5 surprising Rams rookies who will make a difference in the playoffs

(1) - Rookie center Beaux Limmer

I love to highlight those players who simply do not often find themselves in the NFL spotlight. And former Arkansas Razorbacks rookie prospect Beaux Limmer hits the bullseye in that category. Despite being drafted in Round 6 of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 217th overall pick, Limmer instantly impressed me. Projected by some draft analysts to come off the board as early as Day 2, Limmer exuded everything that an NFL team seeks in an offensive center.

I did a very poor job of hiding my enthusiasm for Limmer when the Rams selected him. Of course, it's always a thrill when the Rams front office selects a player that I had mocked to the team, albeit one round earlier. But the same reasons I cited to justify him to be an ideal selection in my mock draft have proven to come true.

"What I like most about Limmer here is the fact that he has an incredibly high football IQ that merely needs to have his techniques refined. That is something that OL Coach Ryan Wendell can address in training camp. The Rams have some quality backups looking to earn a roster spot in 2024. But there is always room for one more, and Beaux Limmer has that passionate approach to his craft that gets his name called out here."

Ramblin Fan Bret Stuter

Still, wanting a player is a far cry than selecting him. But even after his selection, I doubled down on my all-in enthusiasm and gave the team my highest grade of A+ for the choice. It seemed inevitable that Limmer would find his way to a starting role in 2024. Ironically, he was named the starting center in Week 2, after veteran Jonah Jackson fell to injury.

I may have been one of the earliest to see Limmer's true NFL potential, but I am by no means the only one to do so. After 15 weeks of the 2024 NFL season was in the books, CBS NFL Sports Analyst Pete Prisco unabashedly named Beaux Limmer the steal of the 2024 NFL Draft. But even he was not going out on a limb. A consensus is building around the performance and future of the Rams young starting center:

The beauty about having Beaux Limmer as the starting offensive center heading into the playoffs is the fact that he makes up one of the best configurations of the Rams offensive line groups this season, and he is under contract through 2027. That ensures the team has an opportunity to focus elsewhere in the offseason and draft, and continue to stockpile young physical offensive linemen.

Unlike Super Bowl LVI, the Rams feel like a team that, even if they claim the Lombardi Trophy this season, will have an even better team in 2025. Perhaps that is the result of drafting so successfully.

As always, thanks for reading.

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