LA Rams: With three fourth-round picks, LA must draft Shaquem Griffin

The LA Rams head into the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft with three fourth-round picks. With those picks, one has to be linebacker Shaquem Griffin.

The LA Rams came into the 2018 NFL Draft with one glaring need: linebacker. After parting ways with Alec Ogletree, Connor Barwin and Robert Quinn, the LA Rams’ linebacker unit is as thin as it was inexperienced.

While there are some naturally gifted athletes in the Rams’ linebacker core, it also serves as the one glaring hole in an otherwise well-rounded Rams’ team. Aside from the old age in the offensive line, the Rams are set for success in every aspect of the game.

The Rams addressed that old offensive line with a third-round selection. Los Angeles took offensive tackle, Joseph Noteboom. Noteboom will instantly be a great depth piece for the Rams and will eventually challenge for the starting gig either at tackle or guard. The Rams did not go wrong at all with that pick.

However, with that pick, the hole at middle linebacker still remains unanswered. The amount of playmakers in the fourth round is significantly reduced, so while the Rams may select a few in the coming days, the chances of finding a legitimate starting caliber player are slim.

There is one player that stands pretty high above the rest. The only reason he is this far down in the draft is that he only has one hand; something he has overcome and played football with his entire life. That middle linebacker is Shaquem Griffin.

Chances are you already know exactly who Griffin is. After a stellar combine that included an insane 40-yard dash and bench press with a prosthetic, Griffin became a household name. Griffin is not just a feel-good story, though. He is a legitimate talent that instantly can have an impact in the NFL.

First and foremost, he is naturally gifted. Griffin is one of the most athletic and explosive linebackers in the draft and uses that to his advantage. He is a fantastic open field player with a great football mind and IQ. Despite having just one hand, Griffin is a decent at worst tackler and actually had three interceptions in his collegiate career.

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The 2016 AAC Defensive Player of the Year is no joke. However, NFL teams understandably are scared to take the risk on Griffin. There is no telling how he will transition to the NFL; if the same shortcomings he overcame in college will hinder him in the NFL.

Personally, I don’t see that as a problem. Griffin has played without his left hand his entire football career. If this was a recent injury, sure, it would have a huge impact. But this is something that Griffin is used to. Will there be a learning curve? Sure, every rookie has a learning curve.

However, Griffin’s entire life has been a learning curve. So far, he has excelled. Who’s to say he can’t make that same transition to the NFL?

The most important thing here though, and probably the reason the LA Rams will consider Griffin, is the fact that they have three fourth-round picks and four sixth-round picks. Los Angeles has a ton of ammunition to add depth in these later rounds.

With this ammunition, the Rams can afford to use a fourth-round pick on Griffin, knowing that if it doesn’t pan out they have a plan B. Other teams do not have that luxury. The Rams must utilize it before a team later in the draft takes a shot on Griffin.

Next: Game-by-game predictions for 2018

I don’t think the LA Rams are going to need a plan B, though. Shaquem Griffin is a superstar in the making.

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