FORT COLLINS, CO. — The Ram Faithful hoped to see Warren Jackson be the fourth wide receiver drafted out of Colorado State since 2016, joining Rashard Higgins, Michael Gallup and Olabisi Johnson. The 2021 NFL Draft has officially come to an end, though, and for the second year in a row, no Rams heard their name called. 

Following a breakout junior season in which he caught 77 passes for 1,119 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019, Jackson was named the 2020 Mountain West Preseason Offensive Player of the Year before the league’s initial decision to postpone the fall season. 

Unfortunately, after opting to sit out of the condensed fall season, and then not testing as well as he hoped to at his individual pro day this spring, Jackson’s draft stock seemed to drop noticeably. After entering August with substantial buzz, Jackson was considered a fringe Day 3 prospect according to most draft gurus in pre-draft chatter — even despite having solid tape and the numbers to back it up. 

In the end, Jackson signed with the Denver Broncos as a UDFA, which is something local football fans should be excited about. Obviously CSU supporters would have liked to have seen the former Rams standout officially get selected — there is a certain level of prestige that comes with being an NFL draft pick — and not to mention it gives you a little more stability on the roster due to the franchise investing draft capital in you. 

But on the bright side, the die-hards will have a chance to continue supporting their guy as he transitions from the Green & Gold to the Orange & Blue. And more importantly, Jackson got to choose his destination, something that could really benefit him if he has good rapport with the Broncos brass. When it comes to Day 3 picks and high priority free agents, landing in the right spot matters as much as anything. Plus, it’s important to note that just because they did not select him in the draft itself does not mean that the franchise is not really high on Jackson. Much like what happened with Phillip Lindsay coming out of Colorado, it’s very possible that the Broncos were simply banking on the ability to sign him post-draft. 

When Jackson gets out on the field at Dove Valley, if he does what he did up in Fort Collins for three years, it’s not going to matter that he was a UDFA. All that’s going to matter is that Jackson can flat out play. 

Other former Rams sign contracts

In addition to Jackson, a couple of other former Rams saw their NFL dreams come to fruition this weekend. Quarterback Collin Hill has signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, and fullback Adam Prentice will be joining Jackson in the Mile High City. 

Both players ended their collegiate careers at the University of South Carolina under Mike Bobo this past fall, but were certainly terrific representatives of the university during their CSU careers. I imagine most CSU fans will be rooting for their success at the next level, just as they are for Jackson and every other “Next Level Ram” in the league.