Rating the St. Louis Rams’ 2014 Draft Picks at Midseason

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2. E.J. Gaines

Gaines is the only Rams rookie to start every game this year and has been an extremely pleasant surprise as a sixth-rounder. The Mizzou product took full advantage of a preseason injury to projected starter Trumaine Johnson, and there’s little disagreement that he’s been the Rams’ best cornerback this year. Gaines has 35 tackles (tied for 14th among NFL corners), has defended five passes, and has only allowed one touchdown into his coverage this year (those numbers come courtesy of Pro Football Focus).

While the Rams ideally would have liked to see a better season from their two incumbent corners, Johnson and Janoris Jenkins, along with their second-rounder, Lamarcus Joyner, Gaines has more than made up for it with his impressive rookie season, and if he can maintain his level of progress they should be able to count on him as a starting corner long-term.