Rams Rookie Already a Draft-Day Steal After Another Preseason Masterpiece

The LA Rams exceeded all expectations with a 10-7 record last season and a big part of that success was wide receiver Puka Nacua. The former BYU product — who was drafted 177th overall in April 2023 — proved to be the biggest steal of last year's draft as he racked up 1,486 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 105 catches en route to All-Pro second-team honors.

Nacua — along with a healthy Cooper Kupp — is expected to be the top target in the Matthew Stafford-led offense again this fall. While the dynamic duo is more than capable of terrorizing the league's secondaries, it looks like the Rams' aerial assault is boasting another potential draft-day steal.

Rams News: Jordan Whittington Impressing Throughout Preseason

The Rams notched a hard-fought 13-9 preseason win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday and rookie WR Jordan Whittington was at the center of the victory. This year's 213th-overall selection shared the team lead in targets (8) and receptions (5) while converting his opportunities into a team-best 52 yards.

Whittington now leads the entire NFL with 11 catches on 17 targets this preseason, per Football Database, resulting in 126 receiving yards and seven first downs without a TD. He was receiving praise from the Rams coaching staff throughout the early summer, so it's great to see that success translate into in-game results.

Nevertheless, the 23-year-old's emergence has certainly made the Rams' WR3 competition more interesting. Names like Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell, and Tyler Johnson were expected to compete for the job behind Nacua and Kupp, however, Whittington's performance has given Sean McVay's staff something to think about.

Fortunately, too much of a good thing (in this case, talented receivers) isn't necessarily a negative.

Whittington suited up for 42 games across his five seasons with the Texas Longhorns. He caught a total of 141 balls during that stretch, racking up 1,757 yards with five TDs. He also boasts some NFL DNA as his uncle, Arthur, played as a running back for five seasons across two franchises and even won the Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders in 1981.

Hopefully, Whittington's impressive preseason showcase isn't just smoke and mirrors. The Rams could use another game-changer on offense as they head into the 2024 NFL season tied for the 13th-best odds to win Super Bowl LIX (+3000), per DraftKings Sportsbook.

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