout seasons in 2021.

With that said, it is also too early to anoint this class as a bonafide success due to its youth. However, it would not be surprising to see five players from this draft still playing for the Rams in a few years. Overall, the floor of this draft seems to be average (with the exception of Sam Sloman) and the sky remains the limit which is a great spot to be in with a one-year-old draft class.

Grade: B


Los Angeles Rams 2019 Draft Class Graded In 2021

With a month to go until the NFL Draft, now is a great time to look back. This series looks at the last five draft classes and assigns grades based on how each pick turned out with a final grade given at the end. With 2016, 2017, and 2018 now finished, it is time to look at the draft class of 2019. For the second year in a row, the Rams did not have a first-round draft pick. Thus the first look into the Rams 2019 draft class will come in the second round.

Safety Taylor Rapp – Round Two, Pick 61 Overall

Taylor Rapp earned a solid rookie grade of 63.3 by PFF in 2019. He started 10 games and played in 15 games that season. The next season, he earned a 67.5 overall PFF grade. In terms of grades, he showed reliability. However, he only had five starts and nine games of action. His 2020 season was hampered with an injury and was what hurt his availability. Overall, the young defender has had a good start to his career but he needs to stay healthy and continue to grow.

Grade: B

Running Back Darrell Henderson – Round Three, Pick 70 Overall

2019 saw Darrell Henderson’s first season. In that season, he had 39 carries for 147 yards and a 3.8 yard-per-carry average with no touchdowns. The next season, he had 138 carries for 624 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. At the end of the day, Henderson has been very encouraging in his young career. He has a good yard-per-carry average that coincides with his increase in production and usage. He has now played in 28 games in two seasons so he has been able to maintain availability, for the most part, as well.

Grade: B

Cornerback David Long – Round Three, Pick 79 Overall

In 2019, David Long played in eight games and earned a 67.4 PFF grade. In 2020, Long played in 16 games, started a game, and posted a 53.6 grade. Put simply, it is not good to play worse with more work. He has to pick it up next season if he wants a long-term future with this team.

Grade: C-

Offensive Tackle Bobby Evans – Round Three, Pick 97 Overall

In 2019, Bobby Evans earned a 49.4 PFF grade and played 472 snaps. In 2020, Evans only played one snap (in the regular season) and received a 60.0 grade per PFF. Basically, one needs to see production out of all third-round picks in their second year in order to have a chance of getting called a good pick. Evans is trending in the wrong direction, but is currently still a good depth piece.

Grade: C

Defensive Lineman Greg Gaines – Round Four, 134 Overall

PFF scored Greg Gaines as 74.4 in 2019. He had 10 solo tackles and one sack. PFF then scored him 65.0 in 2020. In that season, he recorded 14 solo tackles and two sacks. In his young career, he’s played in 26 of 32 games. In other words, he’s been available, has a decent PFF grade, and has growing stats year-to-year. His play slipped a little according to his grades but as a fourth-round pick, getting this much work is a decent result.

Grade: C+

Offensive Tackle David Edwards – Round Five, Pick 169 Overall

2019 saw David Edwards earn a 61.1 PFF grade during his 689 snaps of action. 2020 saw his play rise to a 70.3 PFF grade during 1,006 snaps of action. In total, he has allowed four sacks in around 1,700 snaps. This is coming from a fifth-round pick. He’s started out decently and is getting better with an increased workload. He had 10 starts in 2019 and 14 starts in 2020 and he’s seen work in all 32 games. Overall, he’s been one of the best value selections by the Rams in this series, and arguably one of the better ones in the NFL during that same period.

Grade: A

Safety Nick Scott – Round 7, Pick 243 Overall

In 2020, Nick Scott posted a 62.1 PFF grade in his 15 games of action. Compared to his 66.9 PFF grade in 2019 with 16 games of action, he’s stayed in the same ballpark but has eroded a little. That said, as a seventh-round pick, Scott has already risen above the majority of seventh-round picks in terms of resulting workload. He is also a staple on the special teams unit.

Grade: B-

Linebacker Dakota Allen – Round 7, Pick 251 Overall

Dakota Allen was drafted by the Rams and released before Week One on August 31, 2019. After that, he bounced around between the Rams and Raiders’ practice squads before going to the Jacksonville Jaguars in December of 2019. If the Rams were willing to lose him that quickly by putting him on the practice squad, it simply shows how bad of a pick it was, to begin with.

Grade: F

Rams 2019 Draft Class Graded In 2021 – Final Grades

Overall, it was a good bounceback draft from 2018, considering that there was no first-round draft pick once again. Arguably, the best value draft pick leading up to 2019, in terms of recent history, was David Edwards. The draft also saw other good values added as well. The only bonafide bust for the Rams was the drafting of Dakota Allen. That said, even he drew interest from other teams around the league.

Overall Grade: B+

Los Angeles Rams 2018 Draft Class Graded In 2021

With the NFL Draft less than six weeks away, it is a good time to look back. This series looks at the last handful of Rams draft classes and assigns grades to each player and class as a whole. With 2016 and 2017’s draft classes in the rear-view mirror, it is now time to look at the Rams 2018 draft class. In this year’s draft, there were no picks in the first two rounds. The first pick came in the third round and that is where to begin.

Rams 2018 Draft Class Graded In 2021

Offensive Tackle, Joe Noteboom – Round Three, Pick 89 Overall

While Joe Noteboom’s abilities on the field aren’t quite as noteworthy or explosive as the name implies, they are still quite competent. Per Pro Football Focus, in his 633 snaps played in 2020, he had three penalties and allowed two sacks. Two sacks in 633 snaps equates to about one every 316 snaps or four and a half games. That is pretty solid. His three penalties equal to about one every 211 snaps or one every three games which is also pretty respectable.

Looking back, the offensive tackle only played 79 snaps in 2018 and 376 snaps in 2019. PFF graded Noteboom as a rough 39.6 overall grade in that year and scored him as a 60.3 in 2020. Overall, Joe Noteboom has had growth but he needs to continue to get better in 2021. If he can have another jump in abilities, the Rams might have found a pillar on the offensive line. However, 2021 will be critical for him to solidify himself.

Grade: B-

Center, Brian Allen – Round Four, Pick 111 Overall

Brian Allen missed 2020 due to injury and barely saw the field in 2018. That leaves 2019 as the only data to look at. In that season, PFF graded him as a 58.6 overall which leaves a lot of room for growth, especially after a lost 2020 season. In 563 snaps in that season, Allen had five penalties and one sack allowed. The penalties average out to one every game and a half which is too common. On the other hand, one sack surrendered in a season is pretty good. At the end of the day, injury concerns abound but with a decent 2021, the Rams could feel that they found a long-term starter in Allen.

