The Los Angeles Rams traded back three times before making their first pick in the 2019 NFL draft, yet they still came away with a player they’d have been comfortable taking at No. 31. They selected safety Taylor Rapp at No. 61 overall, adding the safety to a secondary that’s filled with talent.
Rapp won’t be needed to start right away or play significant snaps, but he should find himself on the field when the Rams go to sub-packages and three-safety sets. He’ll be afforded the opportunity to learn from Eric Weddle and John Johnson before being thrust into a starting job in 2020.
Bucky Brooks of NFL.com sees the match between the Rams and Rapp as one of the best to come out of the 2019 draft. He ranked it the fourth-best fit of any team-player match in the draft.
Drafted 61st overall (Round 2) out of Washington. So Rapp isn’t a workout warrior. It is still undeniable that he is one of the best football players in the 2019 NFL Draft, based on his performance and production between the lines. As a versatile defender with outstanding instincts, awareness and ball skills, Rapp is an impact player with the capacity to create turnovers between the hashes or near the line of scrimmage as a box-area defender with explosive blitzing skills. If he can pick up a few tips from new Rams teammate (and two-time All-Pro safety) Eric Weddle, he could quickly become an all-star performer.
Rapp has exactly what the Rams need. He’s great near the line of scrimmage and has the size to cover tight ends, yet he’s also very capable in coverage with a passer rating of only 12.0 allowed last season.
The Rams’ third and fourth safeties played more than 40 percent of the team’s snaps combined last season, so if Rapp replaces Marqui Christian and Blake Countess in that regard, he’ll definitely be on the field plenty next season.
