The Los Angeles Rams signed four UDFA’s that could find a role in 2020.
The Los Angeles Rams landed nine picks in the 2020 NFL Draft but their haul of young talent didn’t stop there. After the festivities ended, they proceeded to add 20 undrafted free agents to their rookie class. While it’s always tough for those guys to land on the 53-man roster, they signed some talented under-the-radar players who I think could have a real shot.
The Rams are coming off of a tough 2019 season that saw them finish with a pedestrian 9-7 record just one year after reaching the Super Bowl. They missed the playoffs for the first time in the Sean McVay era and are looking to re-establish themselves as a legitimate threat in the NFC this season.
Unfortunately for LA fans, it will be a tough road ahead for the Rams. The NFC West is one of the best divisions in football and they are coming off of an offseason that saw them lose the likes of Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks, Cory Littleton, and Dante Fowler.
These were four hugely important pieces on both sides of the football in Los Angeles and it seems as though the Rams will be relying on their youth to fill those roles this season.
While the brunt of those responsibilities will be given to their 2020 draft class, there are a few undrafted free agents that could potentially make an impact on the Los Angeles Rams.
Here are two UDFA’s on offense and two on defense that could earn their spots on the 53-man roster.
Levonta Taylor, CB, FSU
Levonta Taylor began his collegiate career at Florida State with a lot of hype. He was the number one cornerback in the 2016 recruiting cycle and through two years with the Seminoles, Taylor looked to be on the fast-track to being a potential first-round pick.
Unfortunately, injuries and a coaching turnover stunted his growth and because of that, he was never able to really take that next step as a prospect, ultimately leading to him going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Luckily for Taylor, he signed a UDFA deal with the Los Angeles Rams who have a huge need for secondary help and are a great fit for his skill set.
Taylor was used in a lot of different ways at FSU and that versatility could be key for him to earn a spot in Brandon Staley’s defense.
Staley has been vocal about the importance of being able to slide into multiple roles, saying “That’s something you’ll probably hear me talk about a lot, having the versatility to play any place in the front, any place in the back,”
As long as he is healthy, Taylor has great shot at landing on the final roster and would add some young depth to a very thin defensive back unit.
Jonah Williams, Edge, Weber State
This past offseason, the Los Angeles Rams defense lost Dante Fowler, Corey Littleton, and Clay Matthews III. They were responsible for nearly half of the team’s sack totals in 2019 and replacing that production will be quite the task.
They did bring in Leonard Floyd in free agency and drafted Terrell Lewis in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but that is hardly enough to make up for that loss of talent.
Because of this, there is a UDFA name that stands out to me as a guy that could find a role in the rotation on pass-rushing downs in 2020 and that name is Jonah Williams.
A small school guy out of Weber State, Williams dominated his level of competition, capping off his career by winning the Big Sky Defensive MVP award.
In 54 games with the Wildcats, Williams notched himself 15 sacks and forced three fumbles, but the stat that could help him land on the 53-man roster is his three career blocked kicks.
If he can earn his way onto the special teams unit, Williams could find himself having some opportunities to get after the quarterback in 2020.
Cohl Cabral, C, Arizona State
In 2019, the Los Angeles Rams offensive line not only struggled to protect and create holes, but they struggled to keep healthy as well. So when the 2020 NFL Draft finished up, many Los Angeles Rams fans came away questioning why the team didn’t put more of an emphasis on beefing up that unit.
The team had nine total selections and waited until their final pick to add some competition when they took Clemson’s Tremayne Anchrum with the 250th overall pick.
While I do like the value for Anchrum that late, he alone doesn’t really help the need for depth on the offensive line.
Fortunately, the Los Angeles Rams did land one of the bigger 2020 UDFA steals of this draft cycle in former Arizona State center, Cohl Cabral.
Cabral was a two-time team captain with the Sun Devils and started 38 games in his career. He is a heady player that uses his smarts to make up for his lack of pure physical tools.
While it will be as difficult as ever for UDFA’s to stick around due to the pre-season being cut short, Cabral could benefit from the lack of depth on the interior of the Los Angeles Rams and could steal a spot on the roster by the time the 53-man is decided.
Easop Winston, WR, Washington State
Even after trading away Brandin Cooks this offseason, the Los Angeles Rams still have one of the better wide receiver tandems in the NFL in Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. Unfortunately, the depth behind those two is seriously lacking.
Rookie Van Jefferson should see plenty of looks in year-one and Josh Reynolds is a fine WR4 option but outside of them, it could be an open battle for that presumed final spot at WR in 2020.
LA seems to be welcoming that competition too as they signed four wide receivers to UDFA contracts, but the name that really stands out to me is Easop Winston out of Washington State.
After beginning his career at the JUCO level, Easop Winston went on to play for the Cougars where he would catch 137 balls for 1,624 yards and 19 touchdowns in Mike Leach’s air raid offense.
He is pretty sure-handed for a smaller guy and showed plenty of speed that makes him a potential option in the slot.
I really like his fit with the Los Angeles Rams, and of all of these players I’ve highlighted, I think he has the best shot to stick around and contribute in 2020.