The 2024 NFL Draft is over and the Los Angeles Rams have added 10 new members to their roster, including their first player in the first round since 2016. Now that the dust has settled and we can look back on the class, what are the biggest points we can takeaway from their draft class?
They're confident in Tre'Davious White's durability and the young corners
The Rams, perhaps somewhat startlingly, did not draft a single corner in the 2024 NFL Draft. This was a position of need for them, so it came as a surprise that they opted to neglect the position. This draft strategy likely points to them being confident in free agent Tre'Davious White coming back from injury sooner than later. The issue with that is more that White hasn't stayed healthy the last few seasons, which exposes the Rams' secondary.
The team could be aiming to give the young corners a clean slate under new DC Chris Shula after a rough 2023 season and just see how they respond. Cobie Durant had an inconsistent 2023 and Derion Kendrick was almost unplayable (and has been benched in games in both the 2022 and 2023 season) at times. Competition pushes everyone in the NFL, and it's a risky gamble on their part.
Alaric Jackson is locked in as the left tackle starter
Los Angeles also didn't select a single left tackle (no, KT Leveston is not a tackle in the NFL) in the entire draft, leaving Alaric Jackson and Joe Noteboom as the two left tackles on roster. Since Jackson already beat out Noteboom, his role as the team's starting left tackle is likely secure. Both Jackson and Noteboom are on one-year contracts, making the position a long-term question mark, but both are likely safe for 2024.
No quarterbacks in the draft
There was plenty of speculation that the Rams were interested in adding a quarterback in this year's draft. I didn't fully buy in to that idea as it got closer to the draft with Jimmy Garoppolo signing and Stetson Bennett rejoining the team for OTAs, and it seemed my feeling was right. The Rams are going to fully go all-in with Matthew Stafford, who just might earn a nice payday here in the coming weeks.
Ernest Jones is getting his money
Ernest Jones is in the last year of his contract. Fortunately for him, he is the only viable linebacker on the Rams' roster-and he knows it. A leader for the team practically as soon as he was drafted, Jones is a key player for the Rams. The team didn't opt to invest in a single linebacker in the draft, keeping the position set as Ernest Jones and the misfits. Jones is going to get paid a pretty hefty deal that he deserves before the 2024 season starts.
New role for Michael Hoecht?
Michael Hoecht has been a nifty role player for the Rams over the last few seasons, and he might be moving over into a new role. He moved over to play OLB for the team, but was a DT originally. This is more me personally spitballing but I wonder if the team is going to move him over into playing as a base end for the team to replace Jonah Williams. The team didn't draft a base end and that position is a shrug of the shoulder between Larell Murchison and Desjuan Johnson. Hoecht moving into that role could solve that position, keep him on the field in a reliable role, and open up playing time for their young EDGE rushers in Brennan Jackson, Nick Hampton, and Ochaun Mathis.
They finally invested in special teams
The Rams might have taken their first positive steps in the draft in quite some time in actually investing into special teams. Obviously, they added Joshua Karty, who might be the best kicker in the class, but their other picks signal an investment into special teams.
I spoke to a scout about Jordan Whittington, the Texas wide receiver the team selected in the sixth round. To quote him, "He might not be an impactful player on offense beyond some cheap slot stuff, but he'll be a damn good special teams ace for a decade." The team's two third-round picks, Michigan running back Blake Corum and Miami safety Kamren Kinchens, have also been impactful special teamers in their college careers.
Rams might be fully leaning into 12-personnel and the run game to build around Stafford
I have speculated about this in previous articles, but their approach to the draft really reinforced the idea. The Rams are leaning fully into heavier personnel and the run game to surround Matthew Stafford. The Rams tried to move up for Brock Bowers and then selected Michigan running back Blake Corum and TWO interior offensive linemen in Beaux Limmer and KT Leveston. The Corum pick was entirely influenced by his similarity to Kyren Williams and to ensure they don't have a drop off in the run game when Kyren needs a breather. They are aiming to run the kitchen sink at teams this season.
Typically, teams, especially 11-personnel ones, invest in multiple wide receivers around their quarterback to add more weapons for him to throw to. The Rams are doing somewhat of the opposite, instead looking into preserving Matthew Stafford with their stout commitment to the run game and heavier personnel. The team only added one wide receiver, Jordan Whittington, who is a slot-only player and likely a standout special teamer more than offensive weapon.
With Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, and Davis Allen all on the roster and looking like viable weapons, it feels like the goal of the Rams is to lean into those, particularly in the passing game, and take advantage of their mismatch ability throughout. There's an old mantra of "run out of 11 [personnel], throw out of 12" and it certainly feels like that is the approach the Rams will take in 2024.
