Los Angeles Rams Draft Needs & Mock Draft for 2024
BY
SHARP FOOTBALL STAFF|APR 12, 2024
As a lead-up to the 2024 NFL draft, we’ve broken down the current depth chart of every NFL team and identified the biggest draft and team needs for the
Los Angeles Rams.
You can find additional team-by-team draft needs articles and other draft content on our
2024 NFL Draft Hub.
Los Angeles Rams Needs: Top Positions of Need in 2024
- Defensive Line
- Offensive Tackle
- Defensive Back
What Picks Do the Los Angeles Rams Have in 2024?
The Los Angeles Rams have 11 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, including:
- Round 1 (19)
- Round 2 (52)
- Round 3 (83)
- Round 3 (99)
- Round 5 (154)
- Round 5 (155)
- Round 6 (196)
- Round 6 (209)
- Round 6 (213)
- Round 6 (217)
- Round 7 (254)
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Los Angeles Rams Draft Capital Stats
Our
Sharp Draft Value Rank is a valuation of draft capital based on a combination of average performance delivered and average dollars earned on second contracts.
This is based on two public models: performance delivered based on draft slot (the AV model created by Chase Stuart) and contractual earnings in non-rookie deals based upon draft slot (the OTC model created by Brad Spielberger and Jason Fitzgerald).
- Rams Sharp Draft Value Rank: 10 of 32 teams
- Rams AV Model Draft Value Rank: 12 of 32 teams
- Rams OTC Model Draft Value Rank: 8 of 32 teams
Los Angeles Rams Draft Value vs. Other Teams:
The Rams’ draft value is
6% higher than the league average of all 32 teams. 9 other teams have more draft value entering the 2024 NFL Draft.
Los Angeles Rams Draft Prediction:
Brendan Donahue has the Rams selecting
Laiatu Latu (EDGE, UCLA) with the 19th overall pick in
his most recent 2024 NFL Mock Draft.
Mock draft expert Ryan McCrystal believes the Rams could target a pass rusher like
Laiatu Latu (EDGE, UCLA) with their top pick at No. 19 overall in the first round.
Los Angeles Rams Strength of Schedule, 2024
The Los Angeles Rams have the 16th-hardest
NFL strength of schedule for the 2024 NFL season.
Los Angeles Rams Offense: Depth Chart, Analysis & Draft Needs
Rich Hribar breaks down the offensive depth chart by position for the Los Angeles Rams, identifying areas where the team could improve in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
Quarterback Depth Chart, Rams:
- Matthew Stafford
- Jimmy Garoppolo
- Stetson Bennett
- Dresser Winn
What a difference a year makes.
Last offseason,
Matthew Stafford was coming off an injury-plagued campaign with rumors swirling that he could even consider retirement.
Not only did that not happen, but Stafford came back with a strong 2023 season, in particular his close to the season.
Stafford ended the season eighth in the NFL in EPA per dropback (0.11) and 13th in success rate (43.7%).
Over his final six games of the regular season, Stafford was fourth in the NFL with a 109.5 rating, ranking third over that span with a 7.1% touchdown rate and fifth in yards per pass attempt (8.0 Y/A).
Stafford turned 36 this February and still has three seasons remaining on his current deal.
He is due to count $49.5 million, $50.5 million, and $49.5 million against the cap those seasons after carrying cap hits of $13.5 million and $20 million the past two seasons.
Should anything change here between Stafford and the organization, they can save cap space in each of the two seasons after this one if forced to get out of his contract.
The Rams added veteran
Jimmy Garoppolo as a backup this season after seeing how lackluster their backup situation was again for the second straight season.
Stafford only missed one game due to injury last year, but that one week of
Brett Rypien when the team scored three points was enough of a reminder that the team needed a viable presence should Stafford miss any time for a third straight season.
Garoppolo will serve a two-game suspension to start the season.
