LOS ANGELES -- Since coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead took over the Los Angeles Rams back in 2012, they've had little problem identifying late-round and undrafted talent at running back.
In 2012, they found a better back in the seventh round (Daryl Richardson) than the second (Isaiah Pead). In 2013, it was Zac Stacy in the fifth round followed by undrafted rookie Benny Cunningham. Even in 2015, when Fisher and Snead finally found their franchise back in Todd Gurley in the first round, they found another intriguing talent in Malcolm Brown as an undrafted rookie.
So while the Rams finally managed to not draft a running back this year for the first time since 2011, they still went bargain shopping when the draft was over. And out of that hunt came TCU's Aaron Green, the only back the Rams have added to the roster this offseason.
Green, who transferred to TCU after originally going to Nebraska, spent three seasons racking up big numbers for the Horned Frogs. He finished his time there with 445 career carries for 2,426 yards and 20 touchdowns. But Green went undrafted in part because he never proved adept as a blocker or pass-catcher or at running between the tackles.
But Green, 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, does bring the type of speed and elusiveness outside the tackles to profile as an intriguing scatback type. With Gurley and Cunningham locked into spots, the Rams could have a fierce competition for depth at running back. Tre Mason is dealing with legal issues and his status moving forward is probably tenuous.
Which could leave Green battling with Brown for a possible final spot on the depth chart. Coincidentally, Brown and Green are used to the competition as they played for competing San Antonio area high schools before their college days.
While Green and Brown are finally teammates, there's a very real chance that they're competing for one spot, something Fisher confirmed at the team's rookie orientation last weekend.
“[Green's] going to be competing with Malcolm Brown," Fisher said. "Yes, it will probably come down to the end, but he’s a very productive college player. Had a lot of yards and a lot of big plays, he can catch and he’s picking things up. It will be one of those situations that comes down to the end, in all likelihood.”
