2017 NFL Draft: Los Angeles Rams Five Round Mock Draft
By Jason Reed
In the fifth round, and arguably the last significant round of the draft, the Rams again selected a local kid in USC safety Leon McQuay. McQuay comes from quite the lineage, as his grandfather Leon McQuay was the first African-American to receive an athletic scholarship at the University of Tampa. Now, it is the USC senior McQuay that has a shot at the NFL.
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McQuay played fairly well in his senior year with the Rose Bowl Champion USC Trojans. In 13 games, split between safety and defensive back, McQuay registered 50 total tackles with two interceptions. Although his split time may seem as a positive, his lack of having a true narrative on the field will likely leave question marks with NFL teams.
The problem is that McQuay does not have a set position, with his athleticism being what has carried him to decent results. Without a true narrative, teams do not know what they are getting out of McQuay besides athleticism.
So, while McQuay may never be an every game starter for the Rams, he would be a nice addition for nickel packages and as part of the hand’s team on special teams.
Overall, the Rams have a lot of holes to fill and won’t be able to only use the NFL Draft as their outlet. While they could get an instant impact at corner and receiver in the draft, the team is going to need to wait for the progression of later picks to be successful.
Next: Chargers Seven Round Mock Draft
The 2017 NFL Draft is scheduled to start on April 27 and run through April 29. Interestingly, this will be the first NFL draft held outdoors.