On Tremayne Anchrum, from https://www.therams.com/news/tremayne-anchrum-clemson-five-things-to-know

As Rams Director of College Scouting Brad Holmes was gathering information on Anchrum, one quote from one of his sources stood out among the rest about his background.

“One of the guys says that he was like 18 going on 28 when he first arrived there (at Clemson) as a freshman,” Holmes said on a Rams post-draft show. “I just thought that spoke volumes about his maturity and his intangibles.”
…

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney called Anchrum “a very underrated guy in this draft,” also praising those same intangibles Holmes brought up.

“He’s incredibly smart, very athletic, strong, and has a great football I.Q.,” Swinney said in a statement posted to the program’s Twitter account. “He is another guy that’s going to change a locker room from a leadership standpoint.”

Given that Les Snead did not have a first round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, the #Rams added a pretty damn impressive class, including legitimate Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates. https://t.co/R09bgJTtQl

— Rob Rang (@RobRang) May 16, 2020

Link is in the tweet.

Rang:

Overview of the Rams’ 2020 draft

Fans of the 2020 Los Angeles Rams may need a program given all of the turnover on the roster. Some of the iconic Rams of recent years, like Todd Gurley, Cory Littleton, Brandin Cooks and Greg Zuerlein are all playing elsewhere now, along with several other recognizable names like Clay Matthews, Jr., Dante Fowler, Jr., and Eric Weddle. As such, much of general manager Les Snead’s focus in the 2020 draft was filling holes in the roster at these positions with younger, cheaper options. That process began last season when Snead shipped the club’s 2020 and 2021 first round picks to Jacksonville to nab Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Interestingly enough, they then chose another former standout Florida State Seminole in running back Cam Akers, who should immediately challenge as the Rams’ lead runner. The ultra-polished Van Jefferson was a bit of a surprise just a few picks later given that receiver is a relative strength on this roster and that the former Gator has a similar gliding style as current Rams’ standouts Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp than the elite straight-line speed that left along with Brandin Cooks. The most important pick for the Rams this year may have been Terrell Lewis in the third round, a first round talent whose struggles with durability made him one of this year’s biggest boom or bust prospects. Day Three safeties Terrell Burgess and Jordan Fuller were important additions for depth behind solid young starters John Johnson III and Taylor Rapp, as was tight end Brycen Hopkins, who could find playing time hard to find given the flashes shown by Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett. Of the Rams’ Day Three picks, it may very well be field goal kicker Sam Sloman who makes the most significant impact as a rookie.

Best Player of the Rams’ 2020 Draft: RB Cam Akers

It goes without saying that replacing Gurley is not going to be easy. Even last season, when it was obvious that he was not the same caliber of player he was just a few years earlier when named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, the Rams still rode their workhorse. Gurley’s rushing attempts (223 for 857 yards) and receptions (31 for 207 yards) greatly surpassed LA’s top backups Malcom Brown (69-255, 2-16) and Darrell Henderson (39-147 and 4-37), a celebrated third round pick a year ago. With all due respect to Brown and Henderson, Akers is the superior talent whose experience carrying the load and production (2,874 yards and 27 TDs as a three-year starter) against elite competition suggests that he could step into Gurley’s role and become an instant star. Akers signed with FSU as one of the elite prep talents in the country, regardless of position. Once there, however, it didn’t take long for opponents to realize that the Seminoles are no longer a juggernaut and they crowded the box, limiting Akers’ effectiveness. With his burst to and through the hole and excellent lateral agility to elude, the rocked-up 5-10, 217 pound Akers has the juice of a much smaller back. He not only clocked in at a very impressive 4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash, his 10-yard split was a full tenth of a second faster (1.47) than any other back who ran at this year’s Combine. With defenses spread out wide to slow down the Rams’ aerial assault, don’t be surprised if Akers takes full advantage of the increased spaces, running acres and dramatically boosting LA’s 26-ranked rushing attack as a rookie.

