Day 2 of the Combine brings the cornerbacks, safeties and tight ends into the spotlight. With the secondary being a Los Angeles Rams position of need, or more precisely, positions (plural) of need, there are a myriad of prospects to monitor and move up or down on draft boards.
Here are a few of my favorites, tell TST about yours.
Cornerback
In dire need of a re-build, this unit is scary thin with only Darious Williams, Emmanuel Forbes, Cam Lampkin, and Alex Johnson under contract. Reports have Williams being released as the Rams made him a healthy scratch down the 2025 stretch. Forbes did show incremental improvement, but was still up-and-down at best.. Lampkin and Johnson will do well to be on the practice squad. L.A. will need to add 4 or 5 corners for camp and preseason.
Mansoor Delane – LSU
Three-star prospect with an interesting high school background, he played quarterback and was on the wrestling team. Recently turned 22 years-old. Spent his first three seasons at Virginia Tech, before finishing up at LSU. Delane started 40 of 44 college games with 191 tackles, four forced fumbles, eight interceptions, and 62 passes defended. In 2025 he was a unanimous All-American.
Loose, fluid, and athletic, Mansoor is a standout defender in both man and zone coverage. The type of player you can put on an island against the opposing WR#1, allowing his teammates to concentrate on stopping the rest. In man coverage he’s sticky to the point of suffocating, He has the backpedal and footwork to mirror from the snap through the breaks. Aggressive and physical when carrying receivers, without being grabby (0 penalties in 2025). Looks just as comfortable in zone, showing patient technique, quick recognition and explosion as he triggers to the ball. Reads quarterback’s eyes and not afraid to gamble, baiting, undercutting or jumping routes. Even though not a big guy at 6’1” 185 lb., he’s a good form tackler in the open field while showing to be willing and aggressive in run support.
Clearly made the step up to SEC competition. Mansoor Delane is the prize most Rams fans are eyeing. He is hands down, the best corner in the draft and quite simply, might not last until the Rams select at #13. I grade him as a Round 1, Top 10 prospect. He is sneakily versatile and while most ballyhoo is about his corner skills, he has the versatility to work in the slot or at both strong and free safety.
Keith Abney – Arizona State
Receiver/returner/ corner in high school was a three-star recruit. Recently turned 21 years-old. Over three seasons at Arizona State, Abney collected 98 tackles, six interceptions, and defended or broke up 48 passes. Interesting youth background, he was top tier speed skater, winning four national championships.
Plays corner with a mean streak, well put together, almost stocky build. Played in a lot of Cover1 man and Cover3 zone at ASU, showing up well in both. Loose-limbed with twitchy short area agility. Played outside, mostly on the boundary, but has the traits to work on the slot. Likes to use a strong press and tries smother opposition, understands how to use the sideline to advantage, gets his head around and tracks the ball very well. Does a good job of placing himself between receiver and the ball and is ultra-competitive at the catch point. Processes very well in zone, baiting QB’s and bursting downhill to intersect. Aggressive run supporter, physical hitter that wraps up well, Doesn’t miss many.
Although he doesn’t look as big as his listed 6’ 190 lb., Abney plays bigger and doesn’t have glaring weaknesses. While he doesn’t get the run that other top corners receive, he stacked two consecutive strong seasons against top competition. He does two things at a high level, the most important things pro corners are expected to do, be sticky in coverage and be able to tackle. I have him graded in the middle of Round 2, many reviewers have him a little later on Day 2.
Safety
A full room returns, with Quentin Lake, Kamren Kinchens, Jaylen McCollough, Tanner Ingle, Josh Wallace, and Nate Valcarcel under contract. Most fans would likely be content with Lake, Kinchens, and McCollough, but there is certainly room for a talent upgrade, particularly adding some athleticism. Ingle, Wallace, and Valcarcel are long shots to really make a difference. Again I cry out, “ A free safety…My kingdom for a true free safety!”
Zakee Wheatley – Penn State
Four-star recruit, recently turned 23 years-old. Started 28 of 58 games and was a package and special teamer over his first three seasons before getting the starting nod in his final 28 straight. Always around the ball from the beginning, Wheatley logged 223 tackles, 18 passes broken up, and six interceptions. Was named to the Senior Bowl and voted as Top Safety for the week.
Versatile safety who can range deep, handle 1on1 slot work, or play near the line. Stellar speed, instincts, and read/react allow him to almost always be near the ball. Looks to have good length to go along with his 6’3” 200 lb. frame. Adept at both man or zone and run or pass. Against the pass, he shows the hand/eye coordination of a ball hawk and true center fielder range. He’s a reliable open-field tackler with good wrap-up technique. Closer to the action, let’s just say anytime vs the run, he triggers downhill in an instant. Not a thumper, although he is more than willing in run support. I’d put him in the chase-and-drag category, not that he doesn’t ever lay the wood, but generally a wrap-up tackler. It’s a slight space in his game, but I think against pro’s he’ll need to get his body/shoulders into runners. Of course, like almost all prospects, a little play strength work is called for.
