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Los Angeles Rams: Re-picking 5 selections from 2017 NFL Draft

By Cody Williams

Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers offensive lineman Dan Feeney speaks to the media during the 2017 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers offensive lineman Dan Feeney speaks to the media during the 2017 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Los Angeles Rams had a bad showing in the 2017 NFL Draft, so we’re re-writing history with five alternative picks they should’ve made.

There’s no denying the fact that the Los Angeles Rams started the 2017 NFL Draft at a disadvantage. Granted, this was by no one’s fault but their own front office’s. However, with not having a first-round pick, the Rams had to wait until the second round to make their first selection in this class.

However, the Rams failed to do the best they could have once they were finally on the clock. This is a team that is severely flawed and has a ton of rebuilding left to do. They should’ve been looking for players with the potential to help immediately, specifically on offense where they need to start giving Jared Goff the tools around him to adequately develop. For the most part, they failed to do that.

Subsequently, most people have pegged the Rams as one of the teams with the worst drafts in 2017. So why not look back and rewrite history a bit. Let’s see how we can make the Rams’ 2017 NFL Draft better by re-picking five of their selections — only doing it better than they did in reality.

Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) makes a catch against Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Christian Campbell (1) during the second quarter of the 2017 Rose Bowl game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) makes a catch against Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Christian Campbell (1) during the second quarter of the 2017 Rose Bowl game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 2, Pick 44 (via Bills): Juju Smith-Schuster, WR – USC

Actual Pick: Gerald Everett, TE – South Alabama

After not having a first-round pick, the Rams elected to take Gerald Everett in the second round. The tight end has great measurables and solid game tape. He seems to translate to being a quality pass-catcher in the Los Angeles offense. That’s something they need, surely. However, the issue with Everett is that he’s largely unproven against high caliber competition and he’s not a complete tight end.

For a team like the Rams, that’s not a player that you should be using a premium draft pick on — especially when that pick is the team’s first of the draft. That makes absolutely no sense at all. Thus, they take a pro-ready weapon for their offense in this redo of their draft in Juju Smith-Schuster. While the USC product may not have the upside of the guys that were taken in the top 10 of this draft (or the upside many thought he did at one point), he’s still a viable weapon.

Smith-Schuster offers the sure-handed, big bodied target that could be a high quality possession and red zone threat for Goff. You know what the Rams offense is lacking? That exact type of player. He’d fit right in to fill a void for their offense and be well worth the 44th overall pick if they were to take him at No. 44.

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