The Rams selected Ole Miss inside linebacker Chris "Pooh" Paul Jr. with the 172nd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Here are five things you should know about him:
1) Chosen by The Athletic as the Rams' best value pick
The Athletic had each beat writer covering their respective NFL team select each team's best value pick from this year's draft. Rams beat writer Jourdan Rodrigue chose Paul Jr., who is the first inside linebacker drafted by Los Angeles since Ernest Jones IV in 2021.
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2) Sound in coverage
According to ESPN Research, Paul Jr. did not allow a touchdown in 665 career coverage snaps during the 2024 season.
3) Regarded as starter-level player acquired by the Rams in the fifth round
East-West Shrine Bowl Director of Ops, Player Personnel Eric Galko had high praise for Paul Jr., one of the participants in this year's event. Galko also said Paul Jr. was the only Power Four linebacker with a grade of 78 or higher in run defense, pass coverage and pass rush by Pro Football Focus.
4) Most efficient tackler among this year's drafted inside linebackers
According to research compiled by Rams writer Wyatt Miller, Paul had the best stop rate and missed tackle rate of the 19 inside linebackers selected in this year's draft.
5) Part of a record-setting draft group for Ole Miss
Paul Jr. was one of eight former Ole Miss players drafted this year, which according to Ole Miss athletics is the most of any Rebel draft class since the beginning of the seven-round format in 1994 and the second-most in the modern history of the NFL since the AFL-NFL merger in 1967.