Grade: C+

Defensive End, John Franklin-Myers – Round Four, Pick 135 Overall

After being drafted, John Franklin-Myers played quietly in 2018. He ended the season with two sacks and 10 combined tackles. He never saw the field in 2019. In 2020, Franklin-Myers went to the New York Jets where he had a similar season to 2018 in which he earned three sacks and 19 combined tackles.

Looking back now, the defensive end was drafted, played a bit, didn’t impress, struggled to stay healthy in 2019, and went to the Jets almost as soon as he was acquired.

Grade: D-

Inside Linebacker, Micah Kiser – Round Five, Pick 147 Overall

Micah Kiser had four tackles in 2018, was hurt in 2019, and returned to step into a starter role for 2020. He ended up playing in nine games. In those nine games, he earned 77 combined tackles, had three passes defended, one quarterback hit, and no tackles for loss. Kiser wasn’t a game-changer and has struggled to stay healthy in his young NFL career. The Rams need a better solution at inside linebacker but Kiser did fill a spot on the roster for a while as a fifth-round pick which isn’t as egregious as if it was a first or second-round selection.

Grade: C

Defensive End, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo – Round Five, Pick 16 Overall

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo didn’t play in 2018. However, he saw the field in 10 games in each of the following two seasons. In those 20 total games, he scored 2.5 sacks and 19 combined tackles with no starts. Overall, he has become a quiet bench player which is about what the realistic expectation for a late pick is but Okoronkwo has been the bare minimum.

Grade: C-

Running Back, John Kelly – Round Six, Pick 176 Overall

John Kelly didn’t see the field last season. He’s been on the roster bubble and will now be fighting to make the 2021 Browns roster. In 2018, Kelly had 27 touches for 74 yards which averages out to 2.7 yards per carry. In 2019, the running back had only three carries for nine yards. Put simply, Kelly was a bit of a disappointing development in the story of the Rams’ running back room.

Grade: D

Offensive Tackle, Jamil Demby – Round Six, Pick 192 Overall

In his rookie year, Jamil Demby played in six games with one start. Since then, he’s bounced to the Detriot Lions and back to the Los Angeles Rams. Basically, Demby is a fringe practice squad player hanging onto his career by his fingernails.

Grade: D-

Defensive Tackle, Sebastian Joseph-Day – Round Six, Pick 195 Overall

Sebastian Joseph-Day has played in 31 of the 32 games from 2019 through 2020. In that span, the defensive tackle racked up 99 combined tackles. In his first year in the NFL, Joseph-Day was a no-show but being able to be a sixth-round pick and then playing in nearly every game after his rookie year is a really good value.

Grade: A

Defensive End, Trevon Young – Round Six, Pick 205 Overall

In his first year, Trevon Young saw the field in two games and racked up stats. His only big accomplishment was that recovered a fumble once and hasn’t seen the field since. Put succinctly, Young didn’t have much of an impact on the Rams.

Grade: F

Outside Linebacker, Travin Howard – Round Seven, Pick 231 Overall

Travin Howard didn’t play in his rookie season but stepped on the field in 2019 where he played in all 16 games. In those games, he racked up 22 combined tackles which is a little more than one tackle per game. He missed 2020 with a meniscus tear. He was slated to start before the injury, which shows tremendous value for a former 7th round pick. Will he have the opportunity again this season once healthy? If so, this grade may jump much higher, but for now, he is still fairly unknown.

Grade: C-

Defensive End, Justin Lawler – Round Seven, Pick 244 Overall

Justin Lawler saw the field in only 2018 and combined for six tackles. However, Lawler had snaps in all 16 games played that season, per Pro Football Focus. Since that season, he started having injury issues and is currently incognito at the moment. When looking at how badly a seventh-round pick can go, getting a year of action out of one seems like an accomplishment.

Grade: C

Rams 2018 Draft Class Graded In 2021: Final Grades

Looking back from 2021, the Rams 2018 draft class did not turn out the greatest. Far and away, the best selection was Sebastian Joseph-Day who planted himself as a starter on the defensive line. Brian Allen has a real chance to bounce back to being a building block as well, and Joe Noteboom has been a solid depth piece. Outside of those three players, everyone else has either faded into the background or disappeared completely. Of course, this is a really likely outcome when a team doesn’t have a first or second-round pick. On the other hand, one cannot look at a bad draft and call it good because of the lack of top picks.

Grade: D+

Los Angeles Rams 2017 Draft Class Graded In 2021

With the NFL Draft on the horizon, it’s a great time to look back. This series looks at the last handful of Rams draft classes and assigns grades to each player and the class as a whole. With 2016 now out of the way, the focus now will be on the Rams 2017 Draft class. This was the first class that would be led by Head Coach Sean McVay. Was it a banger or a whimper?

Rams 2017 Draft Class Graded In 2021

Tight End Gerald Everett – Round Two, Pick 44 Overall

Gerald Everett started slow and has been picking up speed like a full bus going uphill. His worst season was in 2017 where he had 16 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns. His best season was arguably two years later in 2019 when he had 37 catches for 408 yards and two touchdowns. Granted, he’s essentially been a co-starter with tight end Tyler Higbee for his entire career.

As another factor, the offense has always had established weapons at other positions so they’ve never really needed a Gronkowski-level performance from their tight ends. That said, when a team uses their top pick on a player, that player needs to do more than Everett has. Also, when George Kittle is on the board and the team picks Gerald Everett, one can only wonder what could have happened if the Rams had picked Kittle instead. Everett is expected to hit free agency in 2021.

Grade: C-

Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp – Round Three, Pick 69 Overall

Cooper Kupp set most fans’ minds at ease in his rookie season when he set the rookie reception record in 2017. Since then, he has gone on to be a top receiver in a recently stacked roster at the position. Overall, he’s earned about 1,000 yards in three of his four seasons with the team.

Kupp, unfortunately, tore his ACL and ended his 2018 season early but was able to bounce back for his best season yet the following year. In 2019, he caught 94 balls for 1,161 yards and 10 touchdowns. Overall, when it comes to third-round selections, one cannot do much better than Cooper Kupp.

Grade: A

Safety John Johnson III – Round Three, Pick 91 Overall

Put succinctly, John Johnson has been a very solid starter for the Rams and had a breakout 2018 season. In that 2018 season, Johnson had 85 solo tackles and four interceptions. The stats placed him tied for fourth overall in the league in those categories. per Pro Football Focus.

