What was the Rams best NFL draft class? Analyst says it happened in the 1940s
What was the Rams best NFL draft class? Analyst says it happened in the 1940s
The Los Angeles Rams have had a lot of good draft classes in their franchise's history.
The 2024 group is among the best of the most recent NFL classes, while the 2023 class of Puka Nacua, Byron Young and Kobie Turner is also elite. The Rams also had a ton of incredible classes in the 1970s, 80s and 90s that shepherded in successful eras in the team's history.
But Sports Illustrated's Gilberto Manzano went back even further to find the Rams' top class. He picked the team's 1945 class as the franchise's best group ever because of the two Hall-of-Famers taken: Elroy Hirsch in the first round and Tom Fears in the 11th round.
"The then-Cleveland Rams used a first-round pick on Elroy 'Crazylegs' Hirsch, who led the NFL with 66 receptions, 1,495 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in 1951," Manzano wrote. "Hirsch, a Wisconsin native, quickly turned Hollywood after the team moved to Los Angeles, becoming an actor and starring in his own biopic, the '53 film 'Crazylegs.' In the 11th round, the Rams took Tom Fears, who was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, before his family moved to Southern California."
While the Rams have drafted a lot of Hall of Fame players during the history of the franchise, this is the only one with two players in Canton.
The Rams went 9-1 that season and won the NFL Championship Game. The group went to three consecutive championship starting in 1949 and won again in 1951.
Here is the full list of drafted players from 1945:
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New York Times
38 minutes ago
- New York Times
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Save for a couple of passes thrown in the direction of tight end David Njoku and a few offensive snaps destroyed by all-world defensive end Myles Garrett, what we've seen through two days of mandatory minicamp for the Cleveland Browns is mostly what we saw in brief glimpses of rookie minicamp and voluntary organized team activities. Advertisement We've been largely tracking the quarterback competition. It's the most intriguing and important part of this early phase of the Browns' road back from 3-14, and it's what is easiest to watch in any non-contact spring setting. This year just happens to have the Browns trying to find something from a group headlined by the 40-year-old Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett on his third team in three years and two rookies drafted in April, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Flacco gets the fewest reps because he's the most experienced. He's been in the NFL since Sanders was in kindergarten. Pickett is usually first in the warmup lines and first up for a lot of drills. Gabriel goes first with the backups because he was drafted before Sanders. On each of the first two days of minicamp, Gabriel has taken snaps with the No. 1 offense in full-team situations against at least most of the No. 1 defense. Dillon dart 🎯 — Cleveland Browns (@Browns) June 11, 2025 What we've continued to hear from Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is that the quarterback order doesn't matter and, in many cases, the results don't, either. Stefanski has repeatedly said the Browns are installing plays, stressing fundamentals and just getting the quarterbacks ready for training camp this summer. Those are boring answers, but they match what we've seen on the field and what a normal May and June process would be for almost any team, even in this abnormal situation. From my view on the sidelines, these two minicamp practices have been Gabriel's best throwing days. He's finished both strongly after erratic starts. Sanders comes in and generally gets the ball out of his hand quickly and confidently. Flacco can still fling it when he's asked to, and Pickett has been unremarkable. But this is about process more than results — even if that line makes longtime Browns fans cringe — and that shows up in the work that's done on the practice field before reporters scramble to record certain throws for social media or chart each passer's daily performance. On Wednesday, for example, the quarterbacks went through extended work on shotgun handoffs and play-fakes. We've heard both rookies discuss leaning on Flacco in the meeting room for his experience on how to diagnose defensive concepts, and we've twice heard Flacco say the rookies even want to mimic his cadence as part of them trying to digest everything that's being taught at this early stage. Stefanski has said the team has now gone through seven different installation packages for the offense. Just by the natural order of things, the quarterbacks should be completing more passes than they were in mid-May. But sometimes the defense knows what's coming, too, and almost all of the true highlight throws and catches that end up on social media have been made in 7-on-7 settings. Advertisement To go full Allen Iverson, this is just practice. This is about the small stuff — details, brief introductions, little tips and tricks — that later can