Do the Rams still need to draft a wide receiver?

After signing Davante Adams and re-signing Tutu Atwell, do the Rams still need to draft a wide receiver?

Coming into the offseason, the Los Angeles Rams looked like a team that was set to take a wide receiver early. While that could still be the case, the signing of Davante Adams and re-signing Tutu Atwell have given the Rams some flexibility at the position.

However, it is worth noting that Adams’ contract is essentially a one-year deal while Atwell’s contract is just a one-year deal. The Rams may not have a glaring need at wide receiver now, but they will in a year’s time. Taking a wide receiver within the first three rounds is still very possible. The good news is, they will have plenty of options, especially on day two where a lot of the value is at the position.

Heading into the draft process, one of my goals was to try to match my evaluation process relatively close with how the Rams operate. Obviously, it will never be exact without actually being in the room. At the same time, based on the information that is public and matching player traits with what they’ve drafted in the past, it is possible to get a picture of the type of player the Rams draft and what that process looks like.

One of the big changes that I’ve made this year is placing players into “buckets”. The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue called “Finding Rams” which outlined this bucketing process. Said Rodrigue,

“On his screen, which the scouts cannot see, Snead manipulates what he calls “the call sheet” as they discuss prospects. The sheet looks like a series of rectangles that split players by position into different buckets. There are no round-by-round grades, only four overall tiers into which players are then “bucketed.” By mid-April, all draft-eligible players are split into nine buckets based on the Rams’ finished evaluations, which include the medical and character checks completed in March and, for some, notes from Sugarman’s visits. The buckets aren’t always “rankings” — some are lateral to others.”

Those buckets are broken up into nine different categories which are:

• Bucket 1: Math Changer, Total Package
• Bucket 2: Reliable Starter
• Bucket 3: Math Changing Starter, Range of Caution Flags
• Bucket 4: Impactful Contributor, Clean Profile
• Bucket 5: Talented Enough to Contribute, Less Predictable
• Bucket 6: Trustworthy, but Less Talented
• Bucket 7: Late IQ or PQ
• Bucket 8: Major Concerns, Off Board, or Reconsider After Draft
• Bucket 9: Likely Drafted, Not a Rams Fit

These buckets aren’t rankings or necessarily even tiers. It’s simply a way for scouts to easily visualize the role that they see for a player at the next level and a way to define their fit on the roster. Players can be placed into multiple buckets as no single prospect is just one thing. As Rodrigue noted, in Puka Nacua’s case, he would have been a three, five, and seven.

Eventually, I’ll have fit grades and a full Rams big board

I’ll be doing this with every position group outside of quarterback. Today, we’re looking at the offensive line.

Previous Position Groups

• Which Linebackers Should the Rams target in the NFL Draft?
• How Early Should the Rams Draft a Tight End?
• Which Running Back Should Rams Pair With Kyren Williams?
• Should the Rams be Looking at Safeties in the NFL Draft?
• When Should Rams Consider Drafting Offensive Tackle?
• Cornerback remains a top need for Rams

Bucket 1: Math Changer, Total Package

• Travis Hunter, Colorado
• Tet McMillan, Arizona
• Jack Bech, TCU
• Elic Ayomanor, Stanford

If the NFL somehow overthinks Tet McMillan and he falls to the Rams at 26, they would very likely sprint to the draft table. McMillan is a true vertical threat and physical presence on the outside as an “X” wide receiver. He simply wins at the point of attack. McMillan needs to improve some of the little nuances in his routes and as a blocker, but he projects as an X-receiver with WR1 potential.

If the Rams go wide receiver at the end of the first round or even trade back, Ayomanor would be another very strong fit for the Sean McVay offense. He’s physical with alignment versatility and has a diverse route tree. Ayomanor is a big target on the outside and has an extremely competitive mindset when it comes to winning the ball and in the run game. He’s a little lacking after the catch, but he would thrive in Los Angeles.

Bucket 2: Reliable Starter

• Matthew Golden, Texas
• Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
• Jack Bech, TCU
• Xavier Restrepo, Miami
• Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
• Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
• Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
• Luther Burden II, Missouri
• Nick Nash, San Jose State
• Tre Harris, Ole Miss
• Traeshon Holden, Oregon

There is an obvious connection when it comes to the Rams and the Iowa State wide receiver duo. Current Rams passing game coordinator Nate Sheelhaase was the offensive coordinator at Iowa State. He coached both Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins. However, it goes beyond the coaching connection with Noel’s fit. Noel is an excellent fit for the Rams’ wide receiver profile, driven by his elite route-running ability and exceptional athleticism. He plays bigger than his size in contested catches and in the run game. Noel also adds value on special teams.

While the Rams aren’t going to replace Cooper Kupp, they could replace him with a similar style player in Jack Bech. Bech isn’t an exact Kupp match, but is extremely physical in the run game and is simply a glue guy in a wide receiver room. His YAC ability is very Kupp-like and is a huge threat over the middle of the field.

Bucket 3: Math Changing Starter, Range of Caution Flags

• Travis Hunter, Colorado
• Jalen Royals, Utah State
• Luther Burden II, Missouri
• Isaiah Bond, Texas

When it comes to wide receivers in this draft class, there may not be a receiver with the ceiling of Luther Burden. His ability after the catch is electric and his ball skills are some of the best in the class. He’s also an extremely versatile offensive weapon. With that said, he’s limited on the outside and his route tree isn’t as developed as a typical Sean McVay receiver’s would be. Burden also has some questions as a blocker. Still, he is a really strong fit.

