Redrafting the Los Angeles Rams’ 2017 NFL Draft

Third Round:

• Original pick (69 overall): Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington 

• New pick: Jonnu Smith, TE, Florida International

Was Jonnu Smith a better player than Cooper Kupp last season? Absolutely not. However, is the pairing of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Smith a better pairing than Kupp and Gerald Everett? I believe so. After picking Smith-Schuster, it would make no sense to use the next pick on another receiver (although the Rams did draft another receiver later in the draft).

Smith would have provided the same, if not more, production as Everett as the team’s second tight end option. Playing behind Delanie Walker in Tennessee, Smith caught 18 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. The yardage may not be as high as Everett’s, but Smith’s usage on the Titans was in short-yardage situation. Put him on the Rams pass attack and he could have done more.

• Original pick (91 overall): John Johnson, S, Boston College

• New pick: John Johnson, S, Boston College

With the team’s second selection in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, I believe the Rams got it right with safety John Johnson. Although Johnson did not blow anyone away with his production, he gave LA exactly what they needed out of this selection and arguably was the best safety available in the third round with this pick.

In his rookie campaign, Johnson started 11 games at strong safety. In those 11 games, Johnson recorded 70 total tackles, 11 pass deflections and one interception. For 11 starts (although he played all 16 games in some capacity) that is very solid and worth a third-round pick. Even better? Johnson is only going to get better with time.