LA Rams 2022 NFL Draft meetings tracker

Which Day 3 prospects have the LA Rams met with so far?

April 11, 2022 – The LA Rams have reportedly had a private workout and meeting with San Diego State P Matt Araiza (currently projected as high as a Round 3 prospect)

The 2022 NFL Draft top punter prospect, and someone who is currently getting a lot of pre-draft love, met with the LA Rams for a private workout or so reports Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline in his April 11, 2022 recap. The 6-foot-2 200-pound Araiza practically played in the LA Rams’ backyard.

While he was both a placekicker and a punter for the Aztecs, he will be focused on punting in the NFL, having earned the prestigious nickname “Punt God.” He can flip the field in one booming kick, routinely sending the football 60+ yards to the other end of the field. In fact, he had recorded punts of over 80 yards twice. But his artillery-charged foot comes at a price – he is a left-footed punter who is more about power than precision.  Even when attempting to punt inside the 20-yard line, his punts will frequently end up in the end zone for a touchback.

Punt god has a nice ring to it.

Added April 21 – A Round 6 athletic freak?

April 21, 2022 – The LA Rams have been rumored to have had a predraft meeting with North Dakota offensive tackle rookie prospect Matt Waletzko. (Currently projected as high as Round 6).

Of course, the rumors of meeting with the Rams were embedded with the “met with all 32 teams” narrative. So did he meet with the LA Rams? Well, he was brought into a conversation about the LA Rams in an interview with Draft Network’s Insider Justin Melo, and he spoke directly about how he would love to play in the Rams’ offense.

While he may be considered a bit raw or untested, he certainly has generated a lot of post-combine buzz. He stands  6-foot-8, weighs 312-pounds, dashes 40-yards in just 5.03 seconds, and possesses the length in his arms – over 36 inches – that offensive line coaches dream about.

Yes, he’s raw. A player who needs more muscle mass, more competition, and more coaching. But a Day 3 prospect is not often in possession of this much raw athleticism.

OMG, now an offensive guard or a blocking tight end?

UPDATED April 23, 2022 – The Rams have been reported to have met with Virginia Tech offensive guard Lecitus Smith.

Yes, the LA Rams have every reason to take a hard look at the offensive guard position in the 2022 NFL Draft. The team has lost starting right guard Austin Corbett to free agency, without an obvious replacement on the roster. While Lecitus Smith is not a plug-and-play replacement, he certainly offers plenty of positives to make him a worthwhile prospect.

He stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 314-pounds, and is a converted tight end to offensive guard. He needs a bit of improvement in his run blocking, but his pass protection is quality stuff. The fact that he played tight end cannot be ruled out as a potential to replace blocking tight end, Johnny Mundt.  Because of his fit in two very different positions, he makes an incredible prospect to be heavily considered for the LA Rams roster.

Another OG?

April 12, 2022 – The Rams have been presumed to have met with UCLA Bruins OG Sean Rhyan (currently projected in Round 5)

Every year, fans have hoped for the LA Rams to address the offensive line in the NFL Draft, and for the past two seasons, it simply has not happened. In 2020, the Rams drafted former Clemson OT Tremayne Anchrum in the seventh round, while the Rams abandoned the offensive line altogether in 2021. The team did manage to sign OT Alaric Jackson after that draft. Is the third time the charm for the LA Rams this year?

He is reported to be a strong candidate as an NFL offensive tackle as well. And he certainly looks the part. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing a burly 321-pounds, Rhyan is not going to be manhandled by even the most powerful NFL defensive linemen or edge rushers.

He is raw for a pass blocker, still working on angles, leverage, hand, and footwork. But he could be a plug-and-play run blocker. The Rams may not have offensive lineman as a huge priority in this draft, but Rhyan is so versatile (can start both at OT or OG) and so gifted for the role of NFL offensive lineman, particularly with a Day 3 pick, that I’m not sure that even the LA Rams could resist selecting him.