One of the gems of the Rams’ undrafted free agent class this year was Drake Stoops, a former wide receiver at Oklahoma. If that name looks familiar, it should. He’s the son of former Sooners head coach and legendary college football coach Bob Stoops.
Stoops will be battling for a roster spot this summer, but the Rams liked him enough to sign him immediately after the draft. According to Bob Stoops, too, they were in consistent communication with the Sooners receiver throughout the entire pre-draft process.
In an interview on a local Oklahoma radio station, Bob Stoops spoke at length about how much he liked his son's fit with the Rams, as well as the team's interest in his son.
“I love it, I think it’s a great fit. I love Coach McVay, just watching him. Don’t really personally know him, but always respected and appreciated the way they coach and play design and everything they do. Really solid program and he does a great job. Great quarterback, so yeah, all of it’s really good. Hopefully for Drake, and what they kept telling him for several weeks is just what a great fit he is for them. Fortunately, they called immediately as the draft was ending, so it was positive. No matter where you might eb drafted or not, or free agent or not, you’ve got to go earn it. It’s a competitive environment, but Drake’s excited about it, of course.”
Bob Stoops loves the fit Drake Stoops has found with the Los Angeles Rams.
— The REF (@KREFsports) April 30, 2024
He said today on The Rush. “I love it. I think it’s a great fit.” pic.twitter.com/JT3qt6EDif
If you've watched any Oklahoma game over the last two seasons, you know just how much Drake Stoops meant to the Sooners. His on-field ability saw him immediately become a fan favorite, and he just had a knack for getting open and making timely plays for their offense time and time again. Every reception received an echo of "Stoooooooooooops" from the crowd. In 2023, Stoops posted 84 catches for 962 yards and 10 touchdowns.
After the trade of Ben Skowronek, the bottom of the Rams' wide receiver room feels wide open, leaving a shot for Drake Stoops to make the roster.
All that Stoops has to do is prove himself as a returner. While Stoops hasn't handled return duties in recent seasons at Oklahoma, he does have experience there. The Rams don't ask returners to return fairly often, mainly wanting a sure catcher for fair catches and some occasional short returns. They had Austin Trammell returning kicks last season, and no returner called more fair catches.
If Stoops can do that, he has a pretty fair shot at making the roster. Given the depth worries about that room as well, Stoops being a reliable catcher with a knack for getting open might open up some opportunities on offense for him as well.
