Rams trade up for third time Saturday, pick LB Chris Paul, Jr.

Rams select Ole Miss LB Chris Paul, Jr. at 172nd overall in the fifth round

The Los Angeles Rams traded up for the third time on Saturday. They exchanged two sixth round picks (201 and 202 overall) for the 172nd selection in the fifth round and picked Chris Paul, Jr., a linebacker from Ole Miss. They are—for now—left with a single selection in the seventh round at 242 overall.

The Rams were on the clock with the top-rated linebacker, Jihaad Campbell, on the board in the first round and elected to trade back with the Atlanta Falcons. They now add to the position group with Paul, who joins Troy Reeder, Nate Landman, and Omar Speights.

Paul spent his first three college seasons at Arkansas before transferring to Ole Miss for one season. He’s a shorter player at 6-1, 222 lbs., but makes up for it with a high play speed and by running sideline to sideline. Paul was the defensive signal caller for the Rebels and could take up the same mantle as the “green dot” guy in Los Angeles.

Here’s what Turf Show Times’ own Venie Randy Soares wrote about Paul in the lead up to the NFL Draft:

While Paul lacks standard NFL size and arm length, he is a strong tackler, using good wrap-up form and drive. He reads the action and is willing to mix it up in gaps. His stack/shed needs work and strength, but he does show good lateral agility and short area quickness to maneuver around blockers. Relentless in pursuit and possesses a hot-motor to the point of being too aggressive when given mis-direction. Good coverage player in both zone and man. Works hard to stick to receivers and has good hand/eye coordination to make plays. Good drop into zone and triggers downhill quickly. Also used to blitz often and does a good job of direct path to the QB.

High floor prospect that achieved at the highest college level. I grade him as a mid-Round 3 candidate. Has the potential to be a three-down, plug-and-play rookie. Could also be a package player takes a year to build up play strength, paying the freight on special teams.

Dane Brugler wrote in “The Beast” draft guide for The Athletic that Paul “gets to landmarks in coverage but needs to develop route anticipation to be more of a playmaker versus pass”. The Rams are in need of a coverage player at the linebacker position, as this is not something that Reeder, Landman, or Speights do particularly well. Paul should be able to contribute in 2025 on a situational basis and compete for a larger role. If Speights was able to start last season as a UDFA, there’s no reason why Paul shouldn’t be able to fight for playing time as well.