The Rams are set to have a pre-draft visit with Isaiah Bond which makes him all that more intriguing. However, he’s also a really strong fit. The separation that he earns with his routes is at times mind-blowing and he also has the versatility and ability after the catch that McVay likes in his receivers. Bond has some questions with his physicality and blocking and he didn’t take the step forward that some expected this year at Texas. Still, there is a lot to like.

Bucket 4: Impactful Contributor, Clean Profile

• Matthew Golden, Texas
• Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
• Jack Bech, TCU
• Xavier Restrepo, Miami
• Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
• Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
• Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas
• Tre Harris, Ole Miss
• Dont’e Thornton, Tennessee
• Dominic Lovett, Georgia
• Bru McCoy, Tennessee
• Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
• Traeshon Holden, Oregon
• Tory Horton, Colorado
• Tai Felton, Maryland
• Isaiah Neyor, Nebraska
• Elijah Badger, Florida

After the NFL Combine, Matthew Golden showed up in nearly every Rams mock draft. His 4.28 speed in combination with his route-running and ability to win along the sideline makes him a very intriguing prospect. Golden’s ability to create after the catch stands out and would provide explosiveness to an offense that lacked in last season.

It’s hard to watch Emeka Egbuka and catch yourself not thinking about Robert Woods. He may not be elite in any one thing, but he does a lot of things very well. Egbuka is one of the more reliable wide receivers in this draft class. As Reception Perception’s Matt Harmon noted that Egbuka is a superior “dirty work” guy.

Bucket 5: Talented Enough to Contribute, Less Predictable

• Dont’e Thornton, Tennessee
• Isaiah Bond, Texas
• Chimere Dike, Florida
• Savion Williams, TCU
• Isaiah Neyor, Nebraska
• Isaiah Badger, Florida
• Konata Mumpfield, Pitt
• Kaden Prather, Maryland
• Kobe Hudson, UCF
• Jordan Watkins, Mississippi
• Arian Smith, Georgia
• Kyle Williams, Washington State
• Theo Wease Jr., Missouri
• Roc Taylor, Memphis
• Antwane Wells Jr., Missouri
• Jimmy Horn Jr., Colorado
• KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Auburn
• Beaux Collins, Notre Dame

There may not be a more divisive or intriguing prospect than Savion Williams from TCU. Get the ball in Williams’ hands and good things happen. That’s not to mention his innate athletic ability. With that said, there are also a lot of concerns here. His role in the NFL will be undefined as teams figure out whether he’s a running back or wide receiver. If he’s a wide receiver, his route running and feel for the position is very raw. That’s not to say that he can’t become a good player, but he needs to be in the right situation.

Coming out of the Shrine Bowl, Konata Mumpfield was one of my favorite wide receivers. He’s definitely more of a depth piece and could play a role on special teams. Still, he displays ability after the catch and an understanding of route running and creating separation.

Bucket 6: Trustworthy, But Less Talented

• Kyle Williams, Washington State
• Ricky White, UNLV
• LeJohntay Wester, Colorado
• Jacolby George, Miami
• Ja’Corey Brooks, Louisville
• Josh Kelly, Texas Tech

Kyle Williams from Washington State is a name that has risen in recent weeks. He may not have the fastest testing numbers, but his game speed shows up on tape. His ability to win off of the line and his release package is among the best in the class. Williams excels as a vertical threat and is a weapon after the catch. He separates with his speed. The Washington State wide receiver projects as a developmental Z-receiver with vertical upside.

Another one of my favorite fits for the Rams on day three is LeJohntay Wester out of Colorado. This is the type of wide receiver that the Rams have targeted on day three in the past and had success with. That’s not to say that he’s the next Puka Nacua, but certainly someone that can contribute. Wester has a smaller frame at 5’10, 163 pounds, but he has serious explosiveness as a gadget player and punt returner. The Colorado wide receiver is a solid route-runner and scored a touchdown once every 10.3 touches in college.

Bucket 7: Late IQ or PQ

• Sam Brown Jr., Miami
• Da’Quan Felton, Virginia Tech
• Pat Bryant, Illinois

All three of these players in this bucket are more developmental projects than immediate contributors. Brown and Bryant each have an unrefined route tree while Felton is extremely unpolished.

Bucket 8: Major Concerns, Off Board, or Reconsider After Draft

• Tez Johnson, Oregon
• Andrew Armstrong, Arkansas
• Jacolby George, Miami
• Beaux Collins, Notre Dame

There are things to like about Tez Johnson and even after re-signing Tutu Atwell, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Rams selected him. He runs crisp routes and is dynamic after the catch. Unlike Atwell, he brings special teams value as well. However, his lack of size, inability to block, and restriction to the slot limit his fit.

Bucket 9: Likely Drafted, Not a Rams Fit

• Travis Hunter, Colorado
• Andrew Armstrong, Arkansas
• Sam Brown Jr., Miami
• Da’Quan Felton, Virginia Tech
• Pat Bryant, Illinois

Had the Rams traded Matthew Stafford to the New York Giants and been able to move up to the third overall pick, Travis Hunter would have been their guy. He is a very good cornerback and an elite wide receiver. As noted by Harmon of Reception Perception,

“He might well be one of the best prospects ever charted for Reception Perception when just considering his wide receiver work. Travis Hunter is the closest player I’ve charted to prime Odell Beckham Jr. since his early days with the New York Giants…Both prime Beckham and Hunter are outrageous athletes who explode out of routes to earn miles of separation, are technically sound off the line vs. press, win at the catch point despite smaller frames and can house layup targets with their run-after-catch skills.”

Unfortunately for the Rams, Hunter will be long gone before they are set to pick with the 26th overall selection.