The Los Angeles Rams’ defense was well-represented in the NFL’s annual top 100 players list going into the 2021 season with defensive tackle Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey ranked No. 2 and No. 13, respectively.
Although there may be some debate regarding whether or not Donald should have been No. 1, there is no denying his status as the best defensive player in the game. After all, this was his third straight year checking into the top three and is poised to compete for an NFL-record fourth Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Despite his utter displays of dominance, it appears voters have once again sided with offense over defense since Donald was given the No. 2 ranking behind Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes on ESPN’s list of top 100 players going into the 2021 campaign.
While Donald may have stood in the same spot, Ramsey was given a much more favorable ranking after moving up six spots to check in at No. 7. It is encouraging to see the two-time First-Team All-Pro get his due considering his status as the league’s premier shutdown corner.
Ramsey has proven he is capable of locking down the NFL’s best receivers on the outside. Reports out of training camp indicate that he is set to take on a more versatile role on defense by lining up in the slot.
Perhaps the biggest snub for the Rams came on the offensive side of the ball with quarterback Matthew Stafford. Even though Stafford did not crack this year’s NFL list, ESPN has him at No. 24 on their rankings following another productive year in a less-than-stellar system with the Detroit Lions.
L.A. made quite the investment in order to upgrade under center during the offseason and this helped generate some serious Super Bowl hype at SoFi Stadium. There is good reason to be optimistic with a proven veteran like Stafford now under the tutelage of an offensive mind like McVay.