I really cannot recall the last time the Rams had free-ranging back end player, Wheatley fits that bill. But he’s not limited one role, fitting right in to the Rams preference of defensive backs that are positionally interchangeable. I grade him late Round 2/early Round 3, but many pundits I respect consider him second-best safety behind Caleb Downs. There’s plenty of condensed game film to scout Wheatley and he has the traits to play right away.
Bud Clark – TCU
Seems like I’ve been scouting Bud Clark for years and have always liked his game. A four-star recruit in 2020, he was also a sterling center fielder on his baseball team. A veteran of 61 games with 44 starts over a six-year college career, he had 214 tackles, 15 interceptions, and broke up 35 passes. Also a three-year captain and named to the Senior Bowl, where he stood out in workouts.
Outstanding zone safety with stellar ball-hawking skills. Likely best use is deep where he can use his instincts, range and read/react traits. A good prospect as a robber or freelance defender, has the football IQ and experience to diagnose routes and/or bait quarterbacks to throw his way. He breaks on passes or jumps routes quickly with plus speed and a long, lanky build (6’1” 185 lb. With 32” arms) to cover space. He not limited to deep roles with good experience covering the slot. Has the speed and loose hips to mirror in man. Willing in run defense, not a true banger, but does put it all on the line near the line to gain and end zone. Clark’s a reliable tackler, particularly in open space, showing good wrap-up form.
Another free-ranging prospect that also brings versatility. Bud Clark is a high floor prospect that I grade into the late Round 3/early Round 4 range. He’s a solid, well-rounded player that has plenty of film to digest. There’s a “what you see is what you get” vibe to him. As an older prospect there might not be much of a ceiling left, just polishing what’s there and transitioning to the pro game.
https://x.com/impactfbdata/status/2025840332647157775?s=20
Tight end
With Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, and Davis Allen all back, on the surface the room appears to be stocked pretty well. But if the Rams don’t get a line on a WR#2, three tight end formations may become an integral facet of the offense. L.A. will need a couple of bodies just for camp and preseason, why not try to find some weapons.
Joe Royer – Cincinnati
Originally signed by Ohio State, dealing with the 2020 COVID19 year and the 2022 in-season death of his mother. Royer transferred to the Bearcats for his final two seasons, and started all 25 games. He charted 79 receptions for 937 yards and seven touchdowns.
Smooth and fluid mover despite being 6’5” 250 lb. Not an extensive route tree, Royer played in a quick-read offense and was a reliable pair of hands underneath. He showed an ability to to turn those short throws into nice gains with quick transition upfield after the catch and good contact balance. He also has pretty good burst and long speed. Good feeling for open areas and absorbs contact well. Versatile in formations, inline, slot, and Hback. Blocking has improved in 2025, but it’s fair to put Royer in the “receiver first” category. He’s willing and squares up well, just needs more play strength, particularly on his lower body and improvement on his footwork.
I like his playmaking abilities and grade him late in Round 4, while most other pundits have him going later. Royer fits as a modern tight end, great hands, ability to seek out soft areas in zones, and can run after the catch. Blocking deficiencies aren’t glaring.
Marlin Klein – Michigan
23 year-old grew up in Germany and came to USA as a high school junior to play football. Signed in Michigan’s 2022 class. Even though he matriculated with drafted Wolverines Luke Schoonmaker (Rd2), AJ Barner (Rd4), and Colston Loveland (Rd1), Klein earned snaps with appearences in 36 games and 11 starts. His stat line includes 38 catches for 364 yards and touchdown.
His background in soccer and basketball show in plus coordinated athleticism at his size (6’6’ 250 lb.). Good package of receiving and blocking abilities. Appears to have long arms and uses a huge wingspan to snatch passes with his hands away from his body, Quite strong on contested catches and through contact. Looks to have good long speed and some open-field running skills. Plays inline or in slot. Doesn’t have an extensive route tree, but showed that he can attack seams, get free on out-and-up routes, and is reliable target underneath. Although many pundits think he’s a mediocre blocker, I thought he looked very capable on 2025 film, sticking to and sustaining defenders, by getting his arms extended and locking on. He does though, seem to need some lower body strength work.
A late round developmental player, he didn’t get to USA until his junior in high school. You can see on film that there’s potential to be a good all-around player. I grade him late in Round 5 andthat’s higher than most draft profiles. His traits are a fit into the Rams mold. He’s always played in a rotation and on special teams, with the same tough, edgy effort.
Fitting in with L.A.
Of course, these candidates are ones I like, but all have plus traits and good film. They all share one thing, the physicality needed in the NFL. Drafting Mansoor Delane would certainly be a winner with fans and I think that Keith Abney is going to be an NFL dawg. Neither are uber-fast, but play the game fast with physicality. Zakee Wheatley and/or Bud Clark would inject the back end of the defense and special teams with ball-hawking and athleticism. To challenge at TE#3, Joe Royer would bring a high floor and receiving skills and Marlin Klein brings the upside ceiling and is physically similar to the Rams current group, long and lean.
Who do you like on Day 2?
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