Draft approach requires rookies to develop patience

For every college star eager to hear his name called in this week’s NFL draft, the dream is to join a good team and earn a starting role right away.

It’s hard to do both, as recent Rams rookies have learned.

Among the ways the Rams did the draft differently as they built their Super Bowlwinning roster is they rarely relied on first-year players for first-unit duty.

As much as young Rams might wish to play sooner, many who wait their turn wind up admitting it made them better in the long run.

“Just having time to spend time with what you don’t know, and figure it out and get through those hoops, is huge,” said center Brian Allen, who spent a year as understudy to veteran John Sullivan after being drafted in the fourth round in 2018, and wound up anchoring the Rams’ offensive line in 2021. “Getting time to be able to do that was awesome.”

Last season, inside linebacker Ernest Jones, a thirdround draft pick, made the most starts of any Rams rookie – seven – but not until Week 8.

The year before, safety Jordan Fuller, a sixthrounder, made 12 starts. He was the first Rams rookie with that many starts since running back Todd Gurley (12) and right tackle Rob Havenstein (13) in 2015.

In general manager Les Snead’s first five seasons from 2012-16, the Rams usually had three or four rookies start a majority of the team’s games each year. They included Havenstein and defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

But in the five years since

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1st round: 2nd round: 3rd round: 4th round: coach Sean Mcvay joined the brain trust and the Rams got good, only safety John Johnson in 2017, guard David Edwards and safety Taylor Rapp in 2019 and Fuller have started nine or more games.

Isn’t it that way for any good team? Well, no. The other three conference finalists in 2021 all leaned on rookies, the Bengals with wide receiver Ja’marr Chase (17 games), the 49ers with running back Elijah Mitchell (10) and the Chiefs with guard Trey Smith (17) and linebacker Nick Bolton (12).

There are several

Some Rams rookies could start more games but get hurt in their first brush with the rigors of the NFL.

Snead’s success at trading first- and second-round picks for established stars means the Rams usually begin drafting after the surefire rookie starters have been taken. Barring a trade up, the Rams won’t jump into the NFL draft until reasons. rookies back if they’re capable of starting, and they don’t go out of their way to draft players who’ll need a year.

But sometimes out that way.

Of the Rams’ 12 homegrown Super Bowl starters on offense and defense, wide receiver Van Jefferson, tight end Kendall Blanton, cornerback David Long, safety Nick Scott, Allen and Gaines all made zero starts as rookies. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp made six starts as a rookie. It worked out for the 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year.

Joe Noteboom, expected to step into the left-tackle role of retired Andrew Whitworth in 2022, has been working toward an enduring full-time job for a long time since being drafted in the third round in 2018.

The fact that “good pick” isn’t always the same as “rookie star” makes it hard to render instant judgments about Rams’ draft classes.

“Some guys can step in and play right away and play. Some guys need a couple of years, whether it’s (because) of a system they came from, or they need a couple of years developing and getting skills down, or they’re a little raw (or) they need to learn the playbook,” Havenstein said. “It’s all person by person and team by team.”

Allen said he learned more from practicing and watching Sullivan than he would have by starting right away.

“I think I could learn without the pressure of screwing up for the organization in a game on Sundays,” the center said. “It’s hard to play as a rookie in the NFL. Every year, there’s these guys, freaks, who (do). But it’s not common. A lot of guys really do need to develop. A lot of guys struggle.” it plays