One of my biggest concerns about the state of the Los Angeles Rams' defense has been their defensive line depth (or lack thereof). The room is relying on too many young/unproven players in the post-Aaron Donald era, and it could bite them as it did in the secondary the last two seasons.
The starters seem relatively set, though it is a bit of a projection for both Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske to be three-down players. Turner rarely played in base looks last season, often coming in during sub-packages, as the Rams opted to put Jonah Williams out there over him. While this could have simply been a case of not wanting a rookie to do too much, now Turner will be asked to take on even more responsibilities without Donald next to him.
Fiske is a three-technique, much like what Kobie Turner is. He's undersized with below-average length and doesn't have a lot of mass on him, making him a projection to be able to play on base downs. Ask any draft analyst out there and I doubt you'll find anyone thrilled about Fiske playing the run in a two-gap approach or handling double-teams as a 4i. I wrote in my scouting report that Fiske would be best served as a sub-package 3T in the NFL early in his career. Fiske is penciled in for this role, but he might not be the best suited for it.
So who could fill that role as a base starter? To me, the answer to that is sixth-round pick Tyler Davis.
From his scouting report sent right after the team drafted him:
"His 6'2, 301-pound frame is well-built and he can hold his own against double-teams in the run game. Davis is a superb two-gap defender and is at his best in the run game, where he uses his hands well to get off blockers and has the ability stretch out a play laterally. He isn't much of a factor as a pass rusher, likely limiting his upside and why he fell so far in the draft. However, he's a smart, powerful player who should be the Rams NT insurance and be part of their rotation up front."
Davis's ability as a two-gapper makes him an ideal fit to play that 4/4i spot for the Rams up front, as that role requires a better run-stopper than a pass rusher. The Rams' gap-and-a-half defensive front requires longer, stronger linemen who can hold up at the point of attack. In their 2021 Super Bowl season, the Rams had Greg Gaines, Sebastian Joseph-Day, and A'Shawn Robinson controlling rushing lanes rotating at this spot. Their work freed up both Von Miller and Aaron Donald to move around the formation. Davis could fulfill this role, freeing up Turner, Fiske, and the rest of the Rams' pass rush.
Nobody expects much out of sixth-round picks, but the Rams have had a solid track record of Day 3 defenders. Tyler Davis could be another one and play a much larger role than people might expect.
