ESPN report: Snead’s Snacks suggest five cornerbacks that the Rams should choose

Which cornerback prospects in the draft fit the Rams the best?

A cornerback may be selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2024 NFL Draft. Even if they signed Tre White and Darious Williams as free agents, selecting a cornerback in the first round is still a possibility. They might definitely try to add to the position in the later rounds, especially considering how their young cornerbacks performed last year.

I’ve been working on a series called Snead’s Snacks since the 2020 NFL Draft. To put it another way, we’ll identify and examine the characteristics and recurring patterns among past Les Snead draft selections in order to determine which players in the 2017 NFL Draft best suit the Rams.

This edition of “Snead’s Snacks” will concentrate on the cornerback position in the secondary. I have accurately projected Robert Rochell and Cobie Durant as possible draft picks in previous years.

2024 Snacks by Snead

Famous Former Rams Draftees Tre Tomlinson, TCU – Fourth Round Measurables:

5’7″ (1st percentile) in height

Weight: five hundred and eighty-seven pounds

29 inches is the arm length (1st percentile).

132 inches is the broad jump (93rd percentile).

39 inches vertically (83rd percentile)

4.41 seconds (78th percentile) for the 40-yard dash

Grade of Size: Extremely Poor

Elite Speed Grade

Grade of Explosion: Passable

RAS: 5.1 – Alright

Qualities:

Good ball handling and ball output
In run support, the attacker
a physically fit, adaptable player with exceptional speed
Synopsis of Pick

Tomlinson didn’t see much action once the regular season began, despite displaying some sparks throughout the preseason. He’ll probably keep playing special teams and filling in at the slot.

Measureables for Cobie Durant, South Carolina State – Fourth Round:

5’9″ is my height (12th percentile).

180 pounds is the weight (8th percentile).

30.75 inches is the arm length (26th percentile).

Shuttle time: 4.4 seconds

117 inches is the broad jump.

Height in the air: 36 inches

Triple cone: 7.02 s

4.38 seconds (89th percentile) for a 40-yard dash

Grade of Size: Extremely Poor

Elite Speed Grade

Grade of Explosion: Passable

RAS: 5.1 – Alright

Qualities:

Good ball handling and ball output
plays larger than his actual size
Swift/rapid feet

Synopsis of Pick

The Rams’ selection of Durant in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft made perfect sense. To be honest, he was a wonderful fit. Large cornerbacks haven’t historically been a Rams target, and Durant’s speed was exactly what Snead was looking for at the position.

Sixth Round Measurables for Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia:

5’11” (58th percentile) is the height

Weight: 56th percentile at 195 pounds.

31 inches is the arm length (34th percentile).

114 inches is the broad jump.

Height in the air: 31 inches

4.79 seconds for the 40-yard dash

Grade of Size: Good

Grade of Speed: Extremely Poor

Grade of Explosion: Extremely Poor

RAS: 1.51, which is below average

Qualities:

Soft hands and good ball skills
Scheme variety
Good toughness and aggression in the run game; excellent play speed and rapid reaction time

Synopsis of Pick

Derion Kendrick’s selection came as a bit of a surprise considering his slow 40-yard sprint time. On tape, though, he played more quickly and shown strong ball handling and tackling prowess. Though he might not be a starting cornerback, he has demonstrated that he is a capable spot starter.

Fourth round of Robert Rochell, CB, Central Arkansas: Measurables

6’0″ (57th percentile) in height

193 pounds is the weight (52nd percentile).

32.375 inches is the arm length (82nd percentile).

4.08 seconds (69th percentile) for the shuttle

133 inches is the broad jump (96th percentile).

43 inches vertically (98th percentile)

3.cone: 71st percentile time of 6.84 seconds

4.41 seconds (79th percentile) for the 40-yard dash

Grade of Size: Good

Elite Speed Grade

Grade of Explosion: Elite

Elite RAS: 9.65

Qualities:

superior physical characteristics
Realistic ball abilities
Physically flamboyant with extended arms

Synopsis of Pick

I included Robert Rochell as an honorable mention player in this same series. It’s obvious why the Rams took him in the fourth round. His physical qualities, his long arms and physicality, complemented their profile.

Third-round measurables for David Long, CB, Michigan

5’10” (32nd percentile) is the height

196 pounds in weight (64th percentile)

Arm Length: 30th percentile at 30.875 inches

Shuttle: 90th percentile time of 3.97 seconds

120 inches is the broad jump (36th percentile).

39.5 inches vertically (87th percentile)

3. cone: 98th percentile time of 6.45 seconds

4.45 seconds (64th percentile) for the 40-yard dash

Grade of Size: Good

Grade of Speed: Good

Grade for Explosion: Good

Elite RAS: 9.19

Qualities:

Quickly in physical terms
Rival performs larger than his stature

Synopsis of Pick

In the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, David Long was selected. He had minimal effect while playing with the Rams. This summer, Long was a free agency and signed with the Raiders of Las Vegas.

Second Round Measurables for Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana

6’1″ (93rd percentile) in height

204 pounds is the weight (88th percentile).

33.25 inches is the arm length (95th percentile).

Shuttle: 56th percentile, 4.15 seconds

122 inches is the broad jump (51st percentile).

Height in inches: 35.5 (36th percentile)

3-cone: 7th percentile time of 7.2 seconds

4.61 seconds (14th percentile) for the 40-yard dash

Size Classification: Superior

Poor speed grade

Grade for Explosion: Good

RAS: 5.81 – Excellent

Qualities:

decent proportions
strong ball handling abilities
Physical Summary of the Pick

Despite having the stature, Trumaine Johnson never demonstrated the skills necessary to be an elite cornerback in the NFL. When he agreed to a big contract with the New York Jets, he demonstrated that. Johnson’s stature and length allowed him to compensate for his lack of consistency and quickness.

