FanPost

The Rams Draft Need No One Talks About

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

0 out of 3 tech

What do most people say are the draft needs for the Rams this year? Edge, CB, OL, CB, LB, S, Punter, some combination of those is what you typically see. If you look at the current roster for the Rams, there is one rather glaring hole that sticks out that almost no one ever talks about or mentions as a draft need.

The Rams essentially don't have a single player on the roster who can backup the 3 tech spot behind Aaron Donald.

AD is one of the greatest defenders in NFL history. He also plays a very high percentage of the team's defensive snaps. Last season he played about 90% of the snaps. As long as Donald remains at the top of his game, the Rams don't really need to have a true backup for his spot.

But, what if Donald had retired after the Super Bowl? What if he gets hurt and either is lost for the season or is hampered and can't play his normal high level of snaps? What if down the road, age catches up to him and he can no longer play 90% of the defensive snaps?

The Rams have a number of players suited for the 5 tech and NT positions. At least on paper, they are in decent shape at the other 2 DL spots. It is a different story at 3 tech. Donald, then nobody.

The problem with trying to add someone at the 3 tech spot from this year's draft is I don't think this is a very deep DL draft class. It is very difficult to come up with a list of good Day 3 players the Rams could target for the role. Here are 3 prospects I looked at and really I don't like any of them that much.

Haskell Garrett (Ohio State)

Lance Zierlein 5.91 grade (207th overall, late 6th round)

ESPN 169th overall (late 5th rd)

PFN 167th overall (late 5th rd)

Shane Hallam 78 (3rd rd)

Brian Bosarge 71st (3rd rd)

Drafttek 119th (4th rd)

PFF 188th overall (6th rd)

Senior Bowl: 6'1 3/8'' tall, 298 pounds, 32 1/4'' arms, 9 7/8'' hands, 78'' wingspan

Combine: 6'2 1/8'' tall, 300 pounds, 31 5/8'' arms, 9 7/8'' hands, 78 1/8'' wingspan

5.07 sec (40 time), 24'' vert.

Bonus senior. Turns 24 in May. Sociology major. Hampered by sprained right ankle suffered in middle of 2021 season. Injured shoulder at Senior Bowl. Shot in face during altercation in August of 2020.

2021: 22 tackles, 7 TFLs, 5.5 sacks

2020: 20 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 sacks

LZ says he's a 1 gapping 3 tech. Not explosive, can't 2 gap, gets bulldozed out of the way, modest closing speed.

I think he's short with short arms and not a very impressive build. Good quickness off the snap, good motor, solid awareness. Gets washed down the LOS and driven off the LOS. Doesn't generate push up the middle as pass rusher. Effective spin countermove. Driven out of his gap on a long TD run. Has ST experience.

Maybe he could compete for a back of the roster spot, but I don't see much developmental upside. Older than average prospect.

Thomas Booker (Stanford)

Lance Zierlein 5.86 grade (228th overall, 7th round)

ESPN 252nd (late 7th rd)

PFN 179th (late 5th to 6th rd)

Drafttek 124th (4th rd)

PFF 299th (UDFA)

Shane Hallam 225th (7th rd)

Brian Bosarge 162nd (5th rd)

Steelers Depot 6th rd grade

Combine: 6'3 3/8'' tall, 301 pounds, 33 1/4'' arms, 10 5/8'' hands, 79 7/8'' wingspan.

4.94 sec (40 time), 1.69 sec (10 yard split), 9'2'' broad jump, 4.41 sec (shuttle), 7.33 sec (3 cone).

LZ says he flashes, but lacks consistency, frustrating to watch. Can't hold ground vs double teams. Decent athlete with rotational potential.

TDN says he's a good athlete with an excellent first step, converts speed to power. Not stout at POA, gets pushed back. Very good lateral agility, shoots gaps, uses quickness as run defender, high motor. Lacks counter moves. Is a 3 tech or 3-4 DE. Compared to Willie Henry (4th round 2016, Michigan, Baltimore Ravens)

Booker is very intelligent. He had a 3.88 GPA with a double major in economics and communications. William Campbell Trophy Finalist, two time Academic 1st team All American. Went to a very academically rigorous high school and took a couple college classes at Stanford after his sophomore year in high school. His dad was a linebacker at Wisconsin.