Running Back Depth Chart, Rams:
- Kyren Williams
- Ronnie Rivers
- Zach Evans
After posting just 215 total yards on 44 touches over 10 games as a rookie,
Kyren Williams exploded in year two for 1,350 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns on 260 touches over 12 games.
Out of 49 running backs with 100 or more rushes last season, Williams ranked:
- 5th in yards per rush (5.0 YPC)
- 2nd in EPA per rush (0.11)
- 2nd in success rate (46.9%)
- 4th in the rate of runs that failed to gain yardage (12.3%)
- 7th in the rate of runs to result in a first down or touchdown (27.2%)
- 12th in the rate of runs for 10 or more yards (11.4%)
The only blemish was that he missed four games due to an ankle injury (he rested in Week 18).
Williams was also banged up in the team’s playoff game with a hand injury, which led to offseason surgery.
He is not the biggest back in the league at 5-foot-9 and 194 pounds, so his high workload paired with his frame could have the Rams looking for added insurance here.
Through two NFL seasons, Williams has had multiple foot and ankle injuries.
With Williams off the field last season, the backup running backs for the Rams were 25th in the NFL in EPA per rush and dead last with 3.3 yards per carry.
The depth chart is even more barren at this point.
Zach Evans was a sixth-round pick last season, but the team elected to sign
Darrell Henderson off the street last year and play him and
Royce Freeman over the rookie.
Evans only managed nine total touches as a rookie.
Like Williams the year before, Evans will be looking to make a larger jump in year two opportunity.
Ronnie Rivers has 51 touches over the past two seasons, averaging only 3.9 yards per touch.
Running back is not an outright need since Williams is in place as an effective starter, but we should anticipate the Rams adding a running back or two during this draft for competition and insurance on the depth chart.
Wide Receiver Depth Chart, Rams:
- Puka Nacua
- Cooper Kupp
- Demarcus Robinson
- Tutu Atwell
- Ben Skowronek
- Xavier Smith
The Rams look like absolute criminals in hindsight for the fifth-round selection of
Puka Nacua.
Nacua made history this past season, setting records for receptions (105), receiving yards (1,486), and total yards (1,575) for a rookie wide receiver.
He also found the end zone six times.
For good measure, Nacua then caught nine passes for 181 yards and a touchdown in the Wild Card Round.
Just a completely perfect marriage of player and scheme, Nacua is only on the books for $976K this season before $1.1 million and $1.2 million through 2026.
Nacua also was just as good with
Cooper Kupp on the field as without him.
Nacua ran 397 routes last season with Kupp on the field, leading the team with 29.7% of the targets and averaging 2.66 yards per route run.
Kupp suffered a hamstring injury during the preseason that forced him to miss the first four games of the season.
He came back with eight catches for 118 yards in his first game off of injured reserve in Week 5, but his performance was more uneven than over the remainder of the season.
Playing in 13 total games last season, Kupp had four 100-yard games but also six games with fewer than 30 yards receiving.
Kupp is still a focal point of this passing game despite the emergence of Nacua.
He ran 399 pass routes with Nacua on the field, receiving 27.1% of the team targets.
No other Rams player had a target share higher than 11.6% with both Kupp and Nacua on the field at the same time.
Kupp will turn 31 this June with three years remaining on his current contract at $29.8 million, $29.8 million, and $27.3 million against the cap.
Like Stafford, if the Rams do need to get out of Kupp’s contract, they will save some cap space in each of the next two seasons should that decision present itself.
The team is keeping
Demarcus Robinson for another season after he was a reliable option to close the season.
Robinson took the WR3 job from
Tutu Atwell over the final quarter of the season.
No team in the NFL plays 11 personnel more than the Rams at 94.8% of their snaps.
The WR3 in this offense is nearly a 100% player in this scheme.
The Rams should also add a body here at some point during the draft for contractual depth and competition.
Outside of Nacua and Kupp, the only other wideout here under contract beyond this season is
Xavier Smith.
