Entering the 2022 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams had a clear need in the secondary after seeing key pieces depart in the offseason.
The Rams made good use of their Day 3 selections, taking four defensive backs to provide some much-needed depth. The most interesting selection was South Carolina State cornerback Decobie Durant, who they took with the No. 142 overall pick.
Durant is well-regarded for his toughness and competitiveness despite being slightly undersized, but that shouldn’t be a problem for Los Angeles who are great at developing players. Part of the reason they are so good at it is because the veterans on the roster make themselves available to the younger players.
In Durant’s case, he revealed that Jalen Ramsey has already taken him under his wing, via Symone Stanley of HBCU Gameday:
“He has taught me how to dial in when I’m on the field,” Durant said of Ramsey. “He has taken me under his wing, and taught me a lot. I’m lucky to have him take the time to mentor me in my first season.”
Durant couldn’t have landed in a better situation to learn how to be an NFL defensive back because Ramsey has established himself as the best corner in the league today. Like Durant, Ramsey plays with an edge but he couples that with excellent technique and football IQ that allows him to make an impact no matter where he lines up on the field.
Because of his size, Durant will likely end up playing nickel exclusively though it seems like David Long Jr. has a hold on that spot. However, Long has been up and down when thrust into action, so Durant could conceivably steal snaps early on should that continue. Either way, the Rams will be content letting Durant improve behind the scenes with Ramsey a more than qualified mentor.