help with the big stuff. The quarterback competition that got bigger on the final day of the draft was never going to be super interesting until August. It's fair to say, too, that the addition of Sanders is actually what makes it intriguing. Not just his presence, but the accuracy and decisiveness he's shown this spring. The Browns having four quarterbacks has re-shaped everything about how they handled the offseason program, and it will be the headline story of the summer. From here, the belief is that Flacco is the clear favorite to win the first phase of that competition and the starting job. How the rest of it shakes out is anyone's guess, but Sanders has been good enough this spring to make coaches believe he's worthy of more chances this summer. I think he's earned that, and based on what we've seen to this point, Sanders has positioned himself to make the roster and eventually make the folks in charge think about where he might belong on the depth chart. That's all getting way ahead of things right now, so we'll defer to what Stefanski has repeatedly said and pump the brakes. Here at the end of what can fairly be called a three-week quarterback camp, Flacco is the best passer, and Sanders made enough impressive throws to make me think Cleveland might be on to something with him. A camp that features real football and ends with real decisions that could shape the future of the franchise starts in about six weeks. Let's save most of our overreactions for then. Last summer, the Browns rewarded Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward with a practice off on the last day of minicamp for his perfect attendance through every phase of the offseason program. Ward has had perfect attendance again this year. Advertisement Being present means something to Ward, who's now in his eighth season. Frankly, Ward's presence has prevented almost all of Cleveland's quarterbacks from having more completions in the open practices, and that's part of making everyone better. Ward said Wednesday what I thought was obvious: that 2024 was his best season. He appears to be in top form again, and the best version of Ward gives the Browns a chance to be good enough defensively to help the team collect some wins early in the season. The defense is going to greatly miss the presence of injured linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, but just getting a little more help from the offense and being better up front with first-round defensive tackle Mason Graham can help the Browns' defense create the kind of havoc it might need. Ward dropped several potential interceptions last season, and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has cited those as 'the difference between (Ward being) Pro Bowl and All-Pro, the game-changing plays.' Ward has taken that challenge, and he's the best player in an experienced secondary that has the team's No. 2 and 3 cornerbacks, Martin Emerson Jr. and Greg Newsome II, both signed only through 2025. In the grand scheme of things, I don't think Garrett and Njoku choosing not to participate in the voluntary OTA practices means much. 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New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Patriots stock report: Efton Chism and other risers and fallers after spring practices
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Today, let's look at the players who climbed the depth chart and fell the most this spring. We have to start here. No player's stock rose more than Chism's. He didn't just stand out to reporters at the sessions we watched. He drew praise from arguably the two most important people: Vrabel and Drake Maye. Maye said it felt like Chism 'had about 50 catches' during OTAs. Vrabel's remarks stood out, too. Perhaps it's just that people in these parts aren't used to the head coach praising any player, let alone an undrafted rookie who hasn't played a game, but Vrabel's comments turned a few heads. 'I think he's a talented player,' Vrabel said. 'I think he has a certain skill set. He's dedicated. He's studied extremely hard. He has a good feel for what we're asking him to do. I think the biggest thing for receivers is that there's trust from the guy that throws the football. … It doesn't take you long to figure out who the quarterback trusts. It's the ones they target (with passes). 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He looks primed for an incredible year that could solidify him as a top-five corner in the NFL. Part of practice is taking advantage of your opportunities. And while Rhamondre Stevenson was away from the team for a bit, dealing with a personal matter following the loss of his father, Henderson brought a juice to the team's backfield that it hasn't had in a few years. There were certainly fair reasons to be skeptical about a rebuilding team using its second-round pick on a running back. But Henderson's speed is obvious, and he'll be one of the most fun players for fans to watch in camp. The guess here is he ends up as the team's No. 1 back by the end of the season. It wasn't always clear whether Elliss would return to the Pats after he signed an offer sheet from the Las Vegas