The 2024 NFL Draft is officially in the books, and fans, players and analysts are still reacting to and discussing each team's overall draft classes. The Rams generated plenty of positive reactions with their draft class immediately after the draft, and that buzz hasn't stopped.
In his piece detailing his favorite draft picks, ESPN's Field Yates put two Rams draft picks on his favorite picks list. Yates highlighted the Rams' selection of Braden Fiske and Brennan Jackson as some of his favorite picks.
Here's what Yates had to say about Fiske:
The Rams doubled up on Florida State defensive players with their first two picks of the draft (they took edge rusher Jared Verse in Round 1) and will have a vastly improved front seven as a result. Fiske finished his college career with a scorching stretch of six sacks in his last five games, as his first-step quickness and overall explosion proved unblockable. He more than makes up for his modest size (297 pounds) with his burst and ability to get underneath bigger offensive linemen to out-leverage them.
Yates was equally as enthused about Jackson, who was one of his favorite picks in the fifth round:
Part of what I love about the Rams' process in the draft is that they -- at the risk of sounding like a cliché -- just target really good football players. Jackson is a relentless rusher who has both explosion and length coming off the edge. The Rams needed to invest in their front seven in the draft and added three players who will contribute there as rookies (Jackson, Verse and Fiske). Jackson had 8.5 sacks, 35 pressures and 16 tackles for loss last season.
The Rams have had their fair share of draft struggles over the years, so it's encouraging to see them place not just one but two picks on these lists, especially at key spots on the defense. Hopefully, these players can match the pre-draft buzz they have generated and be as impactful as we think they can be.
