The secondary was a clear need for the Los Angeles Rams heading into the 2022 NFL Draft, so it was no surprise to see them use half their picks on defensive backs.
With the No. 142 overall pick, the Rams took South Carolina State cornerback Decobie Durant. Despite coming from a smaller program and being a bit undersized, Durant showed a competitive edge on the field and that was enough for Los Angeles to take him at the start of Day 3 of the draft.
Durant knew there was a possibility he could go to the Rams after a scout flew in to visit with him, and the thought of going to L.A. excited him because Jalen Ramsey is one of his favorite players, according to Stu Jackson of TheRams.com
“The L.A. Rams actually had a scout fly out to me in Orangeburg, and we watched film and whatnot,” Durant said. “So I kind of figured, I was like, ‘They like me!’ Because the other teams, they was doing mostly Zooms. (The Rams) actually flew out, and I was like, ‘Man, I might get a chance to play with Jalen Ramsey!’ And he’s one of my favorite players. So it was big for me.”
The rookie is focused on doing whatever the team asks of him, and aspires to play in the NFL as long as legendary defensive back Charles Woodson did:
“Just pretty much being able to contribute to the team any way possible – whether it’s special teams, starting on the defense,” Durant said. “Just being able to be a playmaker and show that I can play in the league. Hopefully I can play as long as Charles Woodson did.”
For Durant, to play next to someone like Ramsey will go a long way in his development and the latter should take a liking to the young cornerback as they both play with a chip on their shoulder. Durant may need to work his way up from special teams, but he has the talent and ability to make an impact sooner rather than later.
