By Joe Torosian
The Rams’ needs heading into the 2024 season are at Edge and Cornerback.
In the 48 NFL Drafts the Rams have participated in since the start of the Super Bowl era (1966), they have only taken a CB in the first round three times.
In 1985, they selected Jerry Gray out of Texas, 21st overall. By his second year, he was a full-time starter and was named to four consecutive Pro Bowls. He played seven years for the team before moving on to Houston in 1992
In 1991, the Rams drafted Todd Lyght, 5th overall, out of Notre Dame. He played ten seasons with the team, appearing in 143 games and starting 137. Lyght was named to the Pro Bowl in 1999 and was part of the Super Bowl team. He signed as a free agent with Detroit in 2001.
Gray and Lyght were hits, but the third reach for a cornerback didn’t go as well.
In 2006, the Rams used the 15th overall pick on Tye Hill out of Clemson. Hill started ten games his rookie year and picked off three passes. He only appeared in eight games the following season, starting seven, and the next year he only played in four games. By 2009, Hill was dealt to Atlanta for a seventh-round pick (#226/George Selvie) and was out of the league by the end of 2010.
The year before the common draft in 1965, the Rams took Clancy Williams ninth overall out of Washington State. Williams was a full-time starter for six seasons and picked off 28 passes. Injuries began to mount in his final two seasons, 1971 and 1972. In January of 1973, he was sent to the Washington Redskins and reunited with George Allen, but was cut during the summer.
Cornerbacks Drafted in Top 100 during the Les Snead era.
2012:
2/39—Janoris Jenkins (North Alabama)
3/65—Trumaine Johnson (Montana)
2014:
2/41—Lamarcus Joyner (Florida State)
2019:
3/79—David Long (Michigan)
