The 2023 NFL Draft is right around the corner which means it’s the time of year when fans and teams alike obsess over prospect measurements and 40 times.
When it comes to speed, the Los Angeles Rams could use some help in that department as they continue to rebuild the roster. The Rams will have ample opportunities to add some speed and agility to the team as they’ve got 11 drafts picks to use on Days 2 and 3.
While Los Angeles could use more burners on both sides of the field, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some speedy players already on the team. For example, Robert Rochell was able to run a sub 4.40 at his pro day before ultimately being picked in the fourth round by the Rams in the 2021 NFL Draft.
For fun, Pro Football Focus posed a question as to which team in the league could field the fastest unit for a 4×100 race. Rochell responded to the question and listed himself as a member plus three others for the hypothetical team, via his Twitter account:
Rochell definitely put together the fastest group the Rams can currently offer, starting with the wide receivers. Van Jefferson and Tutu Atwell are the traditional vertical threats in Sean McVay’s offense and have had some great moments of being able to stretch a defense and get open all the way downfield. Jefferson has been able to parlay his speed into a starting role in the traditional 11-personnel lineups that McVay likes to use.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles took a swing on Atwell in the second round strictly for his speed. Atwell ran a 4.32 at his pro day, astounding numbers that would intrigue any team despite his small frame.
Decobie Durant has also got wheels, running an official 4.38 40-yard dash that would’ve ranked top five amongst all cornerbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft. He showed off how fast he was last season as he clocked in one as one of the speediest ball carriers.
Although it’s a purely hypothetical question, it’s a fun one for fans to ponder and argue about before draft day arrives.
Sean McVay calls decision to move on from veterans as inevitable
Rochell, along with the other players he mentioned, will be stepping into bigger roles for the 2023 season after the Rams parted ways with so many veterans. McVay discussed the decision to move on from so many veterans and admitted it was inevitable.
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