Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
znModeratorStafford9@LAR9MS
Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams have a chance to do something special.Stafford has been the QB for the #1,#2, #1 (rookie) WR seasons in NFL history.
I hope they get close to the #3 spot.
He knows how to get the ball to his open guys.
znModeratorThe @Seahawks targeted elite athletes throughout the draft, selecting a league-high four players with an NGS athleticism score of 85 or higher.
Seattle’s first four picks had an average athleticism score of 91, the highest by any team in the draft since 2003. pic.twitter.com/WV5ANXEbDw
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 26, 2025
znModeratorSaw 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.
znModeratorApril 27, 2025 at 12:30 am in reply to: articles, vids, etc. wrapping up & assessing the Rams draft #156189znModeratorThree takeaways from Sean McVay and Les Snead following Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft: Trading up three times on Saturday, Jarquez Hunter’s evaluation, more
Stu Jackson
VAN NUYS, Calif. – The Rams selected four players on Day 3 to round out a six-member 2025 NFL Draft class. In rounds 4-7 on Saturday, Los Angeles traded up three times to go after the players they wanted.
Afterward, head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead held a press conference with local media recapping those moves, their evaluations of running back Jarquez Hunter and inside linebacker Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr., and their overall thoughts on the class.
More on those key takeaways below.
As previously noted, the Rams moved up three times on Saturday to make their selections, coming away with Hunter in Round 4, then Paul and Ohio State defensive lineman Ty Hamilton in Round 5 before staying put to take Pitt wide receiver Konata Mumpfield at pick 242 in Round 7.
The overall six-man class is the smallest in the McVay-Snead era.
“I think it was, like you said, based on our roster, who we were, how the board was going, players that you really were convicted could come in and contribute, whatever that vision for the role was, and it was starting to get thin,” Snead said. “So we said, you know what, instead of wait and just, I call it, letting the draft happen to you, let’s go attack the draft. And when you do that, you have to give up some picks, but we thought that was the more appropriate thing to do.”
As Snead alluded to, the Rams did give up some of those extra selections in the process, including picks 201 and 202 in the sixth round and a 2026 fourth-round pick, but they ultimately felt it was justified.
“We’re all about competition, and we expect these six players to upgrade our roster,” McVay said.ul Jr. with 172nd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft
Hunter has “the ability to go through you or to be able to run away from you”
According to Football Insights (@fball_insights on X), Hunter’s career explosive run rate – defined by the account as runs of 10-plus yards – of 18.9% was second-highest among running backs in this year’s class.
It’s a trait the Rams certainly had an appreciation for.
McVay said Hunter has “the ability to go through you or to be able to run away from you,” and break off long runs.
“He can hit home runs for you too,” McVay said. “You give him a vertical seam, he’s got the ability to run away from you. I mean, some of the metrics that we have on him are really impressive.”
Too early to look ahead to 2026
One of the biggest headlines from this year’s draft was the Rams acquiring a 2026 first-round pick from the Falcons, giving Los Angeles two next year.
A reporter said it seemed like this was really about two drafts – this year and next year, rather than just this year alone. The Rams anticipated trading back, but not necessarily for a future first-round pick, according to Snead.
So, while the Rams seem well positioned for next year, it’s too early to think that far ahead.
“One year’s like dog years in coaching for me,” McVay said. “That’s a long way away.”
April 26, 2025 at 11:55 pm in reply to: articles, vids, etc. wrapping up & assessing the Rams draft #156188znModeratorznModeratorMy list will repeat yours a bit.
from https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/4/26/24418182/rams-2025-undrafted-free-agent-tracker
Rams 2025 UDFA Signings
LB Shaun Dolac, Buffalo
EDGE Jamil Muhammad, USC
iOL Trey Wedig, Indiana
WR Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State
RB Jordan Waters, North Carolina State
DL Da’Jon Terry, Oklahoma
WR Tru Edwards, Louisiana Tech
S Nate Vacarce, NIU
WR Mario Williams, Tulane
iOL Willie Lampkin, UNC
EDGE Josh Pearcy, Rice
OL Ben Dooly, Boise StatApril 26, 2025 at 9:26 pm in reply to: articles, vids, etc. wrapping up & assessing the Rams draft #156186znModeratorso what holes do they still have to fill?
corner?
oline depth?
maybe another wr?I still think they need a traditional 3/4 DE/5-tech type. They really mostly have NTs and 3-techs.
