The NFL draft brings about a lot of excitement for the incoming class of rookies. It also puts a bunch of players on the hot seat because of the injection of talent across the NFL.
For the Los Angeles Rams, several players already on the roster will now be in danger of losing snaps to rookies. On the flip side, others are even more entrenched in their roles now after the Rams ignored players at their positions.
Here are the winners and losers from the Rams’ moves in the 2022 NFL draft.
Winner: Van Jefferson
The Rams didn’t take a single wide receiver in the draft, which was surprising. However, it’s a good sign for Jefferson, whose standing as the No. 3 wide receiver just got even stronger. He’s not really in any danger of being unseated for that role unless the Rams sign Odell Beckham Jr., which is still a possibility. But the competition for WR3 won’t be that deep; Tutu Atwell, Ben Skowronek and Jacob Harris are the next players after Jefferson.
Loser: Darrell Henderson Jr.
Henderson isn’t immediately going to be bumped from his backup role behind Cam Akers. However, the selection of Kyren Williams suggests the Rams probably won’t re-sign Henderson in free agency next offseason.
Henderson could also be in danger of losing snaps to Williams on third downs and obvious passing situations because the rookie is talented as a blocker and receiver. That should earn him playing time early.
Winners: Justin Hollins and Terrell Lewis
It wasn’t until the seventh round that the Rams took their first edge rusher, an undersized player out of Montana State, Daniel Hardy. Hardy will need time to develop and improve his technique as a pass rusher, which should keep Hollins and Lewis locked in as the secondary edge rushers opposite Leonard Floyd. Hollins isn’t a great pass rusher and Lewis is often injured, but the less competition there is at outside…