However, most recently, Johnson allowed 51 receptions on 69 targets in 2020. His arguably worst season, statistically, has come at the worst time as he’s set to hit the market for 2021.

Grade: B

Wide Receiver Josh Reynolds – Round Four, Pick 117 Overall

Josh Reynolds has been with the Rams every year since being drafted. He’s basically alternated good (for his draft rank) and quiet seasons. In 2017, Reynolds had 11 catches for 104 yards. In 2018, he had 29 catches for 402 yards and five touchdowns. In 2019, he posted 21 catches for 326 yards and one touchdown, Most recently, in 2020, he posted 52 catches for 618 yards and two touchdowns. If Reynolds hits the market for 2021, he could draw interest from many teams.

Grade: B+

Outside Linebacker Samson Ebukam – Round Four, 125 Overall

Samson Ebukam has played his entire career with the Rams thus far. In those seasons, he started 14 games twice, two games in one season, and five in another. Ebukam wasn’t the star of the show on defense in the vast majority of the games he played in except for a game in 2018 when he showed up big against the Chiefs on Monday Night Football. In that game, Ebukam became the first player since 1982, when sacks started to be tracked, to have a sack, an interception, and two touchdowns in a game, per ESPN. At the end of the day, one great game doesn’t make a career but it definitely helps.

Grade: C+

Defensive Tackle Tanzel Smart – Round Six, 189 Overall

Tanzel Smart played with the Rams until 2019 and played with the New York Jets in 2020. He started four games for the Rams in that time and only earned three combined tackles in 2020 with the Jets. Needless to say, he didn’t see the field much. Basically, he only helped fill a roster spot for the Rams for three years. In the sixth round, however, that is above average. That said, when looking at other names drafted in the same round after Smart, Safety Xavier Woods would have been the better choice, who ended up going to the Cowboys.

Grade: D

Fullback Sam Rogers – Round Six, Pick 206 Overall

Sam Rogers was a practice squad player who had a very short NFL tenure. He was waived by the Rams in 2017 and then went to the Bills where they waived him in 2018. After that, he disappeared from the league. Put simply, Rogers was a flat-out bust. The Rams could have selected wide receiver David Moore with the pick, who ultimately ended up going to Seattle.

Grade: F

Ejuan Price Defensive End – Round Seven, Pick 234 Overall

Ejuan Price played in just one game for the Rams in 2017 and never saw the field again. Almost anyone else would have been a better choice. Trading the pick would have been better than how it turned out.

Grade: F

Los Angeles Rams 2017 Draft Class Graded In 2021: Final Grade

In the end, the first draft class of the Sean McVay era had two immediate busts and everyone else stuck around for several years or more. The class gave the Rams wide receivers Cooper Kupp and John Johnson as the cream of the crop in addition to a few usable players but no gems late in the draft. At the end of the day, knowing what the Rams know about these players now, three or four of the eight picks would be returned for in-store credit.

Overall Grade: C



Los Angeles Rams 2016 Draft Class Graded In 2021

With the NFL Draft now on the horizon, it’s a good time to review the past handful of draft classes. This series will look at each one of the last five drafts and review what the picks have been doing and how well they worked out for the Rams. Each player and draft class will be graded. This is a series where each article will focus on one year, starting back in 2016 and ending in 2020. Without further ado, here’s a look at the last draft class of the Jeff Fisher era: the class of 2016.

Los Angeles Rams 2016 Draft Class Graded In 2021

Quarterback Jared Goff – Round One, First Pick Overall

The Los Angeles Rams bet the farm on Jared Goff. Did they win? Goff had three seasons with playoff appearances and one Super Bowl appearance in his time with the Rams which is strong for a young quarterback. However, he was traded for Matthew Stafford just weeks after his playoff loss against the Green Bay Packers.

If Jared Goff had won the Super Bowl in 2018, he would be looked at as a bargain at first overall. However, the Super Bowl loss changed the trajectory of his career and eventually became the underlying catalyst for his exit. Looking back, it has become clear that Jared Goff was largely carried by Head Coach Sean McVay’s offense, Defensive Coordinator Brandon Staley’s defense, and multiple star-studded rosters.

That said, many teams would give their next several first and second-round picks to have a five-year run like the Rams have had with Goff at the helm. In the end, Goff’s biggest accomplishment was helping end more than a decade of mediocrity for the Rams. On the other hand, how good could a quarterback pick actually be if he ends up on another team five years later?

Grade: B

Tight End Tyler Higbee – Round Four, Pick 110 Overall

Five years later, this fourth-round pick is still with the team. Arguably the best value pick for the 2016 draft, Tyler Higbee was a co-starter with Gerald Everett over the last two seasons. Higbee’s best season thus far came in 2019 when he caught 69 balls for 734 yards and three touchdowns.

Currently, the Tight End is halfway through a four-year deal but now he has entered a time when the Rams can cut him and save money according to Sportrac. Will the Rams take a tight end if an opportunity presented itself? They would need to guarantee a star with their selection in order to upgrade the talent over what Higbee can do.

Grade: B+

Wide Receiver Pharoh Cooper – Round Four, Pick 117 Overall

Five years later, Pharoh Cooper has been on four different teams. He played for the Rams from 2016 until 2018 and made the Pro Bowl in his last season with the Rams. Interestingly, Cooper never recorded a single in-game stat outside of special teams in his 2018 Pro Bowl season.

After his time with the Rams, Cooper bounced to the Arizona Cardinals from 2018 until 2019, spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals in that same year, and played for the Carolina Panthers in 2020. After his recent history, the question for Cooper is where his next pit stop will be.

In the end, Cooper was a good short-term value but a bad long-term value pick for the Rams.

Grade: C+

Tight End Temarrick Hemingway – Round Six, Pick 177 Overall

Like Cooper, Temarrick Hemingway has played for four teams in the last five years. He played for the Rams in 2016, skipped football in 2017, and played for the Denver Broncos in 2018, the Carolina Panthers in 2019, and the Washington Football Team in 2020. In total, Hemingway has played in 21 games and recorded one catch for 10 yards. Needless to say, one catch for 10 yards in five years is not going to be seen as a high value.

The Rams moved on from Hemingway almost immediately as well as every other team he has played for. Put simply, this was nearly as bad of a pick as it could get without getting into never-seeing-the-field territory.

Grade: F

Middle Linebacker Josh Forrest – Round Six – Pick 190 Overall

Josh Forrest spent one year with the Rams in which he had four starts and 10 games played. He ended his season with no sacks, one fumble recovery, and nine tackles. After leaving the Rams, Forrest went to Seattle to play for the Seahawks in 2017. He played in two games and subsequentially disappeared from the NFL. In simple terms, Forrest’s career was short-lived.