Raiders, but now he's got a chance to be a starting middle linebacker in New England. Jahlani Tavai suffered a leg injury in OTAs, and Elliss took advantage of the increased snaps. With a good camp, he'll be starting next to Robert Spillane. Amid the Patriots' overhaul on defense, the addition of Chaisson has gone slightly under the radar. But the 2020 first-round pick had some impressive moments this spring and could be looking at a meaningful role if he plays well in training camp. Chaisson is still just 25 despite already playing five NFL seasons and looks ready to build on the five sacks he had a year ago for the Raiders. Perhaps it's not fair to put injured players in this category. But as coaches often say, the best ability is availability, and Polk needs to stand out to this new coaching staff to earn a spot in a crowded wide receiver room. After a shoulder procedure in the offseason, Polk was limited to side-field activities this spring and couldn't do much with the team. The wide receiver competition will be fascinating to follow in training camp. Advertisement A year after recovering from an ACL tear, the Patriots would have liked to see more from Bourne than they did this spring. He was … fine. But they're likely only going to keep six receivers, and with Chism playing like he deserves a spot, the numbers get complicated quickly for Bourne. He needs a strong camp, or he could be a cut candidate. It hasn't been the start to his NFL career that Mapu hoped for after being a third-round pick in 2023. To simplify things for him, Vrabel has Mapu working at linebacker instead of both there and safety, where Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo used him. There's less depth at linebacker, which helps Mapu's chances of making the team. But I've got some concerns about a guy with durability issues suddenly playing a more physical position. Vrabel thinks Mapu can be a good blitzer, so he'll need to shine there in camp.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
‘I bring the juice every day': Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter is having a blast during first NFL minicamp
Despite having a mountain of expectation on his shoulders, it appears that Travis Hunter remains unfazed. Hunter was the No. 2 overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2025 NFL Draft after a Heisman Trophy-winning season with the Colorado Buffaloes. The 22-year-old is a unique prospect given his two-way potential at college – he played on offense as a wide receiver and on defense as a cornerback – and his desire to feature on both sides of the ball in the NFL. But that pressure to excel at two different positions – which very few players have ever tried, let alone succeeded at, on the pro level – doesn't appear to be getting to Hunter. At his first few days of minicamp with the Jags, Hunter has been seen dancing before plays and laughing with his new teammates as he gets his first taste of offensive and defensive NFL football. Speaking to the media, the Florida native said he's had no issues letting his personality shine despite the step up. 'It's been very easy for me. The guys come in and I bring the juice every day,' Hunter told reporters. 'I always got a smile on my face and make everyone laugh when I get the chance. 'So we're just having fun and just being kids out here – just loving it and living our dream.' Whether Hunter's two-way game will be able to translate from the college level to the NFL is yet to be seen. From his perspective, Hunter says there's 'not really any difference' between playing on both sides of the ball on either level, adding that he needs to 'stay in the playbook and apply it to the field' if he wants to succeed. According to Jags defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, Hunter has all the tools to be a two-way star in the NFL. 'He just has a wealth of talent. He's a super intelligent guy, which makes it really fun. He's really quick on the uptake, so he's a fun guy to coach, to be around,' Campanile told reporters on Wednesday. 'I know his position coaches love coaching him and it's pretty impressive to watch a guy do that. I think it's really cool. It's been really fun, but I also think the coaches … have done a great job of just getting him up to speed on everything, and he's done a great job responding to it.' Jacksonville fans got to see their players up close and personal on Wednesday as the team held a two-hour session open to the public, a rare occurrence for an NFL offseason practice. The stands at Miller Electric Center were full as spectators got their first opportunity to see the team under first-year head coach Liam Coen as well as the crop of new players, with Hunter being the headline act. Hunter called the open session a 'great experience' while Coen said the players increased their effort levels because of the fans' support. '(We) really felt them, the players fed off that, especially some of the younger guys feeling some of that support being rookies and never having a practice quite like this with fans here,' Coen told reporters on Wednesday. 'So really appreciate everybody coming out this week, today especially.'
