Random Ramsdom: Donte Deayon chosen in hypothetical expansion draft by ESPN

Bill Barnwell of ESPN is doing a fun exercise where he is participating in a hypothetical expansion draft for a 33rd NFL team. For simplicity’s sake, here are the rules laid out by Barnwell, himself:

“All 32 teams have to make five players available in the expansion draft, and only one of those players can have 10 or more years of NFL experience. The crucial difference for this draft is that every player nominated must have played at least one snap for their team in 2019. This eliminates any 2020 draft picks or undrafted free agents.”

Five players from each team would have to be offered up for selection and these are the five suggested from the Rams by Barnwell with their 2020 salary next to their names.

• Barnwell’s pick: CB Donte Deayon ($825,000)
• RB John Kelly ($750,000)
• T Chandler Brewer ($675,000)
• S Jake Gervase ($675,000)
• C Coleman Shelton ($675,000)

As noted, Barnwell chose cornerback Donte Deayon as his lone selection from the Rams. Here’s his justification for the pick:

“Fantasy players will be most familiar with Kelly, who had a tiny window in 2018 in which he looked to be the starting back for a devastating offense before the Rams signed CJ Anderson. We’re leaving him on the table and instead going for Deayon, who at 159 pounds was the second-lightest player in the NFL last year. I’m of the opinion that NFL teams often underestimate smaller players, and if that goes for height, it’s reasonable to at least imagine it might go for weight as well.”

“Deayon was an effective corner at Boise State but hasn’t had many chances to play there as a pro. No team is dumping corners with prototypical size and speed into the expansion draft, so we’re gonna have to take risks if we want to land valuable players.”

Barnwell is right. He’s taking a risk with Deayon who is way undersized in the NFL but not every player walks into the league with 17 career interceptions. Boise State is no slouch of a program so if he could find that type of success there, it’s not out of this world that he could hold his own if given the chance at this level.

Now for some links.

Rams News:

Cameron DaSilva reports that QB Jared Goff has been throwing with rookies (The Rams Wire)

WR Robert Woods is helping to advance the discussion on social justice (ABC7.com)

The NFL’s virtual offseason program will extend through June 26 (The Rams Wire)

Members of the Rams hosted a “Character Chat” for youth correctional facilities (TheRams.com)

NFL News:

Bill Barnwell drafts players for a 33rd expansion team in the NFL (ESPN)

Gary Davenport discusses why the Vikings have leverage over RB Dalvin Cook (Bleacher Report)

Megan Armstrong highlights QB Patrick Mahomes and how he’s using his platform for change (Bleacher Report)

Jonathan Jones discusses the page turned by the Panthers in removing statue of former owner Jerry Richardson (CBS Sports)

Michael David Smith reports on the results of a poll stating most Americans would be okay with players kneeling (Pro Football Talk)

NFL Nation holds a roundtable to discuss the ups and downs of past expansion drafts (ESPN)