Best Value of the Rams’ 2020 Draft: K Sam Sloman

There are some who believe no specialist is ever worthy of an NFL draft pick, citing the Rams and their four-time All-Pro punter Johnny Hekker (a former undrafted free agent out of Oregon State) as a prime example of why teams can wait. It is hard to argue that Zuerlein, the 171 pick back in 2012, did not provide the Rams great value over his eight seasons, however. Still, up against the salary cap, the Rams allowed “Greg The Leg” to walk when Dallas offered a three-year deal for $7.5 million on the heels of the least accurate 16-game season of his career (72.7% FG accuracy rate). Zuerlein’s accuracy has declined each of the past three years, in fact, which is the exact opposite of the three-year improvement Sloman showed with the Redhawks, converting 75% of his field goal attempts (12/16) in his first season as a starter, 77% (10/13) in 2018 and capping his career with 26/30 (86.7%) as a senior, including 4 of 5 from 50+ yards. Sloman had previously struggled with long distance kicks, a Zuerlein specialty, but his improved accuracy as a senior and success as a kickoff specialist earlier in his career suggest that the leg strength and work ethic is there to project him as a quality NFL starter. If that indeed occurs, Sloman certainly would have provided the Rams terrific value given that only seven other players were selected after him in the 2020 draft.

Best Project of the Rams’ 2020 Draft: DE/OLB Terrell Lewis

It is perhaps appropriate that Los Angeles drafted Lewis as he has the 6-5, 262-pound frame and Alabama pedigree straight out of a Hollywood casting call. A five-star recruit out of Washington D.C., Lewis flashed throughout his time in Nick Saban’s football factory but could not stay healthy, missing most of the 2017 season due to a right elbow injury and all of 2018 with a torn right ACL. Mostly healthy in 2019, Lewis showed off his disruptive potential, exploding for 11.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks to earn Second Team All-SEC honors despite starting just three games for the Tide. He did miss a game (Southern Miss) due to a bone bruise in the right leg and, predictably, some teams flagged Lewis’ medical at the Combine despite a solid showing at the Senior Bowl. Lewis did not run or participate in many of the on-field drills in Indianapolis but did post an eye-popping 37” vertical jump, the best of anyone this year over 250 pounds. The vertical is an illustration of Lewis’ unique explosiveness for a man of his size. He can beat tackles upfield with just his initial burst and has impressive core flexibility for his muscled-up frame, showing the ability to win with quick spins back inside, as well as loops, making him a potentially lethal combination with Aaron Donald.

Overall Grade for the Rams’ 2020 Draft: B+

oldnotdead

The guy to watch is Jonah Williams this kid is legit. He’s my dark horse to make this team. I was pointed to this guy by a friend who sent me a scouting report from one of the major services. But he sent a link to Jonah’s Pro Day. The report had a second-day draft grade on him. After watching his Pro Day I was really impressed. Watching his game vids only confirmed that this kid is a baller. The comment from my friend was that he thought Okoronkwo was gone if Williams impresses.

Williams has good length and excellent speed for the position as an edge player. His game vids show he can shed blocks and can set a hard edge. He’s bigger, faster, stronger, and more polished than Okoronkwo. Williams can play DE, or OLB because he’s fast enough to play in coverage which makes him a perfect scheme fit to play behind Ebukam. Williams has the athleticism to cover but he lacks the coaching to polish those skills.

An interesting part of the report said he had positional tryouts as a TE and showed good speed and excellent hands.

View:

This kid in a normal draft probably would have gone on the second day IMO. He’s a steal as a UDFA.

Ebukam is a UFA next year and is likely to draw a lot of interest. If they groom Williams to play behind Ebukam this year they will have some insurance. If they resign Ebukam next year then IMO yes he’s a threat to Okoronkwo. It’s going to come down to a numbers game and in my opinion, Williams offers them a far better and more versatile player than Okoronkwo.

Watch his ProDay those are some impressive numbers. He checks almost all the boxes to play DE/OLB in this scheme.

InvaderRam wrote:

tanzel smart was probably not needed. they still got greg gaines no? and now they got robinson

Plus Sebastian-Day. Who can maybe back-up the DE spot some too.

These are their DL/DT candidates (Fox not listed yet):

Eric Banks DL 6-5 275
Michael Brockers DL 6-5 305
Michael Hoecht DL 6-4 310
Sam Renner DL 6-4 275
Jonah Williams DL 6-5 275

Marquise Copeland DT 6-2 287
Aaron Donald DT 6-1 280
Greg Gaines DT 6-1 312
Sebastian Joseph-Day DT 6-4 310
A’Shawn Robinson DT 6-4 330

Banks btw (2020 UDFA) was a high school qb who played under Rams DL coach Eric Henderson as a freshman at UT San Antonio.

