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Where the Rams' defense and special teams stand after the 2020 NFL Draft
TheRams.com examines the team's defense and special teams with their newest additions following this year's NFL Draft.
www.therams.com
Over the course of three days, the Rams drafted nine players to address eight different positions and signed 22 undrafted free agents as part of their continued roster construction for the upcoming season.
The following is a position-by-position breakdown of where the team's defense and special teams currently stand after those transactions.
DEFENSIVE LINE
2019 starters: Michael Brockers, Aaron Donald, Sebastian Joseph-Day
2019 contributors: Greg Gaines, Tanzel Smart
2019 reserves: Marquise Copeland
2020 newcomers: A'Shawn Robinson, Eric Banks, Michael Hoecht, Sam Renner, Jonah Williams
After signing A'Shawn Robinson and re-signing Brockers in free agency, the Rams left their defensive line untouched over the course of this year's draft. Already with one of the top run defenders up front in Brockers, the addition of the 6-foot-4, 330-pound Robinson should help in that category too.
Gaines and Smart each appeared in 10 games last season.
Copeland mainly spent time on the practice squad last year.
Banks (Texas-San Antonio), Hoecht (Brown), Renner (Minnesota) and Williams (Weber State) were signed as undrafted free agents.
LINEBACKER
2019 starters: Troy Reeder, Samson Ebukam
2019 contributors: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Travin Howard, Natrez Patrick
2019 reserves: Justin Lawler, Kenny Young, Jachai Polite, Micah Kiser
2020 newcomers: Leonard Floyd, Terrell Lewis, Clay Johnston, Daniel Bituli, Bryan London II, Greg Reaves, Christian Rozeboom
Given the departures of inside linebacker Cory Littleton and outside linebackers Dante Fowler and Clay Matthews, it made sense that the Rams chose to address this position through both free agency and the draft. In free agency, they signed Floyd as an unrestricted free agent and added Lewis and Johnston through the draft.
Ebukam, Okoronkwo, Patrick and Howard all saw playing time last season while Reeder started alongside Littleton. Kiser suffered a season-ending chest injury in the preseason, while Lawler's preseason foot surgery ended his season prematurely. Polite mainly spent time on the practice squad, while Young – who was acquired in the Marcus Peters trade with the Ravens – saw action in nine games.
Floyd officially signed with the Rams as an unrestricted free agent on April 24.
Bituli (Tennessee), London (Texas State), Reaves (South Florida) and Rozeboom (South Dakota State) were signed as undrafted free agents.
CORNERBACK
2019 starters: Jalen Ramsey, Troy Hill
2019 contributors: David Long Jr., Darious Williams
2019 reserves: Dont'e Deayon, Adonis Alexander
2020 newcomers: Dayan Lake, Tyrique McGhee, Levonta Taylor
The Rams also left the cornerback position untouched during this draft, though fourth-round pick Terrell Burgess (listed as a safety below) is also capable of playing the nickel back or slot cornerback position in the secondary.
Hill had a strong 2019 season starting opposite Ramsey, but the key for this group leading into the 2020 season will be who replaces Robey-Coleman as the primary slot corner.
Alexander was on the practice squad starting November 14, 2019. Deayon mainly spent time on the practice squad as well, but did get called up to appear in three games.
Lake (Brigham Young), McGhee (Georgia) and Taylor (Florida State) were signed as undrafted free agents.
SAFETY
2019 starters: John Johnson III, Taylor Rapp
2019 reserves: Nick Scott, Jake Gervase
2020 newcomers: Terrell Burgess, Jordan Fuller, Juju Hughes
Johnson started alongside Eric Weddle last season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, with Rapp filling his role the rest of the season. Scott and Gervase can help provide depth after gaining experience on special teams last season.
Burgess (fourth round) and Fuller (sixth round) were added through the draft, while Hughes (Fresno State) was signed as an undrafted free agent.
SPECIALISTS
2019 starters: Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide
2020 newcomers: Austin MacGinnis, Lirim Hajrullahu, Samuel Sloman
Working together since 2012, Hekker and McQuaide will welcome a new starter into the mix as seventh-round pick Sloman battles free agent signings MacGinnis and Hajrullahu for kicker Greg Zuerlein's old job.