Which draft prospects should Rams prioritize in early rounds at positions of need?

Which draft prospects provide the most value for the Rams? 

The Los Angeles Rams enter one of the most important drafts of the Les Snead era. With 11 draft picks, including four in the top-100, Snead should be able to draft some difference-makers on offense and defense.

Good draft process is about weighing value, both talent and position-wise, and comparing that with need and best player available. For example, if a position is deeper at tackle in the draft, it might make more sense to wait on that position and address a difference position earlier.

In this exercise, we’ll compare two players at the same position, but try to figure out where that player or position may have the best value.

Wide Receiver: Brian Thomas Jr. or Javon Baker

This debate really comes down to how much of a priority you think the Rams wide receiver position is on the roster. Yes, there are positions of need on the defensive side of the ball. With that said, adding a player like Brian Thomas Jr. to the wide receiver room would add to the team’s strength and give them a future at the position next to Puka Nacua.

The Rams have been missing a consistent deep threat to the passing game. Thomas brings an extra gear in that area of the field that would make an immediate impact. Thomas is more than just a deep threat, but that’s his specialty right now. He would open up things underneath for Nacua and Kupp and be another playmaker for the offense.

With a better offensive line, Stafford would have the time to take those deep shots. Last season, Stafford ranked in the bottom-10 in passes 20 or more yards down the field. In 2021, he was just outside the top-10.

Kent Lee Platte

Meanwhile, we’ve seen in recent years that there is value to be had in the wide receiver position in the mid-rounds. The Rams found Puka Nacua in the fifth-round just last season. That’s not to say that there are Puka Nacuas aplenty in the mid-rounds, but the wide receiver position is getting deeper.

One of those mid-round options in this year’s draft who could similarly be a threat downfield and play as the “x” receiver in the Rams offense is Javon Baker from UCF. Baker had a 61.5 percent success rate on nine routes last season which was lower than Thomas’ 72 percent, but still very good. Baker also had a remarkable 93.3 percent success rate on post-routes.

While there is a clear difference in the play-making ability between Thomas and Baker, there is value with the UCF wide receiver, especially for a player who can be had in the third-round. If the Rams do want to go defense early or even address the offensive line, Baker is someone who they could target on day two.

Verdict: Javon Baker in Round 3

Defensive Line: Byron Murphy or Mekhi Wingo

After losing Aaron Donald, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Rams made their first pick a defensive lineman, specifically Byron Murphy if he’s there. However, typically there can also be value found on the defensive line in the mid-rounds. The Rams found Kobie Turner in the third-round last year. Again, just because the Rams found Turner in the third-round last year doesn’t mean those guys are common.

It really depends here on what the Rams want at the position. Do they want another player that can be a disruptive force or do they just want to get by with more of a rotation? If they want the impact player, they would almost have to take Murphy. As NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah said last week during a conference call,

“I was talking to a general manager this morning, and I said, When you look around the league and we ask, who are the true impact dominant defensive tackles, maybe seven or eight of them. Edge rushers, it goes a lot deeper than that. And when you look at the draft, to me, there’s some other interesting names you could go after outside the first round at the edge rusher position. It falls off pretty quick at defensive tackle.”

On the defensive line there is Murphy and Johnny Newton and then after that there is a drop-off. That doesn’t mean there aren’t value player in the middle-rounds, but those are the high-impact guys.

Kent Lee Platte

If the Rams do wait until the mid-rounds, they may be looking at a player like Mekhi Wingo. Wingo doesn’t bring the same impact-play ability as a Murphy, but has some similar traits in terms of his quick get-off and the explosiveness. He’s similarly undersized as well.

However, while Wingo is a good player and could be part of a rotation, it’s hard to see him having a Turner like impact as a pass rusher as a rookie and may be more of a rotational piece on early downs. Murphy meanwhile is a game-breaker.

Verdict: Byron Murphy in Round 1

EDGE: Chop Robinson or Jalyx Hunt

Chop Robinson and Jalyx Hunt are two of the more physically gifted edge rusher in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, both are somewhat raw as well. Hunt is considerably more raw than Robinson given that he started his collegiate career as a safety. With that said, the overall talent and tools are there to be developed.

On the other hand, Robinson may be better as a designated pass-rusher early, but still, the sack production isn’t where you’d like it to be. His pressure rate and time to pressure are among the best in the class. He’s disrupting the quarterback and moving them off their spot. However, the finishing ability is lacking.

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Kent Lee Platte

You could also throw players like Jonah Elliss in this conversation as a mid-round edge to target. The issue with the edge rusher position is that after that first round, there is a significant drop off. It is harder to find high-impact players in the middle rounds of the draft. The Rams added three mid-round edge rushers last season in Byron Young, Nick Hampton, and Ochaun Mathis. It’s hard to see them adding another player of that caliber. They need a top-tier player.

Verdict: Chop Robinson in Round 1

Offensive Tackle: Amarius Mims or Kiran Amegadjie

This is a similar debate as Robinson versus Hunt. Mims isn’t necessarily as raw as he is just inexperienced. Meanwhile, Amedgadjie does have some actual rawness to him due to playing in a run-heavy offense at the FCS level at Yale.

This comes down to whether you take the physical specimen in the first-round that has the upside to be the best offensive tackle in this class or do you take the more developmental prospect later on in the draft for a player who may turn into a quality starter.

With Mims, there is a lot of risk in the first-round. He’s struggled to stay healthy and because of that doesn’t have the experience you would like in a first round tackle. That’s not to mention him playing on the left side is only a projection. All of his snaps have come at right tackle.

Amedgadjie may need to work on his footwork and get better in pass protection, but he’s someone later in the draft that you don’t mind taking as a developmental prospect and coaching him up for two years until he becomes a complete player.

Verdict: Kiran Amedgadjie in Round 2/3

Linebacker: Edgerrin Cooper or Edefuan Ulofoshio

It would not be surprising if that some point the Rams took a linebacker. However, the question becomes when do you take a linebacker. This isn’t a very good linebacker draft class at the top. Payton Wilson, Edgerrin Cooper, and Junior Colson could be solid players, but they aren’t special prospects by any means.

The Rams simply don’t draft linebackers very high and this draft class doesn’t provide anything that should shift that strategy. With there not being a definite top linebacker in this class, the value at the position might be on day three. A player on day three may not be able to start right away, but the Rams should be able to find a role specific player that can contribute on early downs or in obvious passing situations. That’s exactly the approach that they should take at the linebacker position this year.

Kent Lee Platte

One player to keep an eye on is Edefuan Ulofoshio. Ulofoshio shows some positive moments in coverage and is that role specific linebacker mentioned above. He could develop into more of a full-time player, but early on, he’s not someone that will see the field on all three downs. With Ernest Jones, that’s a player that makes sense. Jones is the team’s three-down linebacker with Christian Rozeboom coming on in specific situations. The Rams could add another player to that rotation and upgrade from Rozeboom with Olufoshio.