Rather than dealing with a Super Bowl hangover year, the Rams looked like they were still drunk.
Los Angeles finished the season 5-12, second to last in the NFC West, and injuries to Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp -- along with issues at running back -- hindered them throughout the season.
Despite a lot of talk about the Rams' seeming disregard of draft capital, reality shows they really only disregard early draft capital. Les Snead has a bevy of picks on day three of the 2023 draft, including four compensatory selections (three in Round 5).
With that in mind, if the Rams get healthy again, they could be in a spot to compete in the NFC West again next season. However, the road to get there still goes through a 49ers team with very few holes on its roster.
TSN'S NFL DRAFT HQ
Live picks tracker | 7-round mock draft | Top 200 big board
Here's what the Rams are working with in the 2023 NFL Draft to try to get back to the top of the league.
Rams draft picks 2023: Who did Los Angeles take?
- Round 2, Pick 36: Steve Avila, G, TCU
- Round 3, Pick 77: Byron Young, EDGE, Tennessee
- Round 3, Pick 89: Kobie Turner, DT, Wake Forest
- Round 4, Pick 128: Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia
- Round 5, Pick 161: Nick Hampton, EDGE, Appalachian State
- Round 5, Pick 174: Warren McClendon, OT, Georgia
- Round 5, Pick 175: Davis Allen, TE, Clemson
- Round 5, Pick 177: Puka Nacua, WR, BYU
- Round 6, Pick 182: Tre'Vius Tomlinson, CB, TCU
- Round 6, Pick 189: Ochaun Mathis, EDGE, Nebraska
- Round 6, Pick 215: Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss
- Round 7, Pick 223: Ethan Evans, P, Wingate
- Round 7, Pick 234: Jason Taylor II, S, Oklahoma State
- Round 7, Pick 259: Desjuan Johnson, DT, Toledo
* - Compensatory selection
LIVE: Grades & analysis for every pick in 2023 NFL Draft
Rams NFL Draft order 2023
| Round | Pick (overall) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 36 |
| 3 | 77 (from NE via MIA) |
| 3 | 89 (from NYG) |
| 4 | 128 (from NYG) |
| 5 | 161 (from HOU) |
| 5 | 167 (compensatory) |
| 5 | 171 (compensatory) |
| 5 | 177 (compensatory) |
| 6 | 182 |
| 6 | 189 (from TEN) |
| 6 | 191 (from GB) |
| 7 | 223 |
| 7 | 234 (from PIT) |
Rams NFL Draft needs
— Offensive line depth: Losing Andrew Whitworth had a deep effect on the Rams up front. It wasn't even solely because they couldn't replace his production -- It was more that they couldn't replace his health. Injuries on the offensive line hindered an already-weak unit, so preparing for that eventuality is a must.
— Cornerback: The Rams traded Jalen Ramsey to the Dolphins in a big move, leaving Robert Rochell and Cobie Durant to man the edges. Getting some help out there became necessary as soon as the Ramsey trade was completed.
— Linebacker: The Rams might not have wanted to get Bobby Wagner on a one-year pit stop before he headed back to Seattle, but sometimes that's just the way it goes. As such, the Rams need to get help on the second level of the defense as they try to shore up a pain point for them in recent years.
Rams mock draft 2023
Here is how the Rams' draft will unfold in 2023, according to TSN's Vinnie Iyer's seven-round mock draft:
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 36 | Clark Phillips III | CB | Utah |
| 3 | 69 | Blake Freeland | OT | BYU |
| 3 | 77 | Tuli Tuipulotu | DT | USC |
| 5 | 167 | Kendre Miller | RB | TCU |
| 5 | 171 | Stetson Bennett | QB | Georgia |
| 5 | 177 | Nick Saldiveri | G | Old Dominion |
| 6 | 182 | Ochaun Mathis | EDGE | Nebraska |
| 6 | 189 | Brad Robbins | P | Michigan |
| 6 | 191 | Cory Trice Jr. | CB | Purdue |
| 7 | 223 | Robert Soderholm | LS | VMI |
| 7 | 234 | Jon Gaines II | G | UCLA |