Anyway counting Fox that’s 11 candidates for 6-7 positions.

Though I’m betting that Darren Arnold guy (#99) makes the team this time.

…

Should the #Falcons be nervous about Todd Gurley's knee?:https://t.co/Iz7aNIVf4p

— Pro Football Rumors (@pfrumors) May 15, 2020

Rams hoping Leonard Floyd reunion with coach Brandon Staley will ignite linebacker https://t.co/vMac1WOPyl

— Gary Klein (@LATimesklein) May 12, 2020

==

The Rams signed outside linebacker Leonard Floyd to fill the void left by Dante Fowler’s free-agency departure.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/story/2020-05-11/rams-hoping-leonard-floyd-reunion-with-coach-brandon-staley-will-ignite-linebacker

But Floyd said Monday that he was not feeling pressure to match the performance of an edge rusher who amassed a career-best 11½ sacks in 2019 before leaving to sign with the Atlanta Falcons.

“I just want to come in and play at my level,” Floyd said during a video conference with reporters, “and try to help the team win games and try to dominate on defense.”

Floyd, the ninth pick in the 2016 draft, had seven sacks for the Chicago Bears as a rookie, but did not come close to matching that production the last three seasons. In 2019, he had a career-low three sacks. The Bears cut him rather than paying him $13.2 million.

The Rams anticipated that Floyd might be a “cap casualty,” general manager Les Snead said, and they moved quickly to sign him after Fowler’s exit in March at the start of free agency. Floyd received a one-year, $10-million contract, the Rams apparently believing that a reunion with new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley would benefit Floyd and the Rams.

Staley was the Bears’ outside linebackers coach in 2017 and 2018.

“It’s going to be great playing for him again,” Floyd said, citing Staley’s preparation, energy and communication skills.

The Rams would like nothing more than to see Floyd’s performance improve as Fowler’s did after a change of scenery.

Fowler, the third pick in the 2015 draft, was traded by the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Rams midway through the 2018 season. He helped the Rams reach the Super Bowl, and parlayed his 2019 performance into a three-year, $45-million contract with the Falcons.

Coach Sean McVay has said the versatility of the 6-foot-5, 240-pound Floyd — and his familiarity with Staley — made him an attractive replacement for Fowler.

“He can rush, he can play in coverage, he’s got length,” McVay said.Floyd said he still has work to do.“I’m coming to L.A. to continue to work on my pass rush,” he said, “to elevate that even more.”

Familiarity with Staley, and the system the coordinator learned from Vic Fangio with the Bears and Denver Broncos, eased Floyd’s transition during the first two weeks of the Rams’ virtual offseason program. Floyd is participating from Atlanta.

Staley, hired to replace Wade Phillips, is overseeing a remade defense as the Rams attempt to return to the playoffs. Fowler, linebacker Cory Littleton and slot cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman signed elsewhere after last season’s 9-7 finish. The Rams cut linebacker Clay Matthews. Safety Eric Weddle retired.

The Rams re-signed defensive lineman Michael Brockers after a free-agent deal with the Baltimore Ravens fell through. They signed Floyd and defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson, and then used four of nine draft picks on defensive players, including edge rusher Terrell Lewis, safeties Terrell Burgess and Jordan Fuller, and linebacker Clay Johnston.
Drafted rookies and undrafted first-year players began participating in the offseason program on Monday.

For the last two seasons, Floyd played for a Bears defense that included outside linebacker Khalil Mack, the 2016 NFL defensive player of the year. Now he is part of a defense that features tackle Aaron Donald, the 2017 and 2018 defensive player of the year.

Floyd said Mack taught him about work ethic on and off the field.

“Dominate,” Floyd said. “That’s all he preached. … Playing with Aaron, it’s going to be the same way. I know he’s going to be dominating. And I’m going to try and get in and dominate right beside him.”

Are we finally ready to give the #Rams marketing department some credit? This is as good as it gets. pic.twitter.com/SYrycDd1kt

— Rams Brothers (@RamsBrothers) May 15, 2020