Chargers 21st Pick Option
Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
There doesn’t seem to be any consensus about this year’s first-round cornerback class. Devon Witherspoon is no different. He is being mocked in his high teens and low twenties. The Chargers may decide they have more pressing needs, but if they think corner is paramount then Witherspoon would be a great option.
Witherspoon stands six feet tall and weighs in at a slight 180 lbs. (Soaking Wet) But his play style more than makes up for his small frame. He plays a tough old-school version of the position and does so with sub-4.4 speed. He allowed a scant 34.9% completion percentage with 17 passes defended in his senior season and was named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year On top of that, he is a highly versatile defender, which would fit well with what Brandon Staley likes to do in the backfield.
Like most guys that play a highly physical, ball-hawking style, he can be baited and bite too hard either in play action or by skilled route runners.
Rams 37th Pick Options
Kelee Ringo, Georgia
Kelee Ringo has Rams draft pick written all over him; 6’2 215 with a 22 mph range on GPS tracking, and a sub 4.4 speed. Ringo would complement Jalen Ramsey. He can lock down the outside while Ramsey moves around the field in the STAR role and with his size, he could move inside to stack the box against the run. This would also complement Jordan Fuller, in the event that Taylor Rapp is lost in free agency.
He leans on his physical superiority and speed more than clean technique, so there is plenty of refining needed. The Rams are a good landing spot considering the brain trust of defensive backs coaches on the staff. They rehired Aubrey Pleasant, Chris Shula is still on staff, and Jimmy Lake has a lot of experience coaching defensive backs. They hired Mike Harris as a DB assistant coach. And, of course, Raheem Morris got his start as a DBs coach
Deonte Banks, Maryland
Deonte Banks isn’t a complete package, but he is the closest thing the Rams could get with their second-round pick. In reality, there isn’t a lot that the Rams would have to do to get Banks up to NFL snuff. Physically he is the ideal size, 6’0” 207 lbs and he is more than athletic enough to match NFL receivers
Late-Round Options For Chargers and Rams
Garrett Williams, Syracuse
There are really only two red flags when it comes to Garrett Williams, his weight; he is only listed as 189 lbs at 6 feet tall. The other is that he is coming off a torn ACL suffered in October. All things considered, if the Chargers can snag him in the 4th he would be a steal. If he is still around in the 6th for the Rams, it would be one of the best gets of the draft.
Starling Thomas, UAB
Could I interest you in 24.16 miles per hour as measured by GPS Tracking? Yes? Then pick Starling Thomas. How about 5’9” 194 lbs? Now I know what Rams fans are saying at this point, we don’t want a defensive Tutu Atwell. The good news is that Starling Thomas does play bigger than he actually is and at 194 lbs he has more built-in durability.
He would definitely be worth taking a flyer on considering he isn’t mocked to go before round 6.