Rams have high expectations for David Long Jr. as ‘big-time contributor’ at CB

The Los Angeles Rams will have several new starters on defense this season after finishing first in points and yards allowed last year. Gone are Samson Ebukam, Michael Brockers, John Johnson and Troy Hill, which will thrust several unproven players into the spotlight.

David Long Jr. has been waiting for his chance to break out as a starter after being a third-round pick in 2019, and he might finally have his chance in 2021 following Hill’s departure.

Coincidentally, he’s now wearing Hill’s old number (22), which is something the Rams will need to tell the scoreboard operator at SoFi Stadium after Hill’s head shot was used next to Long’s name during Thursday’s practice.

That didn’t go unnoticed by Sean McVay or Long himself, with the coach saying, “Whoever runs the scoreboard, we gotta get the right profile picture up.”

McVay did comment on Long’s development as he enters Year 3, saying he’s gotten better and does give the Rams some position flexibility outside and in the slot.

“He’s done a great job,” McVay said. “I think he’s really done a nice job elevating his game at the outside location. He has been a guy with some position flex inside, but I think he’s really, really done a nice job of growing. He’s gotten a lot of really valuable, beneficial reps where you’ve seen him tangibly improve throughout the course of the offseason because the one thing that we have done full-speed is 7-on-7. He’s taken to Coach Evero, Coach Cooley and Coach Morris’ teaching progression, understanding concepts better and I’ve been really pleased with David and he’s a guy we’re going to count on and we’re expecting him to be a big-time contributor for us.”

That’s some high praise for a player who has done very little in the NFL up to this point, but the Rams don’t have much of a choice at cornerback. They need a third starter next to Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams, and Long’s primary competition is rookie Robert Rochell and practice squad player Donte Deayon.

If Long can step up and play close to the level that Hill did last year, the secondary shouldn’t miss a beat.