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The Los Angeles Rams had a respectable campaign in the 2020 season as they were able to reach as far as the NFC Divisional Round only to lose to the Green Bay Packers. With hopes of making a longer playoff run in 2021, the Rams made a major gamble by trading Jared Goff in exchange for veteran QB Matthew Stafford in the offseason.
Head coach Sean McVay then used the 2021 NFL Draft to nab young prospects who can potentially make an impact for the team next season. However, their haul wasn't as perfect as they wanted it to be as they could've made better decisions in addressing the needs of their roster.
Here are the two draft mistakes made by the Rams in the recently concluded proceedings:
1. The Rams drafted Louisville wide receiver Tutu Atwell way too early.
Without a first-round draft pick at their disposal, the Rams had to start their draft selection with the 57th pick in the second round. They surprisingly used it to grab Louisville wide receiver Tutu Atwell to bolster their offensive attack upon entering quarterback Matthew Stafford's first season in Los Angeles.
Atwell previously concluded a three-year stint with the Cardinals where he had a stellar sophomore season back in 2019. However, his 2020 season prematurely ended as he chose to opt out for the rest of their campaign due to an undisclosed injury.
Merely standing at 5'9″ and 155 pounds, Atwell is strongly considered to be an extremely undersized receiver in the NFL. His short and thin frame will definitely be a disadvantage for him once he matches up against the stronger defenders in the league next season. For the Rams, they could've drafted more athletic receivers like LSU's Terrace Marshall Jr., USC's Amon-Ra St. Brown, or Stanford's Simi Fohoko who went as late as they did in the later rounds.
In addition to his physical tools, the Florida native is also projected by many to be a Day 3 prospect. The Rams could've prioritized their other needs and waited for him a bit longer instead of using their first selection to pick him early off the boards.
2. Los Angeles failed to fill the holes in its offensive line.
It can't be denied that the Rams' offensive line has shown flashes of its great potential last season. Though the performance of the entire unit was already desirable, they can definitely improve more if they can find other talented guys who can fit the group's dynamic even better.
In the 2020 season, Los Angeles went with Austin Blythe as its starting center. He was able to provide great pass protection for former QB1 Jared Goff but he eventually relocated to the Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason. With his recent departure, backups like Brian Allen and Coleman Shelton found themselves in contention for the starting center position for the 2021 season.
It remains to be seen if the Rams can afford to have them playing at such an important position, given that both players are still relatively young and have yet to gain significant playing experience on the field. The hole left by Blythe in the offensive line eventually made the center position a major need for the Rams upon heading to the draft.
On the other hand, if the Rams just managed to snag a guard in the recently-concluded proceedings, they could've had the option to slide Austin Corbett to play the center position. Adding a guard could've also added more depth behind Bobby Evans and David Edwards who are both poised to be the team's starting guards in the coming season.
With a new quarterback at the helm, the Rams could've prioritized addressing the huge hole in the center position left by Austin Blythe more than anything else. As it stands today, it remains to be seen if the Rams have enough talent in the room to successfully protect Matthew Stafford under center next season. Hopefully, their other returning offensive linemen will be able to deliver on the field in order to compensate for their draft error and ultimately contribute to their title aspirations in 2021.