Famous Former Rams Players Not Selected
Troy Hill, California – 2015 UDFA Objectives:

5’10” (22nd percentile) is the height

182 pounds is the weight (11th percentile).

Arm Length: 3rd percentile at 29.5 inches

Shuttle: 40th percentile, 4.15

10.02 feet is the broad jump (36th percentile).

3.cone: 74th percentile, 6.65 seconds

4.54 seconds (28th percentile) for the 40-yard dash

34 inches vertically (10th percentile)

Poor size grade

Grade of Speed: Alright

RAS: 2.91, which is below average

Qualities:

rival physical defender
strong ball handling abilities

Darious Williams – 2018 UDFA Measurables – CB, UAB

5’9″ in height

184 pounds in weight

Length of Arm: 30.75 Inches

4.34 seconds for the shuttle

10.02 feet is the broad jump.

3. cone: 68.85 moments

4.44 seconds for the 40-yard dash

Height in the air: 39 inches

Poor size grade

Excellent Speed Grade

RAS: 7.26 – Excellent

Qualities:

plays larger than his actual size
Excellent ball skills Quick

Common Characteristics Rams Cornerbacks See
The following frequent characteristics can assist us in creating a general idea of what Snead could be searching for in a rookie cornerback:

The Rams have demonstrated that they cherish the cornerback position and are willing to select one in the second or third round, in contrast to other positions. Actually, this list includes three notable cornerbacks who were selected in the third round or earlier.

Cornerbacks with strong ball skills are usually liked by the Rams. During his final year at UAB, Darious Williams broke up 19 passes and intercepted five others. When Troy Hill was signed by the Rams, he was third in the nation in passes broken up. At Montana, Trumaine Johnson demonstrated his ability to intercept passes on a regular basis. Durant and Rochell each had twelve career lessons learned.
It appears that Les Snead prefers physically built, edge-producing cornerbacks. One of the intangibles that almost every athlete on this list has highlighted is “competitiveness.”

There is a perception that the Rams are drawn to large, athletic cornerbacks. Not that that’s inherently a bad thing; they just favor big-playing cornerbacks. In college, Jenkins, Long, Williams, and Durant all performed better than their actual stature. On the other hand, just four cornerbacks selected had arms longer than thirty-two inches. In the meantime, the only people taller than 5’10 were Kendrick, Rochell, Johnson, and McGee.

It appears the Rams favor quickness. Every cornerback selected on this list, with the exception of Trumaine Johnson and Derion Kendrick, ran a sub-4.5 40-minute pace. The only cornerbacks that performed poorly in speed drills were Kendrick and Johnson. Durant ranked 10th in the class among cornerbacks with an excellent speed grade and a quick 40-yard sprint.

Players Who Fit The Rams in 2024
Terrion Arnold, Alabama
Terrion Arnold would be a logical choice for the Rams to select a cornerback in the first round. Although he might not possess the pace that the Rams have always desired, his strong top-end speed is evident on film more so than it was during the Combine. Arnold was a star player on the Alabama defense and possesses inside-out versatility. He provides both physical run support and fierce competition. It would be difficult for the Rams to pass on Arnold if he is still available at age 19.

Draft Forecast: Second Iteration

2. Melton Max, Rutgers
Since the Combine, Melton has been one of my top picks to play cornerback for the Rams. His 40-yard sprint time of 4.39 seconds is within their speed limit. He doesn’t lose run support and exhibits all-around adaptability. His 32-inch arms are largely responsible for his ability to play considerably bigger than his 5’11” stature would suggest. Melton contributes to special teams and has recorded 21 pass breakups in his last two years at Rutgers.

Draft Forecast: Second Iteration

3. Auburn’s Nehemiah Pritchett
It wouldn’t be shocking if Pritchett was selected by the Rams as a mid-round cornerback. At the Combine, he ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash and had an exceptional 1.77 “flying 20.” In addition to being physically strong in the run game, he also has return ability when kicking. He doesn’t have particularly good ball skills, but in 2020 he recorded 11 pass breakups, compared to 8 in 2022.

Draft Forecast: Third–Fourth Cycle

Decamerion Richardson, University of Mississippi
There are two types of people: Decamerion Richardson and fast. Richardson had a 4.34 40-yard sprint and a 1.79 “flying 20” at the Combine. He may be among the finest tackling defensive backs in the draft and excels at run support. Despite not having any interceptions during his time in college, Richardson led Mississippi State in passes defended in the previous campaign.

Draft Forecast: Fourth–Fifth Round

5. Florida State’s Jarrian Jones
Jones has a 4.38 second 40-yard dash time that records him as a fast cornerback. He also has strong ball skills. Just in the previous season, he had three interceptions. Although he is incredibly versatile, his best season was spent in the slot. Jones is very confident at the position and exhibits good tenacity in the run game. Early in his career, he’ll probably be a depth player, but he should be able to contribute on special teams coverage units.

Draft Forecast: Rounds Six and Seven

Distinguished Remarks
Quinyon Mitchell and Toledo
manufacture of elite balls
competent tackler during run assistance
Excellent burst draft Prediction: Initial Phase

Andru Phillips, Kentucky
competes using a physical perspective
Fast make-up Internal adaptability
Absence of ball production
Draft Forecast: Third Iteration

Jones, Elijah, Boston University
manufacture of elite balls
Fast moving, elite competitor
excellent in-run assistance