Grade: F

Wide Receiver Mike Thomas – Round Six, Pick 206 Overall

Mike Thomas played for the Rams for four years, from 2016-2019. He has logged 40 games of experience with one start but never caught a touchdown with the Rams. His best season was when he recorded five catches for 93 yards back in 2017.

Later, he ended up going to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020 where he had 13 catches for 132 yards.

Overall, Thomas is a little better than his stats with the Rams indicate as the wide receiver room was simply too stacked with talent to have any real use for him. Also, getting four years of use out of a sixth-round pick is a decent value even if he didn’t exactly light the field on fire.

Grade: C

Rams 2016 Draft Class Final Grade

Jared Goff and Tyler Higbee were the biggest hits from the Rams 2016 draft class. Pharoh Cooper was also a nice flash in the pan but ultimately fell off. If the Rams were to get another blind shot at the draft having known about each player what they know now, they’d ask to reselect at least two or three choices from this draft.

Overall Grade: C+
 

jjab360

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Fourth round TE who clearly wasn't drafted to start right away and spends the year on the bench behind two starting caliber players is a bust? Give me a break lol.

Hopkins is clearly in a position to begin contributing this year.
 

Mojo Ram

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Contribution and PT is weighed heavily in these grades. Quality of production as well of course, but let's be honest...it's more difficult for rookies to get PT on loaded rosters(like the Rams or Chiefs) than it is being drafted by say, the Jets or the Lions.
 

Neil039

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Seattle transplant working for LAFB Network is clearly free of bias...lol
 

CoachAllred

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Hopkins is on pace to be a bust
Hopkins was drafted with the full intention of red shirting his rookie year.
A developmental pick.
A TE sitting his rookie year is in no way a indication of being a bust. SMH

Based on what he’s done, he appears to be in a spot where every practice could be his last.
LOL. I got nuthin for this asinine statement
 

PhillyRam

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Los Angeles Rams 2020 Draft Class Graded In 2021

With less than a month to go until the NFL Draft, it is the perfect time to look at the last handful of Rams draft classes. This series looks at the last five years of drafts and assigns a grade on each pick based on how they turned out with one cumulative grade at the end. With 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 out of the way, it is time to look at the most recent draft class of 2020.

This draft was recent enough that the class is still in its honeymoon phase with many of the picks so these grades are more subject to change than previous classes. Like several seasons before it, the Rams did not have a first-round draft pick for 2020. The first pick of the Rams 2020 draft class came in the second round with Cam Akers.

Rams 2020 Draft Class Graded In 2021

Running Back, Cam Akers – Second Round, Pick 52 Overall

Cam Akers rushed 145 times for 625 yards, averaging 4.3 yards-per-carry, and scored two touchdowns. In addition, he caught 11 passes for 123 yards and one touchdown. He played in 13 games and had five starts. Overall, Akers has done exactly what a team should ask for from their rookie running back. If Akers can improve next season, play in every game, and come close to tripling the number of games started, the Rams will have officially found their guy for the future.

Grade: B+

Wide Receiver, Van Jefferson – Second Round, Pick 57 Overall

Van Jefferson found the field 16 times this season and earned a 67.1 grade per PFF. He caught 19 of 31 targets for 220 yards and one touchdown in his rookie season. Overall, his rookie year was pretty slow but it wasn’t a disaster. It should also be noted that with Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods soaking up the targets, Jefferson didn’t exactly need to be a pillar of the offense in his first season. That said, to make this a useful pick, he’ll need to be a bigger part of the offense next season. A good second season would see him earn over 400 yards and multiple touchdowns at the least.

Grade: C+

Defensive End, Terrell Lewis – Third Round, Pick 84 Overall

Terrell Lewis had eight games with no starts but he posted a 70.4 grade per PFF. He had two sacks, five tackles, and four quarterback hits. In the end, his rookie year turned out to be lukewarm but he should get a chance to salvage it next season. That said, he cannot be a third-round pick and have two years with the same level of statistics. In other words, he needs to play in 14 games or more and start a few games in 2021. In addition, he needs to have at least doubled his number of sacks and tackles next season.

Grade: C

Safety, Terrell Burgess – Third Round, Pick 104 Overall

Terrell Burgess finished his rookie season with a disappointing 47.7 grade per PFF. He got work in seven games with no starts. In that time, he had eight combined tackles. Put succinctly, Burgess needs to be better next season to stick with the team long-term. As a third-round pick, he is on the edge of being a reach or worse.

Grade: C-

Tight End, Brycen Hopkins – Fourth Round, Pick 136 Overall

Brycen Hopkins had five games of work in 2020 and never recorded a statistic. Hopkins is on pace to be a bust but he has a fighting chance of maybe, possibly, seeing the field more due to the exit of Gerald Everett. However, he will have to claw back into the picture. Based on what he’s done, he appears to be in a spot where every practice could be his last.

Grade: D-

Safety, Jordan Fuller – Sixth Round, Pick 199 Overall

At the conclusion of his rookie season, Jordan Fuller scored a grade of 63.6 per PFF. He started all of the twelve games he played in and had three picks and 60 combined tackles. As a reminder, this is a sixth-round pick and not a first or second-round pick. In other words, Fuller’s rookie season was quite impressive. However, 2021 will show if 2020 was a fluke. That said, if this is what the Rams can expect every season, he will turn out to be one of their best-value picks in the last several drafts.

Grade: A+

Linebacker, Clay Johnston – Seventh Round, Pick 234 Overall

Clay Johnston was a fan favorite after his video with the Rams after getting drafted went viral. With the lack of depth at the ILB position, he had a real shot to seize the opportunity and have a real impact on the defense. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t a fit with the Rams, and he was waived before the season even started. He signed with the Carolina Panthers shortly after. He may go on to have a great NFL career, but for the sake of this article, his time with the Rams is basically graded as non-existent.

Grade: F

Kicker, Sam Sloman – Seventh Round, Pick 248 Overall

Drafted to be the successor to Greg Zuerlein, Sam Sloman lasted only seven games with the Rams. In those games, he made eight of 11 field-goal attempts and 18 of 21 extra-point attempts. After getting booted, he went to the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans and played in their Week 17 game where he made every kick. Nevertheless, he was released around the end of the season and his career is now in limbo. With only 32 spots in the world for Sloman to see game action and a rough start to his career already in the books, Sloman’s chances seem to be pretty slim in the NFL.

