The Rams used their fifth draft pick this year on tight end Brycen Hopkins, selecting him 136th overall in the fourth round. Here are five things you should know about the former Purdue standout.
1) Former multi-sport star
A two-year letterwinner in football at Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth, Hopkins also lettered in basketball (four years) and baseball (two years) while in high school, according to his Purdue bio.
Initially, though, basketball was his first love, based on what he told reporters at this year's NFL Scouting Combine. Hopkins did not play football until his junior year at Ensworth but still collected Division II-AA all-state honors as a senior.
It's a somewhat similar path new Rams teammate Gerald Everett followed, except that Everett was a three-year letter-winner in basketball who did not pick up football until his senior season.
2) Another Rams rookie with NFL pedigree
Pro football bloodlines run in the family for two members of this year's rookie class: Wide receiver Van Jefferson, and Hopkins.
Hopkins' father, Brad, was a Pro Bowl offensive lineman for the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans who played 13 years in the league. At the college level, both played at Big Ten programs, his father at Illinois.
3) Potential big receiving target in the slot?
According to scouting service Pro Football Focus, Hopkins had 543 receiving yards from that spot – second-most in this year's tight end class behind Florida Atlantic's Harrison Bryant.
4) Elite production
According to the NFL's Next Gen Stats, Hopkins had the highest production score of any tight end in this year's class.
The score is determined by a player's on-field performance during their college career.
5) Future salesman
Per Hopkins' Purdue bio, he studied selling and sales management while in school.