Tight End Depth Chart, Rams:
- Tyler Higbee
- Colby Parkinson
- Davis Allen
- Hunter Long
- Miller Forristall
- Nikola Kalinic
Tyler Higbee suffered ACL and MCL injuries in the playoffs.
Having surgery late in February, Higbee’s entire 2024 season is in jeopardy.
With Higbee’s immediate status in the air, the team signed
Colby Parkinson in free agency while they have
Davis Allen as a potential replacement after taking him in the fifth round last season.
When Higbee missed Week 14 last season, Allen played 71% of the snaps, catching 4-of-5 targets for 50 yards and a touchdown against the Ravens.
Through four seasons with the Seahawks, Parkinson caught 57 passes for 618 yards and four touchdowns.
Offensive Line Depth Chart, Rams:
LT: Alaric Jackson, Joe Noteboom, AJ Arcuri
LG: Jonah Jackson, Zach Thomas
C: Steve Avila, Mike McAllister
RG: Kevin Dotson, Logan Bruss
RT: Rob Havenstein, Warren McClendon
The Rams were busy early this offseason shoring up their interior offensive line.
The team gave
Kevin Dotson a three-year contract extension while inking
Jonah Jackson to a three-year contract.
Dotson was second in overall grade among guards last season per Pro Football Focus.
He allowed a team-low 4.1% pressure rate.
Jackson is coming off a bit of a down year in Detroit.
He was 34th in overall grade among guards per PFF, allowing a career-high 5.9 %pressure rate.
Jackson also missed five games due to injury after missing four games in 2022.
Coleman Shelton took every snap at center for the Rams last season, but with Shelton leaving via free agency,
Steve Avila is slotted to take his place. Avila took every snap at left guard for the Rams last season after the team selected him in the second round of the draft.
Avila started 17 games at center while at TCU before moving over to guard for his final season in college.
Rob Havenstein remains a reliable right tackle.
Havenstein only allowed a 4.8% pressure rate last season, which was 19th among qualifying tackles.
Havenstein will turn 32 this May and has missed multiple games in two of the past three seasons.
He is signed through the 2025 season.
Left tackle is the one remaining spot here that can be upgraded.
Both
Alaric Jackson and
Joe Noteboom are only signed for this upcoming season.
Jackson started 15 games last season but was 44th among tackles in overall grade per PFF while allowing a 7.4% pressure rate (61st).
Los Angeles Rams Defense: Depth Chart, Analysis & Draft Needs
Raymond Summerlin breaks down the defensive depth chart by position for the Los Angeles Rams, identifying areas where the team could improve in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
Defensive Line Depth Chart, Rams:
- Kobie Turner
- Bobby Brown III
- Desjuan Johnson
- Cory Durden
- Larrell Murchison
The Rams allowed 4.1 yards per running back carry (16th) and finished 28th in yards before contact allowed per RB run in 2023.
This unit suffered the most impactful loss of the offseason with
Aaron Donald retiring following a 10-year, Hall of Fame career.
To make matters worse, the Rams also lost
Jonah Williams in free agency.
Kobie Turner is back after an outstanding rookie season.
The 2023 third rounder led the team with 9 sacks on a 10.7% pressure rate and stood up well against the run, forcing 9 run stuffs and recording a tackle on 19.5% of his run defense snaps.
Turner might find life more difficult with Donald not around to eat up double teams, but his rookie season was extremely promising.
Bobby Brown was limited to 13 games last season and has played 32 total over his first three years in the league.
He was effective in those snaps against the run, so perhaps he can put together a full season in a contract year.
Desjuan Johnson did show some signs as a pass rusher on limited snaps as a rookie, but the track record of the rest of the people on the depth chart is either nonexistent or not great.
This is a primary area of need.
EDGE Depth Chart, Rams:
- Byron Young
- Michael Hoecht
- Nick Hampton
- Ochaun Mathis
- Zach VanValkenburg
- Keir Thomas
Los Angeles finished 17th in pressure rate and logged 41 sacks (23rd) last season.
