The Senior Bowl is a key event in the NFL draft process, giving all 32 teams the opportunity to not only evaluate the top senior prospects in the country, but also meet with them off the field. The Los Angeles Rams have put a lot of stock in the Senior Bowl under Les Snead, particularly since Sean McVay came aboard in 2017.
In the last six years, the Rams have drafted 19 players from the Senior Bowl, though they’ve seemingly put less of an emphasis on the game and week of practice in recent years. They’ve drafted just three Senior Bowl prospects in the last two years after taking 10 in 2017 and 2018 combined.
With the Senior Bowl taking place this week, here’s a look at every participant the Rams have drafted since 2017.
2022
- CB Derion Kendrick, 6th round
The Rams made eight picks in the draft last year but only one of the players they selected participated in the Senior Bowl. Kendrick’s play in the Senior Bowl didn’t necessarily help his stock as he still slipped to the sixth round, but he contributed as a rookie at cornerback.
2021
- CB Robert Rochell, 4th round
- WR Ben Skowronek, 7th round
Rochell and Skowronek were the only two Senior Bowl participants drafted by the Rams in 2021 but only one of them has played meaningful snaps in the last two seasons. Rochell has struggled to carve out a role at cornerback, while Skowronek does a little bit of everything at wideout.
2020
- WR Van Jefferson, 2nd round
- OLB Terrell Lewis, 3rd round
- DB Terrell Burgess, 3rd round
- TE Brycen Hopkins, 4th round
- OL Tremayne Anchrum Jr., 7th round
The 2020 draft was heavy on Senior Bowl prospects for Los Angeles. Four of their first five picks played in the Senior Bowl three years ago, with Cam Akers being the only exception.
Unfortunately, Lewis and Burgess are both off the team now after being cut this past season, but Jefferson, Hopkins and Anchrum are still around.
2019
- DL Greg Gaines, 4th round
Of the eight picks the Rams made in 2019, Gaines was the only Senior Bowl participant. He’s turned into an excellent pro at nose tackle, but he’ll be a free agent in March and may not be back with the Rams next season.
2018
- OL Joe Noteboom, 3rd round
- LB Micah Kiser, 5th round
- OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, 5th round
- OL Jamil Demby, 6th round
Noteboom was a lesser-known prospect when the Rams took him 89th overall in 2018, but his play at the Senior Bowl likely helped put him on the map for Los Angeles. He’s the only one of these four players left on the roster, and is one of just three players from the Rams’ 2018 class who is still on the team.
2017
- TE Gerald Everett, 2nd round
- WR Cooper Kupp, 3rd round
- S John Johnson, 3rd round
- WR Josh Reynolds, 4th round
- DL Tanzel Smart, 6th round
- FB Sam Rogers, 6th round
Right off the bat, Sean McVay heavily targeted Senior Bowl prospects in his first draft in 2017. Six of the Rams’ eight picks from this class took part in the Senior Bowl, led by Everett, Kupp and Johnson. All four of their top picks played in the Senior Bowl.
