5th Rd. Pick 178 Chris Paul, Jr. Inside LB

Sarah Barshop@sarahbarshop
The Rams traded up for the third time today, this time taking Ole Miss LB Chris Paul Jr. at No. 172.

Jourdan Rodrigue‬ ‪@jourdanrodrigue.bsky.social‬
Chris Paul Jr. was one of my favorite projections to the Rams. He plays so urgently, is very smart and like I said – for a team that is open-minded about size parameters and more focused on effort, he fits.

They sent the two sixths (201, 202) to come up to 172

You guys are going to love this dude. Great first interview with local reporters here. Also, he was a Sugarman visit.

Adam Grosbard@AdamGrosbard
Chris Paul Jr. on Rams trading up for him: “It just goes to show that each and every day I gotta give 110%, each and every day. They were going to get that regardless, man, but that meant a lot to me.”

The numbers for Chris Paul Jr. look like exactly what Rams need at ILB. 4.5% miss rate. 54 run stops. 6 sacks and 24 pressures. Needs a little work in coverage, but 4 PBUs in 2024.

Sarah Barshop@sarahbarshop
71% of Chris Paul Jr.’s defensive snaps came at inside linebacker, but he also logged 389 snaps at outside linebacker and 32 snaps at slot cornerback.

Eric Galko@EricGalko
#OleMiss’s Chris Paul (@PoohPaul4) Chris Paul is undoubtably one of the best, and you can make the case he’s the most complete, linebacker in the 2025 #NFLDraft class.

With outstanding movement ability, range in coverage, explosiveness upfield and laterally, and finishing ability as a tackler, he’s a rare three-tool, three down starting NFL linebacker.

He finished the 2024 season with a 78+ @PFF_College grade in Run Defense, Coverage AND Pass Rush categories.

He was the ONLY Power 4 LB to reach those numbers this year.

And he’s just one of four in the last 5 years to do so (Edgerrin Cooper, Devin Lloyd and Nakobe Dean the others).

Rare company for Paul, who rose during @ShrineBowl week and should continue to rise throughout the draft process, as he has the elite football IQ to match the talent on the field.

Chris Paul Jr. Ole Miss, 4JR

BACKGROUND: Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr., one of eight children (six older sisters, one younger brother), was born and raised in Cordele, Ga., with his parents (Chris Sr. and Velieka). His father, who served in the Navy for six years, played high school football for Crisp County and semi-pro for Valdosta in 1998. Starting at age 7, Paul was coached by his father throughout pee wee, youth football and high school. He played linebacker and running back while also starring in other sports, including baseball. Paul’s fiancée (Nya Stewart) played basketball at Arkansas Fort-Smith (2020-23) and now serves as an assistant coach. Their daughter (Laya) was born in May 2024. Paul enrolled at Crisp County High, where he played both ways as a linebacker and running back. He broke into the starting lineup as a freshman and earned second-team all-region honors. Paul helped Crisp County to the 2018 regional title as a sophomore and posted with 92 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. As a junior, he led the team to an 11-4 finish and a spot in the 2019 3A state championship game, finishing with 157 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. As a senior, Paul recorded 91 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one blocked punt, earning all-state defensive player of the year honors for the second straight year. He also accounted for 197 rushing yards, 192 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns. Paul played shortstop on the Crisp County baseball team through his sophomore year and lettered in track. A three-star recruit, Paul was the 80th-ranked linebacker in the 2021 recruiting class and the No. 72 recruit. After his sophomore season, he picked up his first scholarship offer from UCF (Jan. 2019). Shortly after, Paul added offers from Cincinnati, Michigan State, Nebraska, TCU and West Virginia. The summer before his senior year, Arkansas entered the mix and Paul jumped at the chance to play in the SEC. He was the 18th-ranked recruit in the Razorbacks’ 2021 class. After three seasons in Fayetteville, Paul entered the transfer portal in December 2023. He received offers from dozens of programs, including Auburn, Florida State, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas A&M, but he quickly committed to Ole MIss after visiting the school. His fiancée, who was pregnant at the time, planned to have the baby in her hometown of Memphis — the proximity to Ole Miss made the decision even easier. After one season with the Rebels, Paul elected to skip Ole Miss’ bowl game and his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. He accepted his invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl.

YEAR (GP/GS) TKLS TFL SACK FF PD INT NOTES
2021: (4/0) 1 0.5 0.0 0 0 0 Arkansas; redshirted; enrolled January 2021
2022: (13/2) 62 8.0 4.0 1 0 0 Arkansas; Freshman All-American; Freshman All-SEC
2023: (11/9) 74 6.5 2.0 0 1 0 Arkansas; missed one game (injury)
2024: (12/11) 88 11.0 3.5 0 5 1 Ole Miss; Third Team All-American; Second Team All-SEC; led team in tackles; enrolled January 2024
Total: (40/22) 225 26.0 9.5 1 6 1

STRENGTHS:
● Twitched-up athlete who plays fast and physical
● Takes sharp, decisive angles and doesn’t play unsure of himself
● Has range to make plays outside the numbers and logs more steps than everyone else on the field
● Sees through blocks when mirroring laterally to string out runs
● Fierce hands as tackler to finish the mission
● Green-dot defender for the Rebels
● Plays with relentless nature that you feel on each tape
● Quickly reaches depth in zone coverage and returns eyes to the quarterback
● Explosive blitzer who races through gaps before blocking scheme can react

WEAKNESSES:
● Lacks ideal length, mass and growth potential (not built to play in a phone booth)
● Shorter arms limit his take-on ability and leaves him engulfed by offensive linemen (and some tight ends)
● Doesn’t always see blocks in peripherals
● Frenetic pace leaves him vulnerable to cutbacks
● Average drive-through power as tackler, which leaves him hugging/pulling to finish
● Gets to landmarks in coverage but needs to develop route anticipation to be more of a playmaker versus pass

SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Ole Miss, Paul played the “Mike” linebacker role in defensive coordinator Pete Golding’s 4-2-5 base scheme. Though he was productive in his first three seasons at Arkansas, he played his best ball after transferring to Ole Miss — led the team in tackles in 2024 and benefitted from playing behind a defensive line full of future pros. A highly active, run-around linebacker, Paul is an easy linebacker to appreciate, because of his play speed, execution and competitive toughness (he always had the dirtiest jersey on each tape studied). His lack of inches stands out, but he doesn’t try to be something he’s not and compensates for his lack of take-on length by eluding blockers or attacking full-speed into contact. Overall, Paul won’t be a fit for NFL teams that have strict size thresholds at the position, but his “all-out” play style will find a way to be productive at the next level. He should shine on special teams.

GRADE: 3rd-4th round

Damn. If you watch any highlights in any thread for any draft pick, be sure and see Paul’s. I mean I know, they’re just highlights, but you name the kind of play you want to see from a Rams inside LB and he makes them.

He’s like a blitzing safety who can handle zone coverage…and yet makes great reads and strong plays at MLB.

This guy is unique. I can’t think of any previous Rams LB who was like him.

Hram wrote:

So you are saying he is even better than Jamie Duncan??!!

Yes even him.

…

i could see this guy being this year’s puka nacua. great personality. underrated. potential sleeper.

Saw the vid. I don’t really know cause I only saw highlights and read around, but I think the thing with Paul is that he processes so fast. He’s aggressive, quick, determined, and…processes fast.