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The 2024 NFL draft began Thursday in Detroit and will wrap up on Saturday. The Los Angeles Rams began their picks with the No. 19 selection of the first round. ESPN will provide pick-by-pick analysis of each of the Rams' selections as they are made.
A look at each of L.A.'s scheduled selections:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 19: Jared Verse, DE, Florida State
My take: The Rams had a clear need on the defensive line after defensive tackle Aaron Donald retired. General manager Les Snead said adding to that area of the field would be a priority at some point in the draft, but Los Angeles addressed the need right away by making Verse their first first-round pick since 2016. Kobie Turner, who played nose tackle for the Rams last season, has enough versatility that it allowed the Rams to replace Donald's production elsewhere on the defensive line. Verse lined up almost exclusively on the defense's right side in 2023 at Florida State. According to ESPN Stats & Information, 86% of his defensive snaps came at either right defensive end or right outside linebacker.
Key stat: Donald led the Rams last season with 45 pressures, according to ESPN Stats & Info. The next-highest mark was rookie outside linebacker Byron Young, who had 35. Verse won't be expected to replace Donald's production on his own, but he did have 9.0 sacks in 2023, which ranked third in the ACC. He also had 50 pressures, which were the eighth-most in the FBS last season.
Is this pick for depth or does it fill a hole? This is a good match of a hole the Rams needed to fill and a player they had rated highly on their draft board. With 14 offensive players off the board to start the draft, only three defensive players had been taken when Los Angeles was on the clock at 19. Verse should make an immediate impact for a Rams team that has lost significant veteran defensive players in the last two years.
Round 2, No. 39 (via Carolina): Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
My take: The Rams continue to add talent to their defense, taking a Florida State defensive player for the second day in a row. After Donald's retirement, the Rams clearly knew they needed to reload on the defensive side of the ball and they did that on Friday by sending a noteworthy return to the Panthers to trade up from the 52nd pick. This is the first time since 2003 the Rams have taken defensive players with each of their first two picks and Fiske is the first defensive tackle drafted by the Rams in the first two rounds since Donald in 2014.
Key stat: Over the last two seasons, Fiske has 11.5 sacks when lined up as defensive tackle, which is the second-most in the FBS over that span. He also created 11 sacks over the last two seasons when lined up as defensive tackle, which was tied for the most in FBS, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Donald had eight sacks last season in Los Angeles and led the team in pressures.
Ties to the team to know: Fiske was college teammates with Verse, the Rams' first pick. Verse arrived at the Rams' draft house in Hermosa Beach for his introductory press conference as Los Angeles was trading up for Fiske. Verse ran up the stairs to where the pick was being made and got to talk to Fiske. He said the pair had talked about how cool it would be to be NFL teammates and now that it has happened, it feels surreal.
Round 3, No. 83: Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
My take: The Rams went into the draft knowing they wanted to draft a running back to back up Kyren Williams. Williams was a breakout star last season but had a heavy workload without a reliable backup option. Williams averaged 21.6 touches per game last season and finished third in rushing despite only playing in 12 games. Corum has started every game he's played in over the last two seasons at Michigan and should make an impact right away. Last season, Corum set the Michigan single-season records for rushing touchdowns (27) and total touchdowns (28).
Is this pick for depth or does it fill a hole? This fills a hole for the Rams, as they needed a reliable backup. Los Angeles also has Ronnie Rivers and 2023 sixth-round pick Zach Evans on the roster, but drafting Corum on Day 2 shows how important it was to the Rams to add to the position.
Round 3, No. 99: Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami
My take: Kinchens brings more depth to a position group the Rams knew they'd need to address at some point during the draft. The Rams added Kamren Curl in free agency after Jordan Fuller signed with the Panthers and Los Angeles also has 2022 sixth-round pick Quentin Lake and seventh-round pick Russ Yeast on the roster. When discussing Kinchens after the draft, head coach Sean McVay said he was one of the players the Rams "expect to come in and be big time factors."
What we're hearing about Kinchens: "I think you see the toughness," McVay said. "The range, being able to play sideline to sideline, his deep defense feel, you can see. At the point of contact, there's no flinch. He's got great ball production." Kinchens has 11 interceptions since 2022, the most by any FBS player over that span, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Last season, the Rams had 10 interceptions, which ranked 23rd in the NFL.
Round 5, No. 154: Brennan Jackson, EDGE, Washington State
My take: The Rams continue to add to their defensive front by drafting Jackson in the fifth round. Jackson had 8.5 sacks in 2023, which was tied for fourth in the Pac-12 last season. He also had three defensive touchdowns. Jackson, who prides himself on his relentless drive, said he thinks the large group of young pass-rushers now in Los Angeles will help breed "a lot of growth" in the room.
Round 6, No. 196: Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson
My take: The Rams have made it clear through their first six picks that they are prioritizing adding to their defensive front. They added depth by drafting Davis in the sixth round. Davis played 96% of his defensive snaps in his college career at either defensive tackle or nose tackle and 65% of his defensive snaps in 2023 came lined up as either 3-technique (guard's outside shoulder) or 2i-technique (guard's inside shoulder), according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Round 6: No. 209: Joshua Karty, K, Stanford
My take: After the struggles with the kicking game last season, the Rams added a kicker on Day 3 of the draft. In 2023, Rams kickers Brett Maher and Lucas Havrisik combined to make 74% of their field goals, which ranked 30th in the NFL. Karty made 41 of his 45 field goal attempts over the past two seasons.
Round 6, No. 213: Jordan Whittington, WR, Texas
My take: Whittington is just the second offensive player the Rams have drafted so far and he joins a wide receiver room of Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell. Whittington had 42 catches for 505 yards and a touchdown last season while playing with two other receivers who have already been drafted.
Round 6; No. 217: Beaux Limmer, C, Arkansas
My take: Limmer gives the Rams depth on the offensive line. Los Angeles lost center Coleman Shelton in free agency and plan to move second-year player Steve Avila from guard to center. Limmer made 42 career starts in five seasons for Arkansas, starting 11 games at center in 2023 and one game at left guard. He primarily played right guard prior to last season.
Round 7, No. 254: KT Leveston, G, Kansas State
My take: The Rams use their final pick to add even more depth to their offensive line. Leveston said he wasn't sure what position the Rams see him playing, but that he feels comfortable playing all over the line. Leveston takes pride in his versatility and said he thinks that helped separate him and led to him being drafted.
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