After trading up to take Cal quarterback Jared Goff with the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams did not pick again until the fourth round where they had two selections.
With the No. 110 overall pick, the Rams selected Western Kentucky tight end Tyler Higbee. They then traded the No. 113 pick to the Chicago Bears in exchange for the No. 117 pick and an additional sixth round pick. With the No. 117 pick Los Angeles selected receiver Pharoh Cooper out of South Carolina.
Higbee will have an opportunity to play right away, as the Rams recently released starting tight end Jared Cook leaving backup Lance Kendricks as the team’s starter.
In 31 games at Western Kentucky Higbee caught 68 passes for 1,054 yards and 14 touchdowns. In his senior season the 6 foot 6 inch tight end caught a career-high 38 passes for 563 yards and eight touchdowns.
Cooper was a standout in his three years playing for South Carolina. The 5 foot 11 inch receiver caught 138 passes for 2,163 yards and 18 touchdowns, as well as rushing for 513 yards and four touchdowns in 34 career games. His sophomore season was his best as he had 1,336 total yards from scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns in 13 games. He followed that up with 1,084 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns in 12 games in his junior season.
Leading up to the draft many compared Cooper to his now teammate, Tavon Austin. Now the two get wreak havoc on defenses together.
Los Angeles drafting the two pass catchers shows their commitment to surrounding Goff with playmakers, as that is what the Rams have greatly lacked in the past few years.