Taylor Rapp had to wait a little while before becoming a starter for the Rams last season. It wasn’t until John Johnson suffered a shoulder injury in Week 6 that Rapp was promoted, though he was still playing snaps as a backup even before Johnson went down.
Rapp didn’t stand out right away as a starter, but it became apparent fairly quickly why the Rams liked him so much in the 2019 NFL Draft. His instincts stood out, his tackling was great and he was highly capable in coverage.
Entering Year 2, Rapp’s ceiling is even higher. Eric Weddle’s retirement has cleared the way for Rapp to be a full-time starter all season, lining up to the guy he replaced for half of last season. Fans are excited to see the young safety thrive in Brandon Staley’s defense, and he’s a player who could break out in his second season.
CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards highlighted players at every position who are ready to “make the leap” in Year 2, and Rapp received praise alongside Juan Thornhill and Johnathan Abram at safety.
Rapp had the benefit of learning from Eric Weddle for a season. The former is an instinctive player that should capitalize on his chance in 2020. He recorded two interceptions in 15 games last season.
Rapp has the range to play in coverage, but he’s at his best when playing near the line of scrimmage. While not the fastest safety, his short-area quickness is phenomenal. That allows him to slip blocks and adjust quickly when attempting to make a tackle.
It’s why he made 100 total tackles and missed just three all season, a missed-tackle rate of 2.9%. He’s ready to break out in his second season, especially with the way Staley is expected to use him in the secondary.
