Los Angeles Rams S Taylor Rapp makes PFF’s highest-graded rookies list

Week 13 is too early to make any definitive statements about a rookie in his first NFL season, but Los Angeles Rams’ second-round pick S Taylor Rapp has been a fantastic addition to the defense, and the team over at Pro Football Focus have taken notice as Rapp comes in at #8 on their highest-graded rookies list:

8. Taylor Rapp, LA Rams

The start to his rookie campaign was a slow one, but Taylor Rapp is picking up steam as of late — his 82.5 overall grade since Week 7 is the fifth best among all qualifying safeties. In that timespan, Rapp has produced the third most defensive stops (20), fifth most combined pass breakups and interceptions (five) and has allowed just a 65.2 passer rating (seventh). Rapp has produced his best plays for the Rams when playing free safety — since Week 7, Rapp has played more snaps at that alignment then he had during the first six weeks and has had an 84.3 grade in that role, ranking behind only Tyrann Mathieu and Minkah Fitzpatrick.

After trading down about 53 times in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Rams finally elected to select Rapp with the 61st-overall pick, and thus far the returns have been largely positive. Rapp has totaled 73 tackles, seven pass deflections, and one interception which was returned for a touchdown. Rapp had another interception wiped off the board due to a penalty and dropped two pick-sixes, but that’s neither here nor there.

So far, the investment in Rapp has paid dividends for the Rams.