Grade: D-

Offensive Line, Tremayne Anchrum – Seventh Round, Pick 250 Overall

Pro Football Reference has Tremayne Anchrum marked as getting 12 games on the game-day roster but only three snaps in every game combined per PFF, earning a 61.1 grade. In other words, he’s still waiting for his moment. In the end, he needs to find a way onto the field in 2021 to secure a role, assuming he survives training camp.

Grade: C-

Rams 2020 Draft Class Final Grade

Overall, this draft class still has a lot of potential. The best value thus far has been the selection of safety Jordan Fuller in the sixth round. Also, this draft gave the Rams running back Cam Akers and wide receiver Van Jefferson, both of whom could have a chance to be with the team for the long term. Additionally, this draft gave the Rams other pieces that could have breakout seasons in 2021.

With that said, it is also too early to anoint this class as a bonafide success due to its youth. However, it would not be surprising to see five players from this draft still playing for the Rams in a few years. Overall, the floor of this draft seems to be average (with the exception of Sam Sloman) and the sky remains the limit which is a great spot to be in with a one-year-old draft class.

Grade: B


Los Angeles Rams 2019 Draft Class Graded In 2021

With a month to go until the NFL Draft, now is a great time to look back. This series looks at the last five draft classes and assigns grades based on how each pick turned out with a final grade given at the end. With 2016, 2017, and 2018 now finished, it is time to look at the draft class of 2019. For the second year in a row, the Rams did not have a first-round draft pick. Thus the first look into the Rams 2019 draft class will come in the second round.

Safety Taylor Rapp – Round Two, Pick 61 Overall

Taylor Rapp earned a solid rookie grade of 63.3 by PFF in 2019. He started 10 games and played in 15 games that season. The next season, he earned a 67.5 overall PFF grade. In terms of grades, he showed reliability. However, he only had five starts and nine games of action. His 2020 season was hampered with an injury and was what hurt his availability. Overall, the young defender has had a good start to his career but he needs to stay healthy and continue to grow.

Grade: B

Running Back Darrell Henderson – Round Three, Pick 70 Overall

2019 saw Darrell Henderson’s first season. In that season, he had 39 carries for 147 yards and a 3.8 yard-per-carry average with no touchdowns. The next season, he had 138 carries for 624 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. At the end of the day, Henderson has been very encouraging in his young career. He has a good yard-per-carry average that coincides with his increase in production and usage. He has now played in 28 games in two seasons so he has been able to maintain availability, for the most part, as well.

Grade: B

Cornerback David Long – Round Three, Pick 79 Overall

In 2019, David Long played in eight games and earned a 67.4 PFF grade. In 2020, Long played in 16 games, started a game, and posted a 53.6 grade. Put simply, it is not good to play worse with more work. He has to pick it up next season if he wants a long-term future with this team.

Grade: C-

Offensive Tackle Bobby Evans – Round Three, Pick 97 Overall

In 2019, Bobby Evans earned a 49.4 PFF grade and played 472 snaps. In 2020, Evans only played one snap (in the regular season) and received a 60.0 grade per PFF. Basically, one needs to see production out of all third-round picks in their second year in order to have a chance of getting called a good pick. Evans is trending in the wrong direction, but is currently still a good depth piece.

Grade: C

Defensive Lineman Greg Gaines – Round Four, 134 Overall

PFF scored Greg Gaines as 74.4 in 2019. He had 10 solo tackles and one sack. PFF then scored him 65.0 in 2020. In that season, he recorded 14 solo tackles and two sacks. In his young career, he’s played in 26 of 32 games. In other words, he’s been available, has a decent PFF grade, and has growing stats year-to-year. His play slipped a little according to his grades but as a fourth-round pick, getting this much work is a decent result.

Grade: C+

Offensive Tackle David Edwards – Round Five, Pick 169 Overall

2019 saw David Edwards earn a 61.1 PFF grade during his 689 snaps of action. 2020 saw his play rise to a 70.3 PFF grade during 1,006 snaps of action. In total, he has allowed four sacks in around 1,700 snaps. This is coming from a fifth-round pick. He’s started out decently and is getting better with an increased workload. He had 10 starts in 2019 and 14 starts in 2020 and he’s seen work in all 32 games. Overall, he’s been one of the best value selections by the Rams in this series, and arguably one of the better ones in the NFL during that same period.

Grade: A

Safety Nick Scott – Round 7, Pick 243 Overall

In 2020, Nick Scott posted a 62.1 PFF grade in his 15 games of action. Compared to his 66.9 PFF grade in 2019 with 16 games of action, he’s stayed in the same ballpark but has eroded a little. That said, as a seventh-round pick, Scott has already risen above the majority of seventh-round picks in terms of resulting workload. He is also a staple on the special teams unit.

Grade: B-

Linebacker Dakota Allen – Round 7, Pick 251 Overall

Dakota Allen was drafted by the Rams and released before Week One on August 31, 2019. After that, he bounced around between the Rams and Raiders’ practice squads before going to the Jacksonville Jaguars in December of 2019. If the Rams were willing to lose him that quickly by putting him on the practice squad, it simply shows how bad of a pick it was, to begin with.

Grade: F

Rams 2019 Draft Class Graded In 2021 – Final Grades

Overall, it was a good bounceback draft from 2018, considering that there was no first-round draft pick once again. Arguably, the best value draft pick leading up to 2019, in terms of recent history, was David Edwards. The draft also saw other good values added as well. The only bonafide bust for the Rams was the drafting of Dakota Allen. That said, even he drew interest from other teams around the league.

Overall Grade: B+

Los Angeles Rams 2018 Draft Class Graded In 2021

With the NFL Draft less than six weeks away, it is a good time to look back. This series looks at the last handful of Rams draft classes and assigns grades to each player and class as a whole. With 2016 and 2017’s draft classes in the rear-view mirror, it is now time to look at the Rams 2018 draft class. In this year’s draft, there were no picks in the first two rounds. The first pick came in the third round and that is where to begin.

Rams 2018 Draft Class Graded In 2021

Offensive Tackle, Joe Noteboom – Round Three, Pick 89 Overall

While Joe Noteboom’s abilities on the field aren’t quite as noteworthy or explosive as the name implies, they are still quite competent. Per Pro Football Focus, in his 633 snaps played in 2020, he had three penalties and allowed two sacks. Two sacks in 633 snaps equates to about one every 316 snaps or four and a half games. That is pretty solid. His three penalties equal to about one every 211 snaps or one every three games which is also pretty respectable.

