After years of relying on Aaron Donald to carry their pass rush, the Los Angeles Rams' 2024 roster feels like the first time in a decade they can call their pass rush unit a true strength of their roster. The Rams have drafted smartly to fill out this room, and it seems poised to be the rock they can build their defense on moving forward.
The main headline, naturally, is first-round pick Jared Verse. Verse's NFL-ready skillset and talent make him a shoo-in to be an uncontested starter for the team moving forward. He had at least nine sacks in each of his last three seasons in college, and he's poised to continue carrying that production into the pros. Verse is a popular pick for Defensive Rookie of the Year for good reason.
The Rams' other key starter is Byron Young, the team's third-round pick out of Tennessee. Young started virtually right away in 2023, playing the third-most snaps of the team. As a rookie, Young posted 50 pressures and eight sacks. While Young has plenty to work on, mainly developing a pass-rush plan, his immediate production and traits are exciting building blocks for the Rams' defense. He and Verse project as the team's two unquestioned starters.
The depth is the part that the Rams have really lacked over the years. They've been top-heavy, relying on players like Von Miller and Leonard Floyd to carry their entire EDGE room. I'd argue that their 2024 room could be better than the 2019 team that boasted Dante Fowler Jr., Clay Matthews, Samson Ebukam, and Ogbo Okoronkwo.
Michael Hoecht was re-signed in the offseason, bringing back 39 pressures and six sacks. Hoecht is an effective depth rusher, whose disruption should continue now that he likely will be able to rush fully as a depth piece instead of a full-time starter. Hoecht's 11.1% pass rush win rate led the Rams' pass rushers last season, and his leadership will be valuable for a group as young as the Rams' pass rush room.
Behind Hoecht, the Rams boast three intriguing young pass rushers: 2024 fifth-round pick Brennan Jackson and 2023 Day 3 picks Nick Hampton and Ochaun Mathis.
Jackson is a hot motor, high-effort pass rusher. His play strength, motor, and awareness make him a candidate to be an impactful player in the Rams' base fronts as an edge-setter. He also adds a player who can be a dependable special teamer, something the Rams have lacked in recent years.
Both Hampton and Mathis are coming off of relatively unremarkable rookie seasons. Neither posted a sack and neither played over 75 snaps as rookies. However, the tale of the tape shows promising players. Mathis battled injuries as a rookie, but has raw talent worth developing.
Hampton the player I'm most interested in of the two, however.
Nick Hampton didn't have much production as a rookie last season, but dang that first step and quickness still pop on film.
— AJ Schulte (@AJSchulteFB) July 10, 2024
Pretty encouraged to see what he can do in Year 2
His quickness makes him a player that offenses have to account for, as he'll knife into the backfield before teams can blink if they aren't careful. His pursuit ability, bend, and coverage ability shone on his college film and offer the Rams an exciting player they can rotate in sub-packages. He has the talent to earn a significant role in the Rams' pass rush rotation.
For the first time in a few years, the Rams edge rusher corps feel like a unit that is a real strength of the team. It's certainly their deepest position on defense and the additions of Verse and Jackson make it even more potent. The Rams now have the depth to get creative with how they deploy their pass rush, instead of just relying on one or two players to carry the unit. If players like Young, Hampton, and Mathis take that next step with their development, the Rams' pass rush can carry the defense to a potential playoff run.
