Rams’ last pick isn’t last chance
Linebacker Dakota Allen completes eight-man draft, and McVay has a vision.
Allen gained celebrity on Netflix after expulsion from Texas Tech.
The Rams concluded the NFL draft Saturday with a Hollywood-style finish.
With their final pick, they selected Texas Tech linebacker Dakota Allen, bringing to Los Angeles a player who gained prominence for his role in the second season of the Netflix documentary series “Last Chance U,” which chronicled players’ ups and downs at East Mississippi Community College.
“I honestly can’t believe I’m an L.A. Ram,” Allen said during a teleconference.
Smith’s selection with the 251st pick was the last of the Rams’ eight picks in a draft that included six trades by general manager Les Snead, three with the New England Patriots.
After selecting Washington safety Taylor Rapp, Memphis running back Darrell Henderson, Michigan cornerback David Long and Oklahoma offensive tackle Bobby Evans on Friday, the Rams on Saturday chose Washington defensive tackle Greg Gaines in the fourth round, Wisconsin offensive tackle David Edwards in the fifth, and Penn State safety Nick Scott and Allen in the seventh.
Snead and coach Sean McVay said the Rams filled specific needs for a team that has won two consecutive NFC West titles and advanced to the Super Bowl last season.
“When you look at the eight players that we were able to acquire, you have a vision for all those guys and you can see a fit,” McVay said. “And I think that’s a credit to where we’re at going into our third year.
“We have much better feel for our personnel.”
Snead and McVay said Gaines impressed during Senior Bowl workouts against top offensive linemen. So Saturday morning began with the Rams figuring how to trade up to draft the player who can play nose tackle in the Rams’ base defense.
Gaines, who played at La Habra High, said he was “super excited” about joining the Rams and being part of a defensive line that includes tackle Aaron Donald, the twotime NFL defensive player of the year.
“I’ve watched Aaron Donald a lot on film and studied a lot of his techniques,” Gaines said. “It’s going to be amazing to learn from him first-hand.”
Edwards’ draft status probably slipped because of concerns about a left shoulder injury that he played through until he was forced to sit out Wisconsin’s final three games. But he said he did not regret it. with teammates and make memories that I will never forget,” he said. “So, in terms of regretting it or feeling bad about it — don’t feel bad at all and I hope that the Rams can see that they got a really good dude and a team guy that is going to work his tail off for everybody in the building.” Mission accomplished. “You give him credit for that,” Snead said, “He was toughing it out. … You kind of dig deep and go back when he was healthy and see what he might be when he is healthy.”
Scott was not invited to the NFL scouting combine, but Rams special teams coordinator John Fassel called him during the event.
“He said, ‘Hey Nick, I’m looking at your film and I’m extremely surprised that you’re not here right now,’ ” Scott said. “And we’ve been in contact ever since then.
“He told me he was going to draft me and he kept his word.”
Allen sounded as if he was in tears when speaking with reporters after the Rams selected him.
As a redshirt freshman in 2015, Allen was Texas Tech’s second leading tackler. But he was expelled in 2016 after he and two other players were indicted for a second-degree felony burglary charge that included the alleged theft of a gun safe and seven guns. The charges were eventually dropped when the players completed a pretrial diversion program.
“When I first left Texas Tech, I thought I was never going to play football again,” Allen said. “That’s why I’m so grateful and thankful for the opportunity East Mississippi provided me. And then once I got that opportunity, I just took it and ran with it.”
Appearing on the “Last Chance U” series was a “weird experience but also a great experience,” he said.
“People do recognize me from the show — they recognize me as sort of the good guy,” he said, laughing. “Just the whole experience was just amazing, and I’m thankful for it because I was able to continue playing football.”
Allen transferred back to Texas Tech for his final two seasons and was a voted a team captain. He said he was “open and honest” with NFL teams when discussing his past, and had learned and grown from a “mistake” that would not be repeated.
Snead said the Rams had researched Allen’s past.
“The No. 1 thing we try to find out is when somebody does go through adversity — what happens after that adverse moment and is there any lessons that’s applied,” Snead said. “So it’s a really neat story.
“I know it’s well-publicized based on the ‘Last Chance U’ and all that but … what was really neat about going through the process, the mistake he made at Texas Tech, there were people at Texas Tech who definitely fought for him to get a second chance based on who he was.”