Looking back, the offensive tackle only played 79 snaps in 2018 and 376 snaps in 2019. PFF graded Noteboom as a rough 39.6 overall grade in that year and scored him as a 60.3 in 2020. Overall, Joe Noteboom has had growth but he needs to continue to get better in 2021. If he can have another jump in abilities, the Rams might have found a pillar on the offensive line. However, 2021 will be critical for him to solidify himself.

Grade: B-

Center, Brian Allen – Round Four, Pick 111 Overall

Brian Allen missed 2020 due to injury and barely saw the field in 2018. That leaves 2019 as the only data to look at. In that season, PFF graded him as a 58.6 overall which leaves a lot of room for growth, especially after a lost 2020 season. In 563 snaps in that season, Allen had five penalties and one sack allowed. The penalties average out to one every game and a half which is too common. On the other hand, one sack surrendered in a season is pretty good. At the end of the day, injury concerns abound but with a decent 2021, the Rams could feel that they found a long-term starter in Allen.

Grade: C+

Defensive End, John Franklin-Myers – Round Four, Pick 135 Overall

After being drafted, John Franklin-Myers played quietly in 2018. He ended the season with two sacks and 10 combined tackles. He never saw the field in 2019. In 2020, Franklin-Myers went to the New York Jets where he had a similar season to 2018 in which he earned three sacks and 19 combined tackles.

Looking back now, the defensive end was drafted, played a bit, didn’t impress, struggled to stay healthy in 2019, and went to the Jets almost as soon as he was acquired.

Grade: D-

Inside Linebacker, Micah Kiser – Round Five, Pick 147 Overall

Micah Kiser had four tackles in 2018, was hurt in 2019, and returned to step into a starter role for 2020. He ended up playing in nine games. In those nine games, he earned 77 combined tackles, had three passes defended, one quarterback hit, and no tackles for loss. Kiser wasn’t a game-changer and has struggled to stay healthy in his young NFL career. The Rams need a better solution at inside linebacker but Kiser did fill a spot on the roster for a while as a fifth-round pick which isn’t as egregious as if it was a first or second-round selection.

Grade: C

Defensive End, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo – Round Five, Pick 16 Overall

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo didn’t play in 2018. However, he saw the field in 10 games in each of the following two seasons. In those 20 total games, he scored 2.5 sacks and 19 combined tackles with no starts. Overall, he has become a quiet bench player which is about what the realistic expectation for a late pick is but Okoronkwo has been the bare minimum.

Grade: C-

Running Back, John Kelly – Round Six, Pick 176 Overall

John Kelly didn’t see the field last season. He’s been on the roster bubble and will now be fighting to make the 2021 Browns roster. In 2018, Kelly had 27 touches for 74 yards which averages out to 2.7 yards per carry. In 2019, the running back had only three carries for nine yards. Put simply, Kelly was a bit of a disappointing development in the story of the Rams’ running back room.

Grade: D

Offensive Tackle, Jamil Demby – Round Six, Pick 192 Overall

In his rookie year, Jamil Demby played in six games with one start. Since then, he’s bounced to the Detriot Lions and back to the Los Angeles Rams. Basically, Demby is a fringe practice squad player hanging onto his career by his fingernails.

Grade: D-

Defensive Tackle, Sebastian Joseph-Day – Round Six, Pick 195 Overall

Sebastian Joseph-Day has played in 31 of the 32 games from 2019 through 2020. In that span, the defensive tackle racked up 99 combined tackles. In his first year in the NFL, Joseph-Day was a no-show but being able to be a sixth-round pick and then playing in nearly every game after his rookie year is a really good value.

Grade: A

Defensive End, Trevon Young – Round Six, Pick 205 Overall

In his first year, Trevon Young saw the field in two games and racked up stats. His only big accomplishment was that recovered a fumble once and hasn’t seen the field since. Put succinctly, Young didn’t have much of an impact on the Rams.

Grade: F

Outside Linebacker, Travin Howard – Round Seven, Pick 231 Overall

Travin Howard didn’t play in his rookie season but stepped on the field in 2019 where he played in all 16 games. In those games, he racked up 22 combined tackles which is a little more than one tackle per game. He missed 2020 with a meniscus tear. He was slated to start before the injury, which shows tremendous value for a former 7th round pick. Will he have the opportunity again this season once healthy? If so, this grade may jump much higher, but for now, he is still fairly unknown.

Grade: C-

Defensive End, Justin Lawler – Round Seven, Pick 244 Overall

Justin Lawler saw the field in only 2018 and combined for six tackles. However, Lawler had snaps in all 16 games played that season, per Pro Football Focus. Since that season, he started having injury issues and is currently incognito at the moment. When looking at how badly a seventh-round pick can go, getting a year of action out of one seems like an accomplishment.

Grade: C

Rams 2018 Draft Class Graded In 2021: Final Grades

Looking back from 2021, the Rams 2018 draft class did not turn out the greatest. Far and away, the best selection was Sebastian Joseph-Day who planted himself as a starter on the defensive line. Brian Allen has a real chance to bounce back to being a building block as well, and Joe Noteboom has been a solid depth piece. Outside of those three players, everyone else has either faded into the background or disappeared completely. Of course, this is a really likely outcome when a team doesn’t have a first or second-round pick. On the other hand, one cannot look at a bad draft and call it good because of the lack of top picks.

Grade: D+

Los Angeles Rams 2017 Draft Class Graded In 2021

With the NFL Draft on the horizon, it’s a great time to look back. This series looks at the last handful of Rams draft classes and assigns grades to each player and the class as a whole. With 2016 now out of the way, the focus now will be on the Rams 2017 Draft class. This was the first class that would be led by Head Coach Sean McVay. Was it a banger or a whimper?

Rams 2017 Draft Class Graded In 2021

Tight End Gerald Everett – Round Two, Pick 44 Overall

Gerald Everett started slow and has been picking up speed like a full bus going uphill. His worst season was in 2017 where he had 16 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns. His best season was arguably two years later in 2019 when he had 37 catches for 408 yards and two touchdowns. Granted, he’s essentially been a co-starter with tight end Tyler Higbee for his entire career.

As another factor, the offense has always had established weapons at other positions so they’ve never really needed a Gronkowski-level performance from their tight ends. That said, when a team uses their top pick on a player, that player needs to do more than Everett has. Also, when George Kittle is on the board and the team picks Gerald Everett, one can only wonder what could have happened if the Rams had picked Kittle instead. Everett is expected to hit free agency in 2021.

