Bryce Hager to St. Louis Rams: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

The St. Louis Rams focused almost entirely on offense throughout the draft, but that changed with the selection of linebacker Bryce Hager at No. 224 in the seventh round. 

The Rams selected seven straight offensive players in the first six rounds, so the Hager pick was undoubtedly a refreshing change of pace. 

For a defensive coach like Jeff Fisher, it was surely difficult to sit by and watch the team draft only offensive players. The offense needed to be revamped, so it was necessary, but that doesn't mean that the defense doesn't have needs of its own. 

The four spots on the defensive line are completely set (the group has five former top-15 picks on the line this season), but every other position on defense could use additional depth and increased competition. 

Hager has a long way to go before he earns playing time, but he's a solid selection at a position of need. 

How Hager Fits in with the Rams

Hager is not an elite prospect, but he's surprisingly athletic and is a former running back. His experience at linebacker is also quite extensive. 

Hager joined the Baylor Bears roster as a redshirt freshman in 2011. He backed up the starting linebackers and did his job as a special teams contributor. 

The next year, Hager began to establish himself on defense. He started 10 of 13 games at middle linebacker as a sophomore, and he finished the year with an impressive 124 tackles, four sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. 

Hager defended his job as the team's middle linebacker for the 2013 and 2014 seasons (though he missed four games in 2013). 

In 2014, he recorded 114 tackles, two sacks and a career-high 12 tackles for loss. He finished his NCAA career with one pick and five forced fumbles. 

He's not a playmaker or a superb athlete, but he's a willing tackler and has a nose for the ball. He's fast and able to excel in coverage, but he might be overpowered by NFL offensive linemen when defending the run. 

The Rams need a backup for James Laurinaitis. Laurinaitis has started all 16 games every year since being drafted in 2009, and that's not going to last. Hager helps the Rams improve that depth. 

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Initial Reaction to Hager Pick

It was quite exciting to see the Rams finally move on from offense and grab a defensive player. Hager is not a jaw-dropping pick, but he's a solid choice overall. 

Hager had experience on special teams at Baylor. That alone gives him a great opportunity to earn a roster spot, even if he's not ready to play on defense. 

Apparently, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com, Fisher is also familiar with the Hager family, which probably helped with the evaluation process. 

"

Fisher was part of Eagles when they drafted Britt Hager, father of now Rams LB Bryce Hager. Sees plenty of similarities.

— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) May 2, 2015"

If Hager works hard and accepts the fact that he'll be limited to special teams early on, he could eventually earn a spot on this defense.