The Los Angeles Rams went through the 2020 NFL Draft without a first-round pick, the fourth straight year they didn’t make a selection in the top 32. They still came away with playmakers and impactful rookies, using their four picks in the first three rounds to bolster both the offense and defense.
As always, thousands of hours of work and preparation went into the pre-draft process, from traveling around the country to watch prospects live during the college football season to studying their tape after the season ended.
The Rams shared a peek behind the curtain of how they prepared for the draft in a new online series called “Inside the Draft.” The first episode was released on Monday night, and it gave some insight into what the process was like during this unprecedented time that forced everyone to work from home in the weeks leading up to the draft.
It was cool to see some of the video calls that scouts and player evaluators had with Les Snead, sharing their thoughts on specific players and positions. Obviously, the Rams didn’t reveal the names of all the players they were talking about on the video calls, but Episode 1 did include a clip with two players mentioned by Snead.
On a call with the RB/WR/TE evaluators, Snead asked an interesting question: “If you were a GM, would you take Akers in the second or would you say I’d get someone similar to (Lamical) Perine, or Perine in the fourth?”
Michael Pierce, an area scout for the Rams who evaluates running backs, responded without hesitation: “I’m taking Akers. If he’s there, I think you have to take him because he’s just so much of a complete back. He’d end up being your workhorse, in my opinion.”
Snead nailed the projection on both players, with Akers going No. 52 overall to the Rams, and Perine in the fourth round to the Jets at No. 120 overall.
The Rams obviously really liked Akers going into the draft, and both Snead and Sean McVay were reportedly thrilled that they were able to come away with him in the second round.
