The Los Angeles Rams struck gold with Jordan Fuller in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL draft, selecting him 199th overall – the same spot Tom Brady was drafted in 20 years prior. Could they find similar success with UCLA safety Quentin Lake?
They certainly hope so, and based on the scouting reports of both players, they share similar traits. Fuller is a safety who doesn’t have any elite traits. He’s not the fastest player, nor the rangiest or most physical. The same can be said about Lake.
And look at the similarities in their measurables and speed.
- Lake: 6-foot-1, 201 pounds, 31 ¼-inch arms, 4.59 40-yard dash
- Fuller: 6-foot-2, 203 pounds, 31-inch arms, 4.67 40-yard dash
What makes these two players so similar are their instincts and play recognition. That’s what has allowed Fuller to contribute so consistently in the secondary, starting from Day 1 as a rookie in 2020. He sees the field extremely well, watching how plays develop and breaks on the ball to disrupt the opposing offense – whether it’s in the passing game or as a run defender.
Lake has many of those same traits. Here’s what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote about Lake in his scouting report, which sounds eerily similar to Fuller’s game.
Safety prospect with the size, bloodlines and intelligence to make an NFL roster. Lake isn’t the fastest or the most athletic player and has coverage limitations that cap his ceiling, but he has a high football IQ and impressive ball skills. He sees the field well, which helps him get to where he needs to go. He’s not an enforcer near the line of scrimmage but does tackle with good strength and technique to finish the job. He was a demon on special teams as a freshman and will likely reprise that role as a backup in the league.
The NFL bloodlines come from Lake’s father, Carnell Lake. He was an All-Pro cornerback with the Steelers. He grew up in a football family, which will only help his chances of succeeding at the NFL level.
He put together good tape at UCLA, too. He just didn’t test incredibly well at the combine, which had some teams lower on him. In five seasons with the Bruins, he had six interceptions and 15 passes defensed, totaling 179 tackles. So the production was there, as was the experience at a big-time program.
Lake may not have the range and speed to play over the top as the single-high safety, but neither did Fuller. The Rams have made it work by utilizing a lot of split-safety looks and put Fuller in a situation where he doesn’t have to be the centerfield safety.
Lake can play that role alongside Fuller, giving the Rams two quality and reliable players on the back end. He’s also capable of playing the slot or in the box, with versatility being a key trait of his.
