The Los Angeles Rams need help at cornerback despite having all three starters back from last season. Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters will both be free agents after next season, meaning the Rams will likely have to replace at least one of them.
The draft is littered with talent at the position and starters can be had all over the place. Whether the Rams address the position in Round 1 remains to be seen, but it’s not out of the question.
Below is one cornerback the Rams should target in every round of the draft.
Round 1: Justin Layne, Michigan State
Layne said the Rams are one of the teams that has done the most work on him and hosted him for a pre-draft visit. The interest is obviously there and it wouldn’t be the slightest surprise to see the Rams take him at No. 31 overall. He’s a perfect fit for Wade Phillips’ scheme, possessing ideal size and length for the position.
He has the requisite speed, too, running a 4.5 40-yard dash at the combine. He’s not on the top tier of cornerbacks with Byron Murphy and Greedy Williams, but he’s also not far behind. The Rams should be thrilled if he’s available at their pick in Round 1.
Round 2: Rock Ya-Sin, Temple
Ya-Sin and Layne probably could’ve been switched on this list and it wouldn’t have made much of a difference. They’re both expected to go in the same range and they’re equally good fits with the Rams. Ya-Sin is smaller and less athletic than Layne, but he’s great against the run and is physical at the line of scrimmage.
Because the Rams don’t have a second-round pick, they’d have to trade back to land Ya-Sin if they don’t take him in the first round. That’s a sweet spot for him as a prospect because he’s a borderline first-round player.
Round 3: Joejuan Williams, Vanderbilt
If the Rams want size and length at cornerback, Williams has plenty of both. He’s 6-foot-4, 211 pounds with 32 1/2-inch arms with a boatload of potential. He doesn’t have the best straight-line speed (4.64 40-yard dash), but in the right scheme, that won’t be a major concern. With the Rams, he could thrive in a zone scheme, keeping the play in front of him the way Marcus Peters does.
His length makes him great in press coverage, too, which is an asset at the NFL level. The ball skills are there, too, pulling down four picks and breaking up 14 passes as a junior last season.
Round 4: Isaiah Johnson, Houston
Johnson has been rising up draft boards ever since the combine after running a 4.4 40-yard dash at 6-foot-2, 208 pounds. He has 33-inch arms and his short shuttle time of 4.06 seconds was fourth-best among all defensive backs, showing excellent long speed and short-area quickness. Those aren’t things you can teach a corner.
If a team like the Seahawks or Cowboys fall in love with him, he could be gone by Round 3. But if he slides into the fourth round and the Rams haven’t yet taken a cornerback, they should pounce on the opportunity to select him.
Round 5: David Long, Michigan
Long was reportedly a pre-draft visitor for the Rams and after seeing his combine performance, it’s easy to understand why. He’s someone who will likely go between Rounds 3 and 5, depending on how teams feel about his lack of height and length.
Long is an aggressive corner, which can sometimes get him in some trouble, but his physicality at the line and quickness make him an enticing prospect. His 3.97-second short shuttle was the best of anyone at the combine, as was his three-cone drill (6.45). Long is a pre-draft riser, which might get him drafted late on Day 2.
Round 6: Iman Marshall, USC
Marshall met with the Rams, and while it’s unclear whether it was an official pre-draft visit or on-campus workout, they have their eye on the USC product. He has good enough speed (4.53), but there’s some left to be desired when it comes to his length. Looking at his measurables and his skill set, Marshall is a candidate to move to safety in the NFL.
The Rams like positional versatility, so perhaps that will entice them to draft him on Day 3 and decide where his best fit is. Whether it’s at safety or cornerback, Marshall has a high ceiling.
Round 7: Hamp Cheevers, Boston College
Most of the corners on this list possess good size, but that’s something Cheevers is lacking. At 5-foot-9, 169 pounds, he doesn’t have the requisite height many teams seek. However, he’s got great quickness and ball skills. He’ll likely play in the slot in the NFL, which is currently occupied by Nickell Robey-Coleman in L.A. But as a seventh-round pick, he can at least contribute in sub-packages as a dime cornerback or sub for Robey-Coleman.
The Rams could do worse with their seventh-round pick, which is essentially a way to lock up a priority free agent before hitting the market.