But yeah–corner, OT, and speed at WR.
znModeratorJourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Konata Mumpfield is a pretty versatile, productive late-round WR for the Rams. Dane Brugler calls him a “route-running craftsman”. Three consecutive 500-plus seasons at Pitt, and gets open for his QB.znModeratorWR Konata Mumpfield Pittsburgh, 4SR
BACKGROUND: Konata (Ko-nah-TAY) Mumpfield, the third of four children (three boys, one girl), was born in a military family in Fort Benning, Ga., with his parents (Ceeprian and Michelle). His father played football at NC State before joining the Army (retired after 21 years of service). Mumpfield grew up moving around to different military bases, including stops in Japan and Korea. He started playing sports at age 3 while his father was stationed in Japan, and he continued to play once his family returned to the States and settled in northern Georgia. He was a multisport athlete throughout childhood, primarily playing baseball, b sketball and football. Mumpfield started working with former NFL tight end Alge Crumpler and competed in 7-on-7 with several area football stars, such as Josh Downs and Arik Gilbert. His younger sister (Maia) is a junior pitcher and infielder for the Georgia State softball team. Mumpfield attended Dacula High, where he was a multisport letterman. After playing on the freshman football team, he joined the varsity squad and played both ways (wide receiver and cornerback), helping lead the program to a conference title in 2017. As a junior, Mumpfield posted 35 catches for 554 yards and six touchdowns, which earned him first-team all-region honors. As a senior, he led Dacula to a 13-1 record — its lone loss came in the 6A state playoff quarterfinals. Mumpfield finished that season with 43 receptions for 820 yards (19.1 average) and 13 touchdowns, adding three interceptions and three punt return touchdowns. He again earned all-region honors and was named honorable mention all-county. Mumpfield also lettered on the Dacula basketball team for two seasons.
A three-star recruit, Mumpfield was the 204th-ranked athlete in the 2020 recruiting class and the No. 232 recruit in Georgia. He received his first scholarship offer at the start of his senior year from Division II Clark Atlanta. Two months later, on Halloween 2019, Akron gave Mumpfield his first FBS offer. He added other FCS offers from Alabama A&M, Austin Peay, Florida A&M, Mercer, Tennessee State and Western Carolina. He also received interest from other FBS programs, but most schools wanted him at cornerback — Mumpfield was adamant he would be a wide receiver in college. He committed to Akron as part of the 2020 class, but he grayshirted and officially became part of the 2021 class. After a productive freshman season, Mumpfield entered the transfer portal (Dec. 2021) and received offers from more than a dozen then-Power 5 programs, including Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, LSU, Louisville, Minnesota, Ole Miss, Utah and USC. He had a relationship with the Pitt coaches from his high school recruiting process, though, and signed with head coach Pat Narduzzi for his final three years of eligibility. Mumpfield opted out of Pittsburgh’s 2024 bowl game and accepted his invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl.
YEAR (GP/GS) REC YDS AVG TD DROP NOTES
2021: (12/12) 63 751 11.92 8 4 Akron; Freshman All-American; Second Team All-MAC; led team in receiving; enrolled
January 2021
2022: (12/9) 58 551 9.50 1 2 Pittsburgh; missed one game (injury); enrolled January 2022
2023: (12/12) 44 576 13.09 5 1 Pittsburgh; led team in catches
2024: (12/12) 52 813 15.63 5 4 Pittsburgh; Honorable Mention All-ACC; led team in receiving; missed bowl game (opt-out)
Total: (48/45) 217 2,691 12.40 19 11STRENGTHS:
● Competitive urgency in everything he does on the field
● Sudden in releases and has a few tricks in his bag to win off the ball
● Skilled at swiping corners to gain a vertical step and stack positioning
● Body fluidity shows, mid-route and at the catch point (wears No. 9 because that was Amari Cooper’s number at Alabama)
● Subtle details of route running matter to him
● Tracks the football very well and stays focused, regardless of surroundings
● Wore the captain’s “C” proudly in 2024 and grew up with a sense of discipline (his father served as a member of the military police in the Army)WEAKNESSES:
● Height, weight, arm length and hand size all fall below ideal NFL standards
● Average play strength and struggles at times fighting through mid-route contact
● Quicker than fast, and getting vertical against NFL speed will be a tougher challenge
● Does a better job eluding coverage before the catch than he does after it (average yards-after-catch skills)
● Guilty of making a few extra moves in his route plan, which disrupts cadence of the play
● Doesn’t offer much experience on special teamsSUMMARY: A three-year starter at Pitt, Mumpfield was flexed across the formation in offensive coordinator Kade Bell’s up-tempo, spread scheme (62.2 percent of snaps wide, 37.4 percent in the slot in 2024). From the day he joined Pitt’s program, he found ways to be productive, regardless of quarterback play. Mumpfield can skillfully poke holes in coverage, and he constructs routes with pacing, purpose and salesmanship. He has well-developed tracking/ball skills to make challenging catches, although he needs to develop more as a run-after-catch weapon. Overall, Mumpfield doesn’t wow with size or vertical speed, but he is a route-running craftsman and finds open windows for his quarterback. His toughness and attention to detail should help separate him in training camp.