Grade: C-

Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp – Round Three, Pick 69 Overall

Cooper Kupp set most fans’ minds at ease in his rookie season when he set the rookie reception record in 2017. Since then, he has gone on to be a top receiver in a recently stacked roster at the position. Overall, he’s earned about 1,000 yards in three of his four seasons with the team.

Kupp, unfortunately, tore his ACL and ended his 2018 season early but was able to bounce back for his best season yet the following year. In 2019, he caught 94 balls for 1,161 yards and 10 touchdowns. Overall, when it comes to third-round selections, one cannot do much better than Cooper Kupp.

Grade: A

Safety John Johnson III – Round Three, Pick 91 Overall

Put succinctly, John Johnson has been a very solid starter for the Rams and had a breakout 2018 season. In that 2018 season, Johnson had 85 solo tackles and four interceptions. The stats placed him tied for fourth overall in the league in those categories. per Pro Football Focus.

However, most recently, Johnson allowed 51 receptions on 69 targets in 2020. His arguably worst season, statistically, has come at the worst time as he’s set to hit the market for 2021.

Grade: B

Wide Receiver Josh Reynolds – Round Four, Pick 117 Overall

Josh Reynolds has been with the Rams every year since being drafted. He’s basically alternated good (for his draft rank) and quiet seasons. In 2017, Reynolds had 11 catches for 104 yards. In 2018, he had 29 catches for 402 yards and five touchdowns. In 2019, he posted 21 catches for 326 yards and one touchdown, Most recently, in 2020, he posted 52 catches for 618 yards and two touchdowns. If Reynolds hits the market for 2021, he could draw interest from many teams.

Grade: B+

Outside Linebacker Samson Ebukam – Round Four, 125 Overall

Samson Ebukam has played his entire career with the Rams thus far. In those seasons, he started 14 games twice, two games in one season, and five in another. Ebukam wasn’t the star of the show on defense in the vast majority of the games he played in except for a game in 2018 when he showed up big against the Chiefs on Monday Night Football. In that game, Ebukam became the first player since 1982, when sacks started to be tracked, to have a sack, an interception, and two touchdowns in a game, per ESPN. At the end of the day, one great game doesn’t make a career but it definitely helps.

Grade: C+

Defensive Tackle Tanzel Smart – Round Six, 189 Overall

Tanzel Smart played with the Rams until 2019 and played with the New York Jets in 2020. He started four games for the Rams in that time and only earned three combined tackles in 2020 with the Jets. Needless to say, he didn’t see the field much. Basically, he only helped fill a roster spot for the Rams for three years. In the sixth round, however, that is above average. That said, when looking at other names drafted in the same round after Smart, Safety Xavier Woods would have been the better choice, who ended up going to the Cowboys.

Grade: D

Fullback Sam Rogers – Round Six, Pick 206 Overall

Sam Rogers was a practice squad player who had a very short NFL tenure. He was waived by the Rams in 2017 and then went to the Bills where they waived him in 2018. After that, he disappeared from the league. Put simply, Rogers was a flat-out bust. The Rams could have selected wide receiver David Moore with the pick, who ultimately ended up going to Seattle.

Grade: F

Ejuan Price Defensive End – Round Seven, Pick 234 Overall

Ejuan Price played in just one game for the Rams in 2017 and never saw the field again. Almost anyone else would have been a better choice. Trading the pick would have been better than how it turned out.

Grade: F

Los Angeles Rams 2017 Draft Class Graded In 2021: Final Grade

In the end, the first draft class of the Sean McVay era had two immediate busts and everyone else stuck around for several years or more. The class gave the Rams wide receivers Cooper Kupp and John Johnson as the cream of the crop in addition to a few usable players but no gems late in the draft. At the end of the day, knowing what the Rams know about these players now, three or four of the eight picks would be returned for in-store credit.

Overall Grade: C



Los Angeles Rams 2016 Draft Class Graded In 2021

With the NFL Draft now on the horizon, it’s a good time to review the past handful of draft classes. This series will look at each one of the last five drafts and review what the picks have been doing and how well they worked out for the Rams. Each player and draft class will be graded. This is a series where each article will focus on one year, starting back in 2016 and ending in 2020. Without further ado, here’s a look at the last draft class of the Jeff Fisher era: the class of 2016.

Los Angeles Rams 2016 Draft Class Graded In 2021

Quarterback Jared Goff – Round One, First Pick Overall

The Los Angeles Rams bet the farm on Jared Goff. Did they win? Goff had three seasons with playoff appearances and one Super Bowl appearance in his time with the Rams which is strong for a young quarterback. However, he was traded for Matthew Stafford just weeks after his playoff loss against the Green Bay Packers.

If Jared Goff had won the Super Bowl in 2018, he would be looked at as a bargain at first overall. However, the Super Bowl loss changed the trajectory of his career and eventually became the underlying catalyst for his exit. Looking back, it has become clear that Jared Goff was largely carried by Head Coach Sean McVay’s offense, Defensive Coordinator Brandon Staley’s defense, and multiple star-studded rosters.

That said, many teams would give their next several first and second-round picks to have a five-year run like the Rams have had with Goff at the helm. In the end, Goff’s biggest accomplishment was helping end more than a decade of mediocrity for the Rams. On the other hand, how good could a quarterback pick actually be if he ends up on another team five years later?

Grade: B

Tight End Tyler Higbee – Round Four, Pick 110 Overall

Five years later, this fourth-round pick is still with the team. Arguably the best value pick for the 2016 draft, Tyler Higbee was a co-starter with Gerald Everett over the last two seasons. Higbee’s best season thus far came in 2019 when he caught 69 balls for 734 yards and three touchdowns.

Currently, the Tight End is halfway through a four-year deal but now he has entered a time when the Rams can cut him and save money according to Sportrac. Will the Rams take a tight end if an opportunity presented itself? They would need to guarantee a star with their selection in order to upgrade the talent over what Higbee can do.

Grade: B+

Wide Receiver Pharoh Cooper – Round Four, Pick 117 Overall

Five years later, Pharoh Cooper has been on four different teams. He played for the Rams from 2016 until 2018 and made the Pro Bowl in his last season with the Rams. Interestingly, Cooper never recorded a single in-game stat outside of special teams in his 2018 Pro Bowl season.

After his time with the Rams, Cooper bounced to the Arizona Cardinals from 2018 until 2019, spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals in that same year, and played for the Carolina Panthers in 2020. After his recent history, the question for Cooper is where his next pit stop will be.

In the end, Cooper was a good short-term value but a bad long-term value pick for the Rams.

