Rams' Late-Round Gem: Kyren Williams' Rise to Stardom

0:00On April 2nd, the Los Angeles Rams snagged running back Kyron Williams with the 164th pick in the 2022 NFL draft, trading up 11 spots on day 3. This St. Louis native from Notre Dame joined a squad fresh off Super Bowl 56, even though they did not scream for another back. General manager Les Sneed saw something special and gave up two later picks to make it happen. Coming in, the Rams dealt with injuries to Daryl Henderson and some backfield drama, making Williams the perfect fit at the right time. Analysts gave the whole rookie class, including him, a cold reception, figuring it was just depth for a stacked roster. But Williams exploded, racking up 3,834 rushing yards, 36 rushing touchdowns, plus 111. Catches for 745 yards and 8 more scores over four seasons. That's 11 touchdowns a year from a 5th rounder, flipping the script on the run game and balancing the offense.

1:00Now he's 7th on the Rams all-time rushing list after just four years in horns, on pace to crack the top 5 soon. The team layered in talents like White Out Pukinakua, tight-end Colby Parkinson, running back Blake Corm, and even vets like Devonte Adams all-while, shifting from pass-heavy to using every weapon. Sneeds Jim proved the Rams can mine gold, late in drafts, especially after missing a shot at Christian McCaffrey, turning that backfield into a powerhouse that keeps LA contending year after year.