After sitting out the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft due to the Jalen Ramsey trade, the Los Angeles Rams made their debut in the second round, drafting Florida State running back Cam Akers and Florida wide receiver Van Jefferson.
After an offseason with heavy roster turnover, the Rams were looking to fill a couple of holes. They lost one of their starting wide receivers in Brandin Cooks and are hoping Jefferson can help to ease that pain. Of course, the Rams still have starters Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods, along with superb backup Josh Reynolds on the roster.
Rams head coach Sean McVay spoke about the Jefferson pick, believing he can help to fill in for any of those three receivers due to his route-running ability, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
“What you feel really good about his three players that are starting players in our offense that come from that receiver group, and I think Van really provides the opportunity to play all three spots,” McVay said. “I think he’s a really polished route-runner.”
Jefferson spent his first few collegiate years at Ole Miss before transferring to Florida. In his last season, he put up 657 total receiving yards on 49 catches for an average gain of 13.4 yards per catch. In both his junior and senior years with the Gators he was able to pull in six touchdowns.
As McVay mentioned, there are few wide receiver groups as talented as the Rams to help Jefferson adjust to the pro game and thrive as soon as possible. While Kupp and Woods are locked in as starters, Jefferson and Reynolds will likely battle it out for the third starting spot, although both will see plenty of playing time throughout the season.
While Akers will need to adjust to comparisons to former Rams running back Todd Gurley, Jefferson will have an ability to carve out his own role for himself in the Rams’ high-powered offense.
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