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Countdown to Camp PM #3: Which 2019 Los Angeles Rams rookie will have the biggest impact?

With limited opportunities due to a pretty stacked roster, which rookie from the Rams’ 2019 class will put the most on the field this year?

Memphis Tigers RB Darrell Henderson runs past UCF Knights DT Trysten Hill, Oct. 13, 2019.
Memphis Tigers RB Darrell Henderson runs past UCF Knights DT Trysten Hill, Oct. 13, 2019.
Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images

As we near the opening of training camp for the 2019 Los Angeles Rams, we’re counting down the top storylines.


Today’s Countdown to Camp looked at the newest members of the Los Angeles Rams that came aboard through free agency and the 2019 NFL Draft.

Last night, we covered the two veteran stars that came aboard in LB Clay Matthews and S Eric Weddle. So tonight, let’s look at the rookies.

S Taylor Rapp

Rapp’s a fantastic safety prospect out of Washington who joins one of the NFL’s best safety depth charts and, overall, one of the NFL’s best secondaries. The question here is one of playing time. How much action will Rapp get in Year 1 with John Johnson III and Eric Weddle in the safety room with him?

RB Darrell Henderson

Perhaps the most explosive running back in all of college football the last two years, Henderson was a production machine at Memphis. Of course, we’re all familiar with the drama in the running back room heading into 2019. Without knowing the playing time balance between Hendo and RB Todd Gurley, it’s tough to gauge how much opportunity the rookie will even get let alone what he’ll do with it.

CB David Long, Jr.

Long joins a group that is well established...I’m sensing a theme here.

In any case, he’s coming on board without a clear path to immediate playing time with CB Aqib Talib and CB Marcus Peters atop the depth chart. How Defensive Coordinator Wade Philips uses the two rookies in the secondary, barring injury, is up in the air at this point.

OL Bobby Evans

Evans played both tackle spots at Oklahoma, and Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach/Co-Offensive Coordinator Aaron Kromer has already suggested he’s going to get work in at all four tackle and guard positions. Not sure what that means for playing time in Year one, but at least it’s a capability he has.

DT Greg Gaines

It’s rare to have a fourth-round pick pegged for such an immediate role as Gaines was. Head Coach Sean McVay was immediately ready to praise Gaines after Day 3 of the draft wrapped up. Of any of the rookies, he might be the best positioned for sheer playing time depending on the Hendo/Just Todd Gurley balance.

OT David Edwards

Edwards played right tackle at Wisconsin, so he’s got chops. The question is where he fits in. He doesn’t have the swing tackle experience Evans does, but Kromer will certainly test him to see if that’s an option. Like Evans, not sure where he fits on the line immediately though Pro Football Focus has Edwards and Evans in the mix to battle Joseph Noteboom to potentially land at left guard.

I’m left off sixth-round pick S Nick Scott and seventh-rounder LB Dakota Allen to keep the poll results more functional.


It’s a talented class, no doubt. And it fills in immediate depth that could blossom into locked-in starters much like the Rams’ 2018 NFL Draft haul.

Which one do you think breaks through to make the biggest impact in Year 1?

Poll

Which 2019 Rams rookie will have the biggest impact?

This poll is closed

  • 1%
    OT David Edwards
    (4 votes)
  • 0%
    OL Bobby Evans
    (1 vote)
  • 33%
    DT Greg Gaines
    (90 votes)
  • 46%
    RB Darrell Henderson
    (125 votes)
  • 9%
    CB David Long, Jr.
    (25 votes)
  • 9%
    S Taylor Rapp
    (26 votes)
271 votes total Vote Now