Aaron Donald accounted for eight of those sacks, meaning the Rams will need to get more from their EDGE group moving forward.
A third-round pick last year,
Byron Young matched Donald with 8 sacks as a rookie on a 10.7% pressure rate.
That sack production is good, but the pressure rate ranked 83rd among qualifying pass rushers.
Still, it was a promising first season, and the Rams will hope to see more from Young moving forward.
Michael Hoecht was brought back on a one-year deal this offseason.
After getting misused in his first season, Hoecht has played primarily outside over the last two years, recording 10.5 sacks and an 11.8% pressure rate.
Young and Hoecht dominated the snaps on the outside last season, leaving little for the rest of the depth chart.
The Rams do have some youth here with second-year players Nick Hampton and Ochaun Mathis, but there is nothing proven behind the top two.
This depth chart would look a lot better with a high-end option at the top.
Linebacker Depth Chart, Rams:
- Ernest Jones IV
- Christian Rozeboom
- Troy Reeder
- Jacob Hummel
- Olakunle Fatukasi
A third-round pick in 2021,
Ernest Jones made the linebacker spot his last season, playing 934 snaps in 15 games.
Jones led the team with 20 run stuffs, the most on the team and the fourth-most among linebackers.
He recorded a tackle on 27.9% of his run defense snaps, first among eligible linebackers.
He was solid enough in coverage, allowing 6.6 yards per target, and even kicked in 4.5 sacks.
Jones only has one year left on his contract, but that is the only concern for the Rams.
Christian Rozeboom worked as the No. 2 linebacker last season with markedly less success than Jones, especially against the run.
Troy Reeder was also brought back after getting some run last season, but he also is more of a depth option.
Jones has this position locked down, but he is heading into a contract year with lackluster options behind him.
That creates at least some need here.
Cornerback Depth Chart, Rams:
- Darious Williams
- Tre’Davious White
- Quentin Lake
- Cobie Durant
- Derion Kendrick
- Tre Tomlinson
- Shaun Jolly
- Cameron McCutcheon
The Rams allowed 6.9 yards per pass attempt (14th) and finished 21st in EPA per dropback last season.
Most of the top snap earners at corner from last year are still on the depth chart, but the Rams brought in two bigger names who likely will get the first crack at the starting spots.
After two years with the Jaguars,
Darious Williams is back with the Rams.
Williams was excellent for the Jaguars last season, allowing a 63.9 passer rating in his coverage.
He gives the Rams a real No. 1 option.
Los Angeles also brought in
Tre’Davious White during free agency.
Once one of the top corners in the league, White has struggled to stay on the field in recent seasons.
He has played 21 games total in the last three years including just four a season ago.
White has remained good on the field despite the injuries, but whether or not he can stay there is an open question.
Quentin Lake and
Cobie Durant both saw snaps in the slot a season ago, with Lake showing better in that role.
He is likely the favorite for the No. 3 spot right now.
Derion Kendrick is the other member of the 2022 class in this group, but he struggled in extended playing time last season.
The Rams have enough youth here as insurance behind White, but an upgrade on that youth couldn’t hurt.
Safety Depth Chart, Rams:
- Kamren Curl
- Russ Yeast
- Jason Taylor II
- Tanner Ingle
A depressed safety market allowed the Rams to sign
Kamren Curl to an extremely team-friendly deal.
Curl was not as good last season, but he flashed high-end safety play during his rookie contract with the Commodes.
He should be a direct replacement for
Jordan Fuller, who left in free agency.
Russ Yeast played the most snaps next to Fuller last season to limited success.
He ranked 106th among eligible safeties in yards per target allowed in coverage and was not really a factor against the run.
There is nothing proven behind those two on the depth chart, although
Jason Taylor did at least get a few snaps as a seventh-round rookie last season.
The Rams could use an upgrade next to Curl, but it would not be the end of the world if they just added some veteran depth.
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