Looking at the Los Angeles Rams’ depth chart, you wouldn’t necessarily think they needed cornerback help in the draft. They have Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib and Nickell Robey-Coleman entrenched as the starters with Troy Hill behind them as the primary backup.
Yet, the Rams drafted David Long out of Michigan in the third round (No. 79), and for good reason. Talib and Peters will be free agents in 2020 and Hill has been inconsistent as the No. 4 cornerback. Long will contribute in dime packages and in the event of injury, likely before taking over as a starter in 2020.
He wasn’t tested very often in coverage by opposing quarterbacks, so his highlights aren’t filled with pass breakups and interceptions, but it’s easy to see why teams hardly ever threw his way. He’s sticky in man coverage, often taking away the quarterback’s top target.
Below is another highlight package from the Big Ten Network, albeit a brief one with only a couple of plays.
Long finished his career with 12 pass breakups and three interceptions, while also making 37 tackles and a half-sack.
