Let’s get ready for the Draft! For the second year in a row, Los Angeles has a first round pick. Last year, the Rams drafted Defensive Rookie of the Year DE Jared Verse with the 19^th overall pick. They were also able to select several other players who started or contributed in their rookie seasons. The Rams do not have a second round pick after trading it last season to move up to take DL Braden Fiske, which turned out to be a great selection. Los Angeles has a total of eight picks that include two in the 3^rd and four in the 6^th round. The Rams have a solid roster but need help at linebacker and corner. They also need some depth at offensive line and need to groom a quarterback for the future. Let’s take a look at the picks the Rams have and players who could be available at that draft slot. The number in parenthesis is the overall pick.

ROUND 1 (26): Los Angeles needs a starting linebacker but has not invested high draft capitol or spent money on that position in the Sean McVay era. Georgia LB Jalon Walker and Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell are the top rated linebackers in this year’s Draft. Walker is more of an outside backer and predicted to be taken before Los Angeles is on the clock. Campbell is more of the off-ball backer the Rams need and he is also a talented pass rusher. I have seen Jihaad predicted to be picked from mid first to early second round so he could be available. The question is, do the Rams take a linebacker that early? If Los Angeles is looking at cornerback, Texas CB Jahdae Barron has been mentioned as a potential pick. Michigan CB Will Johnson is a talented player with a high ceiling and could go in the top twelve picks; however, he also has question marks. If he miraculously slipped to 26, the Rams should take him. A sleeper cornerback is East Carolina CB Shavon Revel Jr. who has good size, speed, and talent, but tore his ACL early in the 2024 season and has not been able to test during the pre-draft process. If Los Angeles goes with an offensive lineman, Oregon OL Josh Connerly is a young prospect with potential. The real wild card would be if the Rams took a quarterback in round one. The roster is built to make a Super Bowl run so I think it would be a mistake to take anyone who cannot contribute immediately.

ROUND 3 (90 & 101): If the Rams take a corner in the first, I think they should take a linebacker with one of their third round picks. South Carolina LB Demetrius Knight Jr., Oregon LB Jeffrey Bassa, and Oklahoma LB Danny Stutsman are my three favorite linebackers for Los Angeles in this round. If corner is not the first round pick, Iowa State CB Darien Porter, Tulane CB Caleb Ransaw, and Ohio State CB Denzel Burke all have good size and speed to be taken in this round. Offensive lineman could be in play this round as well. William & Mary OT Charles Grant and Kansas OT Logan Brown are two big bodied linemen with versatility to move inside if needed. If Los Angeles wants to add a tight end in round three, Oregon TE Terrance Ferguson and Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr. are nice players known more for their receiving skills than their blocking.

ROUND 4 (127): This would be a good time to swing for the fences and take a player with high upside potential or even a quarterback to groom for the future. Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel is my favorite player in the entire draft and I might be biased (he is the only player who calls me "Uncle" haha), but I think his critics underestimate him. Dillon has been successful at every school he has played for and more importantly, the teams he plays for improve when he is their quarterback. Most importantly, he is not only a winner on the field but he is an even better person off the field. Dillon will make whoever drafts him happy they did and he will be a positive influence in the community. Teams would be smart to take Dillon in the third and in the fourth they could be getting the steal of the Draft! It seems like the Rams always take a running back so if they do in this round, I like Oregon RB Jordan James or Texas RB Jaydon Blue. James is similar to the current Ram running backs (short, tough, and shifty) but Blue would bring an element of speed the other backs do not have. Los Angeles also likes to take flyers on receivers and could go with Stanford WR Elic Ayonmanor or Colorado State WR Tory Horton. Both players have good size and speed and could develop behind the current veterans. Gabriel to the Rams would be my favorite draft selection of all time!

ROUND 6 (190, 195, 201, & 202): Unless they make a trade, the Rams have to sit out the second and fifth rounds but they have two picks in the third and control the middle portion of the sixth round with four picks between 14 and 26. Los Angeles has done a great job finding sleepers in the late rounds, most notably RB Kyren Williams and WR Puka Nacua, who were both drafted in the fifth round and are now key starters. What transpires prior to this round will determine which direction the Rams go. Linebacker and cornerback are the biggest needs, followed by offensive line and then maybe receiver and tight end. Los Angeles has taken multiple linemen and defensive backs in previous drafts so those positions are still in play even if they select those positions earlier. Colorado WR Jimmy Horn Jr., Illinois WR Pat Bryant, South Carolina TE Joshua Simon, and Iowa TE Luke Lachey could add depth to the offensive arsenal. Wisconsin OT Jack Nelson and Indiana OT Trey Wedig could develop into depth pieces and potential starters when veteran and Captain OT Rob Havenstein decides to retire. Oregon State OL Joshua Gray was a captain and five year starter with experience at tackle and guard so he could be a solid pick if available. The running back class is deep this year so if Los Angeles wants to wait until the sixth round to take one, there should be talented runners still available. My choice is Michigan RB Kalel Mullings, a big power back with enough wiggle and speed to make big plays. He would immediately the biggest back on the team. On defense, Kansas CB Cobee Bryant would be a fitting pick for Los Angeles and Minnesota CB Justin Walley has traits to develop. The Rams lost edge Michael Hoecht in free agency so they could add someone like Oklahoma ED Ethan Downs or Alabama ED Que Robinson to provide depth and contribute on special teams. I would not be surprised to see someone the Ram select in this round contribute in their rookie year.

The Rams have done an excellent job picking the right players and developing them. Not every pick is a hit, but if you can get 2-3 starters and 4-5 contributors from a draft class, that is a huge success. Last year’s draft class produced four consistent starters (Verse, Fiske, Karty, and Limmer), one borderline starter (Kinchens), and three depth pieces (Corum, Davis, and Whittington), plus the Defensive Player of the Year in DE Jared Verse. If Los Angeles comes close to the same achievement as last year, they should compete for the Super Bowl and be well stocked for the future. Last year the Rams had to overcome the loss of future Hall of Famer DT Aaron Donald when he retired. This off season we say ALOHA to all-time Ram WR Cooper Kupp, who was released. The Rams should be able to move forward but we have to wait and see if that was the best move for this franchise. Love and blessings to my family; miss you Pops and Scratch! God Bless!

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