Rams Future at QB? 'Faster Than Bryce Young!'
Despite seemingly trading away their soul and every draft pick imaginable to win a Super Bowl in 2021, the Los Angeles Rams find themselves in solid position entering the 2023 NFL Draft this month as they're set to pick just outside the first round at No. 36 overall.
However, with quarterback Matthew Stafford's career likely coming to a close in the coming seasons, this draft position won't be enough to secure one of the top-four signal-callers in this year's class. It's likely that Alabama's Bryce Young, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, Kentucky's Will Levis and Florida's Anthony Richardson could all be off the board after the first five picks.
But in a draft headlined by these big names, maybe the Rams could sneak under everyone's nose and select an underpublicized quarterback from Los Angeles. In an idea proposed by Turf Show Times, the Rams could take a low-risk, high-reward swing by selecting UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Despite not receiving the same kind of buzz as his quarterback counterparts, Thompson-Robinson ("DTR") was praised by former pro quarterback and current NFL analyst Chris Simms as someone that does a ton of things better than the aforementioned Young.
“Taller than Bryce Young, faster than Bryce Young, think his arm might be stronger than Bryce Young," Simms wrote in his quarterback draft rankings. "He plays the position of quarterback right up there with the top guys in the sport. I mean he can do everything. ... This kid’s got starting quarterback NFL traits.”
Even the most casual of college football viewers likely caught a glimpse of DTR over the past few years at UCLA, as 2022 was arguably his best season yet. While helping lead the Bruins to a 9-4 record, Thompson-Robinson set career-high marks in passing yards (3,154), passing touchdowns (27), completion percentage (69.6), completions (266), rushing yards (646) and rushing touchdowns (12). He finished his career as arguably one of the best players in UCLA history, all while being one of the most exciting players to watch in college football.
A true dual-threat weapon, DTR's mobility gives him a significant boost when it comes to potentially carving out a career in the NFL. He's got both lateral and vertical speed that compares to that of Kyler Murray and rivals most of the top dual-threat quarterbacks currently in the league.
Some mock drafts have had him falling to as low as the seventh round while others have had him going in the fourth round.
The Rams could potentially get a steal at quarterback if they play their cards right and wait out potentially selecting DTR until the later rounds. He'd already be right home in LA.
And based on his unique ability, selecting him is a lower-risk move that the Rams could potentially regret not making.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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