Two time captain at Stanford (2020 and 2021). 4 star recruit. LSU offered him a scholarship as a TE.

Much more productive in 2018 and 2019 (7.5 sacks and 12.5 TFLs) and not as good stats the last 2 seasons (2.5 sacks, 8 TFLs).

Played all over the formation at Stanford, from zero to 5 tech. He's a very cerebral player, sees the game like a football coach. Reads keys, notices details on field, thinks creatively.

He has a short torso and short arms for a DT. A good soldier who does dirty work to free up teammates. Good hand eye coordination. Not enough violence in hands, lacks sand in pants, can't effectively drop anchor and hold his ground. Needs to stay on feet more and off the ground. Not enough height and length to deflect passes at LOS. Lacks closing burst and pursuit range to make tackles in space and open field. Good aggression and timing to get off the snap in short yardage run situations. Disciplined in his gap assignment. No juice as a pass rusher. Gets washed down the LOS. Intelligently threw up his arms to draw attention of the refs for holding penalty. Driven off of the LOS by double teams and out of his gap on solo block.

I like his football intelligence. I don't think he has NFL size or NFL athleticism. To me he's a back of the roster or PS type player.

Chris Hinton (Michigan)

Lance Zierlein 5.60 draft grade, 285th overall (priority UDFA)

ESPN 273rd overall (priority UDFA)

PFN 129th overall (4th rd)

PFF 261st overall (late 7th rd)

Shane Hallam 61st overall (late 2nd to 3rd rd)

Brian Bosarge 103rd (late 3rd to 4th rd)

B/R 197th overall (6th rd slot), 5th round grade.

Hinton's dad was the 4th overall pick in 1983 and was part of the John Elway trade between the Colts and the Broncos. His dad was a multiple All Pro player and is in the Ring of Honor for the Colts.

6'3 5/8'' tall, 305 pounds, 32 3/8'' arms, 10 1/2'' hands, 78 1/8'' wingspan.

5.28 sec (40 time), 31.5'' vert jump, 8'10'' broad jump.

LZ calls him a run defending NT. Drops low and anchors against double teams. Below average reaction off snap. Lacks explosiveness, not a 1 gap scheme player. Not a pass rusher. Minimal closing burst.

Ian Cummings says he has great width and density, built like an offensive lineman. Can be easily moved off base if he loses at contact point. Not disruptive, doesn't create many negative plays. Limited upside, a space eating NT. Looks like a Day 3 pick at best.

Tony Pauline calls him a 1 gap 3 tech. Explosive with great 1st step. Good closing burst, quick change of direction, moves well laterally, gets penetration, has upside and an eventual starter on a 4 man front.

B/R says he has quick, strong hands, poor explosiveness, constantly knocked out of his gap, poor pass rusher, uninspiring athlete, sluggish off the ball.

Watching Hinton, I wonder if he'd have a better chance if he tried to learn to play offensive line and maybe tried to become a backup guard or even a center. As a DT he's not a disruptive or impressive prospect. He's not big enough to be the next Sebastian Joseph Day or play as a 5 tech and he's not explosive enough to be a good 3 tech.

Summary

I haven't done many fanposts about DL prospects this year, but it isn't because I think the Rams should completely ignore that position group. I just can't find many prospects who are interesting to write about and who look like they could be good NFL players.

Maybe the Rams could try to pick up a player with one of their 6th or 7th round picks, but they might have to go off the radar and find a diamond in the rough, maybe a prospect who doesn't appear on most of the major draft boards. Perhaps a small school player or a player who is underrated the way SJD was coming out of college.

One possibility is a player I've already profiled, Josh Paschal from Kentucky. He's often listed as an edge defender, but on a 3-4 defense he might be better suited to slide inside and become a 3 tech type DE.

Otherwise, it could be slim pickings on Day 3. If you know of a lesser known DT who you think is a good prospect, I'd love to hear about him.