Grade: C+

Tight End Temarrick Hemingway – Round Six, Pick 177 Overall

Like Cooper, Temarrick Hemingway has played for four teams in the last five years. He played for the Rams in 2016, skipped football in 2017, and played for the Denver Broncos in 2018, the Carolina Panthers in 2019, and the Washington Football Team in 2020. In total, Hemingway has played in 21 games and recorded one catch for 10 yards. Needless to say, one catch for 10 yards in five years is not going to be seen as a high value.

The Rams moved on from Hemingway almost immediately as well as every other team he has played for. Put simply, this was nearly as bad of a pick as it could get without getting into never-seeing-the-field territory.

Grade: F

Middle Linebacker Josh Forrest – Round Six – Pick 190 Overall

Josh Forrest spent one year with the Rams in which he had four starts and 10 games played. He ended his season with no sacks, one fumble recovery, and nine tackles. After leaving the Rams, Forrest went to Seattle to play for the Seahawks in 2017. He played in two games and subsequentially disappeared from the NFL. In simple terms, Forrest’s career was short-lived.

Grade: F

Wide Receiver Mike Thomas – Round Six, Pick 206 Overall

Mike Thomas played for the Rams for four years, from 2016-2019. He has logged 40 games of experience with one start but never caught a touchdown with the Rams. His best season was when he recorded five catches for 93 yards back in 2017.

Later, he ended up going to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020 where he had 13 catches for 132 yards.

Overall, Thomas is a little better than his stats with the Rams indicate as the wide receiver room was simply too stacked with talent to have any real use for him. Also, getting four years of use out of a sixth-round pick is a decent value even if he didn’t exactly light the field on fire.

Grade: C

Rams 2016 Draft Class Final Grade

Jared Goff and Tyler Higbee were the biggest hits from the Rams 2016 draft class. Pharoh Cooper was also a nice flash in the pan but ultimately fell off. If the Rams were to get another blind shot at the draft having known about each player what they know now, they’d ask to reselect at least two or three choices from this draft.

Overall Grade: C+
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So Ram

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14,053
Seattle transplant working for LAFB Network is clearly free of bias...lol

Gerald Everett is going to play well for the Hags. 1 year $6 million contract.

He has been such a frustrating player to figure out.I would say it best as a Head Case.Wolford & Dickerson are going to coddle & stroke him just right.Carroll is a players coach & TE establish themselves there to help continue there careers. Having Russell Wilson as his QB instead of Goff will only give him more chances once a play breaks down.He Will get open & his blocking for his size imo was outstanding.
I still wonder what his trip was with The Rams organization? That Twitter thing I didn’t understand.Not a social media type,but still read quotes & try to get a feel for what I see.
I don’t know what Hopkins grade was,but Jefferson in 2021 will be the better WR.Reynolds was a head case on the field last season. Different than Everett because he had no real feel for the game Imo. Jefferson got frustrated with the lack of playing time.On the sidelines a player bumped him in gesture as he should be there & would have made the play.

That’s my quick answer to whatever the question is. F” the SeaHags.
—This chart is CRAP.
 

So Ram

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lol. didn't realize. Did he cover the seahawks previously?

Interesting if he did.

I’M PISSED about JJ all together. I thought he would give The Rams a
3rd comp pick. I think Rodney McCloid
was worth more as a FA.

Once again though I’ll state The Dawg Pound w/ Hill & JJ.Look out.As a Ram Fan imo you continue to evaluate certain players.I think Philly won a SuperBowl with Rodney & Foles.one other ?
I look back at Hemingway as a TE.Les Snead finds players.They all don’t work out.The guy had talent & I think if you look at a player like him & see how Raw of a Player he is.Jeff Fisher never looked at a player & could see the talent.Example of J Joyner.The Rams lost let’s say easy 2 games a Year because he was playing in the Slot.Dude was a ball hawking try hard FS. He was limited in SIZE.Playing inside against TE’s & being in perfect coverage is all you could ask from a player.In The NFL
your at a Ultimate Level.
I can use Mcvay doing the same thing putting Austin Blythe as The Rams starting RG after the SuperBowl. Blythe is what he is. A Solid Swing C/G.He is a poor teams Center.Good for the salary cap.A veteran Leader.
Greg Robinson is an example of Mcvay moving in though.Quinn,Ogletree,Peters,Goff,
Cooks Exc ext ?

—Hemingway in my scouting report & own eyes was not a “F” . Dude was a FREAK ATHLETE who was just Really Raw as a Player. IMO as you watch him blocking DE/LB, running routes you see talent & strength. He stands out by Nature.
My Whole Point is Hemingway could have been a Perfect DE/OLB.
This guys are hard to Find. His speed off the edge & ablilty to shed blockers.
Even if he can’t get to the QB his size & long arms will distract a QB. He also has good jumping ability.Has good hands for a defensive player.He is a high energy guy & has longevity to stay with a play.

—Enter a Scouting Report & I don’t get ZERO VALUE. Put him next to Robert Quinn on the ROLB Edge Rusher during Drills. Practice squad & preseason. — Move him across the Ball & he doesn’t have to worry about form.Has long arms to keep Offensive Lineman off of him.When you talk athletic grade. I say 7 1/2 or 8. Has a chance to be higher if Lights come on.If not has a good look in the garage,but won’t have any value.
 

Memento

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Jemma
I'd grade 2017 higher (particularly JJ3; he was an easy A, I have no idea why these people believe he's anything but). Travin Howard getting a lower grade than Justin Lawler makes no sense either; either rank Howard a "C" or Lawler a "D", but I don't remember the last time Lawler took snaps on the field.
 

fanotodd

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Fanotodd
Since fisher’s departure, Snead has really only drafted ONE player who HAD to start day 1...a kicker!

JJ3 and Fuller either earned their spot or somebody was hurt, and Kupp was WR3 after the Rams signed and traded for 2 WRs. The Rams could have used more 2 TE sets instead of 3 wideouts.

This is a good position to be in—going into the drafts without necessarily HAVING to find instant starters. That means troops in development are always around waiting their shot. We could have several more stepping into starting jobs this year who didn’t start game 1 last season. Edwards, Burgess, Akers, Jefferson are probably locks, but there’s a shot for Hopkins, Evans, and Reeder. We’ll probably have a battle at OLB.

I’d give that whole process very high marks considering it has led the Rams to the playoffs every year but one, including a trip to the SB. And it’s not like they haven’t had significant turnover in those years.
 

WestCoastRam

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Hard to grade drafts period but it's a joke if you don't consider the UFAs. Corey Littleton was an A in 2016 and he was a UFDA.