Rams add corner David Long to secondary
The Los Angeles Rams selected cornerback David Long out of Michigan in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, 79th overall.
Los Angeles made Long the second addition to the secondary after the selection of safety Taylor Rapp in the second round.
The Rams have Marcus Peters locked into one starting job for the foreseeable future, but Aqib Talib is 33 years old and heading into a contract year. Long could compete with Nickell Robey-Coleman for the slot corner job from Day 1.
Prospect profile
School: Michigan
Height: 5-11
Weight: 196 lbs
Strengths
- Fantastic quickness and excellent short-area agility
- Very experienced and proficient in press coverage
- Physical at the line of scrimmage and can match receivers' patterns after their initial break
- Very patient and knows when to be aggressive
- Good long-distance speed and rarely allows much separation downfield
- Fluid hips allow for smooth transitions
Weaknesses
- Doesn't possess enough explosion to consistently break on the ball
- Subpar run defender
- Can be beaten by big, physical receivers
- Lacks ideal size and length
Bottom line
Long isn't the tallest or most explosive cornerback in this class, but he's an excellent man-coverage prospect with consistent technique. The former Wolverine's agility in close quarters and lightning-quick feet make him an ideal fit for the slot. Long's ball skills leave a bit to be desired but it's rare to find a defensive back prospect so experienced in press coverage. Simply put, quarterbacks rarely found success when targeting him.