GRADE: 6th-7th round
znModeratorznModeratorHeight
5’ 11’’
Weight
186 lbs
Arm
29 3/8’’
Hand
8 1/2’’40-Yard Dash
4.59
Seconds
10-Yard Split
1.54
Seconds
Vertical Jump
36’’
Broad Jump
10’ 4’’By Lance Zierlein
https://www.nfl.com/prospects/konata-mumpfield/32004d55-4d47-8130-a5b3-cf5623c5e8e2
Overview
Versatile receiver with average size. Mumpfield is average in beating press and his routes are too undisciplined, but he has the instincts and athleticism to run an expanded route tree over the first two levels. He goes from bad focus drop to highly focused contested catch in the same drive. He’s crafty in uncovering, but scouts question his top-end speed and ability to threaten the third level. Mumpfield has modest traits but possesses playmaking elements that could be nurtured with more coaching.
Strengths
Uses altered route tempo and sudden feet to work past coverage.
Attacks drive phase with big push but can quickly snap off intermediate breaks.
Shows ability to make athletic in-air adjustments to bring it in.
Blends focus and aggression to win contested catches.
Able to stab throws outside his frame with sudden hands.
Good vision with slippery hips in his run after catch.Weaknesses
Routes lack focus.
Average separation burst out of breaks underneath.
Freestyling can throw off the timing of the route.
Drops typically come when working into the middle of the field.
Needs better awareness for anticipatory throws as a pro.znModeratorDo you really want 4 sixth-rounders, or do you try and trade up into the fifth where you have no picks, or maybe improve your position in the fourth?
They could possibly keep them. In 2023 and 2024 Rams hit on a lot of picks in the 6th round. It’s a recent drafting strength of theirs, so far anyway.
OR!
They could trade them all away to move up.
😎
znModeratorznModeratorDamn. 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.
znModeratorChris 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 1STRENGTHS:
● 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 reactWEAKNESSES:
● 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 passSUMMARY: 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
znModeratorznModeratorEric 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.
znModeratorAdam 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.znModeratorThis is a 3×1 pass rush front … overload, or whatever U want to call it. It is where Ernest Jones played in 2023 and where Hoecht played in 2024, this kind of package. Here Chrius Paul Jr. rushes in the big gap -and closes for a good play. POssible role for Paul right away pic.twitter.com/OUFK26o5ub
— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) April 26, 2025
znModeratorTy Hamilton — decent use of hands … gets them inside RG's hands, drives past that guard then swims back inside … good strength pic.twitter.com/aJ680Cw16w
— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) April 26, 2025
znModeratorSarah 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.
znModeratorRams select ILB Chris Paul Jr. with 172nd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft
Stu Jackson
https://www.therams.com/news/chris-paul-jr-nfl-draft-inside-linebacker-ole-miss
VAN NUYS, Calif. – The Rams selected Ole Miss inside linebacker Chris Paul Jr. with the 172nd overall pick in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-1, 222-pound Paul was an Associated Press Third Team All-American performer in 2024 and Second-Team All-SEC selection after posting a team-high 88 total tackles (11 for loss), along with 3.5 sacks, one interception and four pass breakups. A finalist for the Butkus Award (nation’s top linebacker), he started in 11 of 12 games played for the Rebels.
znModeratorRams Bros.@RamsBrothers
Ty Hamilton, iDT, Ohio State at #148…• 6’3, 300lbs, 23 years old
• Described as “quiet but cold-blooded” by the OSU coaches
• Ryan Day: “He’s the ultimate team player. Doesn’t say a whole lot, but goes to work every day.”
• Plays with two-gap technique, tape shows his ability to stack and shed in the run game
• Hasn’t missed a second of playing time due to injury, has played in all 55 games over the past 4 seasons
• Initially projected to be a 3rd round pickznModeratorAdam Grosbard@AdamGrosbard
New Rams DT Ty Hamilton benched 35 reps of 225 pounds at Ohio State’s pro day, two more than any participant at the combine.znModeratorRams Bros.@RamsBrothers
Jarquez Hunter, RB from Auburn (pick #117)…• 5’9, 204lbs, 22 years old
• Ran a 4.40 40-yard dash at the combine
• Squats as much weight as Saquon Barkley, considered a weight-room warrior
• 42 carries of 10 yards or more, which ranked 6th in the FBS in 2024
• Ranked #2 in the FBS with 36.6% of his 2024 carries resulted in a first down or touchdown
• Fumbled 3x in 2024 on 187 touches, can struggle in pass protection due to size/techniqueznModeratorJosiah Stewart. Good take off, but watch pauses. He gets his inside hand under LT's arm and inside to the soulder. Then rolls hips and extends and bends tackle back, — drives to QB. This is nice power. Maybe not Verse's type but very good … pic.twitter.com/6fRJpP9WGl
— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) April 26, 2025
znModeratorAdam GrosbardAdamGrosbard
Per PFF, new Rams RB Jarquez Hunter averaged 4.1 yards *after contact* per carry in 2024znModeratorznModerator -
AuthorPosts
