Los Angeles Rams select Chris Paul Jr. in fifth round of 2025 NFL Draft

The Los Angeles Rams have selected Ole Miss linebacker Chris Paul Jr. in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He was taken with the No. 172 overall pick in the draft.

Paul, 22, was seen as one of the better linebacker prospects in this year’s class. Given his production at Arkansas and Ole Miss, that comes as no surprise.

A three-year starter, Paul tallied 225 combined tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and an interception throughout his collegiate career. He earned Second Team All-SEC honors this past season — his only with the Rebels — recording 88 combined tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Paul was a finalist for the Butkus Award, which is awarded annually to college football’s best linebacker. The only other Butkus finalist in school history was Patrick Willis. 

As a recruit, Paul was ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 804 overall recruit in the 2021 class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. Simon checked in as the No. 80 linebacker in the class and No. 73 overall player from the state of Georgia, hailing from Crisp County High School (Cordele, Ga.).

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Chris Paul Jr.

Paul has a lot of experience, which should give him a chance to thrive at the next level. NFL Network‘s Lance Zierlein wrote the following in evaluating Paul:

“Weakside linebacker prospect with ascending talent and production for a 4-3 defense,” Zierlein wrote. “Paul is an assignment-oriented linebacker whose play recognition improved as the season progressed. He takes quality angles to the action and is a sure-handed tackler when he gets his hooks in. He appears quicker than fast and is better at spot-dropping or blitzing on passing downs than he is at matching up with backs and pass-catching tight ends.

“Paul colors inside the lines and does his job inside the scheme, but he could take another step forward if he can play with more of a “see play, make play” mentality downhill.”