What a difference a year makes, huh?
Last offseason, the Los Angeles Rams were in the process of filling out one of the sketchiest-looking rosters (on paper) in the NFL. Fourteen draft picks in 2023 produced six starters or key depth contributors, and another 10 last week filled (on paper) remaining needs with some of their favorites in the class.
Here’s what the roster looked like entering, and exiting, this year’s draft:
Offense
Quarterback
WHENSTARTER2ND TEAM3RD TEAM
PRE-DRAFT
Jimmy Garoppolo
Stetson Bennett
POST-DRAFT
Jimmy Garoppolo
Stetson Bennett
Despite some external speculation, I did not believe the Rams would take a quarterback in the early or middle rounds of this year’s draft. Stetson Bennett is back on campus, and while Jimmy Garoppolo will have to miss the first two games of the season because of an NFL-mandated suspension, the Rams have bigger issues at play if they need Garoppolo that early in the year.
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Offensive line: Starters and backups
STATUSLTLGCRGRT
PRE-DRAFT
Alaric Jackson
Jonah Jackson
Steve Avila
Kevin Dotson
Rob Havenstein
BACKUPS
Warren McClendon
Joe Noteboom
Empty
Nut tree
Logan Bruss
POST-DRAFT
Alaric Jackson
Jonah Jackson
Steve Avila
Kevin Dotson
Rob Havenstein
BACKUPS
Warren McClendon
Joe Noteboom
Fine Limmer
KT Leveston
Logan Bruss
I composed it this way to showcase the broader depth chart along the Rams’ offensive line, but when they get down to game-day actives the backups really are just Joe Noteboom (swing player) and Warren McClendon (swing player). KT Leveston is a sneaky-great development pick, and I would like to see him stay at tackle. Beaux Limmer can be the backup center but could also plug in as a reserve guard.
Wide receiver
STATUS WRITER
PRE-DRAFT
Cooper Coup
Puka Nacua
Demarcus Robinson
Tutu Atwell
2ND TEAM
Empty
Ben Skowronek
Tyler Johnson
Austin Trammell
POST-DRAFT
Cooper Coup
Puka Nacua
Demarcus Robinson
Tutu Atwell
2ND TEAM
Jordan Whittingham
Ben Skowronek
Tyler Johnson
Austin Trammell
I would keep an eye on Jordan Whittington, the Rams’ seventh-round pick, this spring and summer. General manager Les Snead, whose stepson is a long snapper at Texas (Whittington’s alma mater), gushed about the receiver and said everybody in the building referred to him as the Longhorns’ “heartbeat.” Whittington’s yards-after-catch ability, physical play style and resume on underneath concepts make him a fit for Sean McVay’s offense.
Running back
STATUSRBRBRB
PRE-DRAFT
Ronnie Rivers
Zach Evans
POST-DRAFT
Blake Choir
Ronnie Rivers
Second team: Zach Evans
McVay wanted to find a second running back, and he and position coach Ron Gould hoped to bring in a player similar to lead rusher Kyren Williams so that nothing schematic would need changing if Williams were to miss any time or has to keep fresher legs through a long season. Some fans raised their eyebrows at drafting a running back in the third round, but Blake Corum was one of their top players at the position and needed in light of Williams’ injury history, and the two remaining years on his contract.
Tight end
STATUTES
PRE-DRAFT
* Tyler Higbee
Colby Parkinson
Davis Allen
2ND TEAM
* Hunter Long
Miller Forristall
Nikola Kalinic
POST-DRAFT
* Tyler Higbee
Colby Parkinson
Davis Allen
2ND TEAM
* Hunter Long
Miller Forristall
Nikola Kalinic
Tyler Higbee and Hunter Long are both recovering from injuries. Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen will be the Nos. 1 and 2 tight ends in the meantime, with Higbee expected to return in the middle or later part of the season.
Defensive line (interior)
STATUSDLDLDL
PRE-DRAFT
Kobe Turner
Bobby Brown III
Larrell Murchison
2ND TEAM
Cory Durden
Empty
Empty
POST-DRAFT
Kobie Turner
Brad Fiske
Bobby Brown III
2ND TEAM
Tyler Davis
Larrell Murchison
Cory Durden
If Bobby Brown III can stay on the field at nose tackle, Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske will be able to play more of the three-technique/four, 4i roles that will allow them more opportunities to pass rush. I could also see Tyler Davis getting playing time earlier than expected.
The Rams overpaid to get up to No. 39 for Fiske, but to them, the cost was worth it. If they didn’t trade back from No. 19, they would have traded into the 30s-40s anyway because their evaluations of the talent at defensive lineman dropped steeply after that. Further, once they picked outside linebacker Jared Verse at No. 19, they knew they would try to get FSU teammate Fiske to bring in instant chemistry along their front. The cost of the trade is the cost of that chemistry, versus spending a year learning how to rush off each other in a post-Aaron Donald world.
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Outside linebacker
STATUSOLBOLB
PRE-DRAFT
Byron Young
Michael Hoecht
POST-DRAFT
Jared Verse
Byron Young
Pre-draft second team: Nick Hampton, Ochaun Mathis, Keir Thomas
Post-draft second team: Michael Hoecht, Brennan Jackson, Hampton, Mathis
Aside from the starters, it’s probably best to look at the depth players as a rotation because they will do different things. Hampton, for example, is a speed rusher, while Hoecht and Jackson are more power and could even move inside.
Verse immediately lends significant firepower to this group.
Inside linebacker
STATUSIL BILB
PRE-DRAFT
Ernest Jones
Christian Rozeboom
POST-DRAFT
Ernest Jones
Christian Rozeboom
Second team: Jake Hummel
As of now, Ernest Jones will play through his fourth season without a contract extension, but that could always change closer to training camp. This year’s inside linebackers draft class wasn’t considered to be a strong one.
Safety
STATUSSAFETYSAFETYSAFETY
PRE-DRAFT
Chamber Curl
Quentin Lake
2ND TEAM
Russ Yeast
Jason Taylor II
POST-DRAFT
Chamber Curl
Quentin Lake
Kamren Kinchens
2ND TEAM
Russ Yeast
Jason Taylor II
To get the promising Kamren Kinchens on the field earlier, the Rams may show more three-safety looks that also feature Quentin Lake in a “dime linebacker” role, or they could play Kam Curl in the “star” and keep Lake and Kinchens in the two-high pre-snap look.
Cornerback
STATUSCBCBCB
PRE-DRAFT
Darious Williams
* Tre’Davious White
Cobie Durant
2ND TEAM
Called Kendrick
Tre Tomlinson
POST-DRAFT
Darious Williams
* Tre’Davious White
Cobie Durant
2ND TEAM
Called Kendrick
Tre Tomlinson
Depth is still a concern at cornerback, in consideration of the age of Darious Williams and Tre’Davious White and of White’s continued recovery from an Achilles repair surgery. The Rams will need Cobie Durant to take another step forward in 2024.
Specialists
STATUSLSPK
PRE-DRAFT
Alex Ward
Ethan Evans
Tanner Brown
POST-DRAFT
Alex Ward
Ethan Evans
joshua karty
The Rams! Drafted! A kicker!!!!!!!
I met the Karty parents in Mobile while walking to the entrance gate for practice. His mom told me flat out she hoped the Rams either would pick him or sign him. She had studied all the NFL rosters and felt that was the right fit. You can see by her headgear she held out hope! https://t.co/DT8mOMftfz
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) April 28, 2024
(Photo of Jared Verse: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)
2024-04-30 12:30:09
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