LA Rams draft prospects breakdown: Ruing backs

If there’s one sure thing about the Rams, it’s ruing back Todd Gurley.

That wasn’t the case a year ago, when the Rams selected Gurley the No. 10 overall pick in the draft. Gurley, five months removed from surgery to repair a to ACL, seemed like a risk.

It paid off, as Gurley — despite missing three games — rushed for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie. He’s now the focal point of the Rams’ offense and will remain so in 2016, a power-ruing safety net for whichever quarterback the Rams choose to draft with the No. 1 overall pick next week.

Why, then, would the Rams even consider using one of their four other draft picks on a ruing back? Because depth is important and there’s some uncertainty behind Gurley.

That uncertainty is named Tre Mason. A third-round draft pick in 2014, Mason was the Rams’ leading rusher that year but fell to a distant second behind Gurley in 2015. Last month, Mason was arrested in Florida and charged with four misdemeanor counts involving marijuana possession and resisting arrest.

The question isn’t simply whether the charges — or possible legal punishment — might keep Mason off the field, but rather whether the Rams feel comfortable with him off the field.

Mason is expected to participate in the Rams’ offseason workout program, but should the Rams have any doubts about Mason’s future, they might want to act in the draft.

Glance beyond Mason on the depth chart, and there’s Bey Cuingham, who has 647 rushing yards in three seasons with the Rams. But he’s also their primary kick retuer, and should he get injured in that act, well, the Rams might be better off giving a call to Eric Dickerson.

Given that the Rams — after their trade to acquire the No. 1 pick — have only five picks in this year’s draft, it might seem unwise to spend one on a ruing back. Several other positions also have depth conces.

Then again, the Rams’ offense typically is run-heavy under Coach Jeff Fisher, and the Rams might end up starting a rookie quarterback this year, so if there’s a chance to pick a bargain back in the fourth or sixth round, perhaps they’ll go for it.

Potential prospects

Tyler Ervin, San Jose State, 5-10, 192 pounds

Keep on eye on this one. The Rams reportedly brought in Ervin for a visit this month, and he could be both a change-of-pace back and a kick retuer. The question might be whether the Rams would reach for him in the fourth round or hope he’s there in the sixth.

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C.J. Prosise, Notre Dame, 6-0, 220 pounds

Here’s a project that could pay off nicely down the line. Prosise arrived at Notre Dame as a defensive back, then became a receiver and then, last year, became a tailback who rushed for 1,032 yards. He’s still leaing but would be able to do that with the Rams.

Devontae Booker, Utah, 5-11, 219 pounds

It’s unlikely Booker will drop past the third round, but any team that could grab him early in the fourth would throw a party. Booker seems to have the potential to be an NFL starter because he’s a hard ruer who is also adept at catching passes.