How will Rams GM Les Snead handle the hot position for the 2025 NFL Draft?

In the 2024 NFL Draft, while loaded up on their defensive front, other NFL teams were salvoing the draft board for other positions. In the first three rounds, 16 wide receivers heard their names called out. Nine edge rushers were chosen in the first two days. Finally, 16 offensive tackles were chosen by the end of Round 3. That is a lot of young talent flooding the NFL. As intriguing as it all may seem, it's just another day at the office for NFL GMs who are trying to restock their rosters via the annual NFL draft.

Did you know that the Rams made one of ten defensive linemen selections in the first two days of the 2024 NFL Draft? He was Florida State's DT Braden Fiske, one of the 2024 NFL DROY finalists. And yet, the NFL is about to be inundated with rookies at the interior defensive lineman position this year.

If NFL Insider/analyst Greg Cosell is correct, the number of defensive tackles chosen during the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft could more than double in number:

That is a huge harvest of defensive tackles in this year's draft. But is this a matter of so much NFL-ready talent up for grabs at defensive tackle, or simply the lack of talent elsewhere that is driving up the demand for interior defensive linemen this year? Perhaps a little of both, I suspect.

In the 2024 draft, 15 DTs had draft profile grades of 6.10 or better. In this year's rookie draft class, 23 interior defensive linemen boast a draft profile grade of 6.10 or better. While the number of prospects has certainly increased significantly, it hasn't doubled in number. But the number of other positions with high grades has shrunk as well.

In this year's rookie class, tight ends, running backs, and defensive tackles are more abundant than average with prospects. But other positions that were abundant in 2024, such as quarterback, wide receiver, or offensive tackle, are less numerous this year. Every year, the NFL draft is unique in terms of the quality and quantity of rooke NFL prospects.

Did the Rams mistime their efforts to restock the defensive front? It's hard to argue with the results of blending OLB Jared Verse and DT Braden Fiske with OLB Byron Young and NT Kobie Turner. And the team landed one of the NFL's best run stuffers in NT Poona Ford.

Will the Rams add to the defensive line of scrimmage in 2025? Perhaps. But the team is prepared to look elsewhere, as NFL teams tend to consume all talented prospects from plentiful positions like locusts gobble up crops. The Rams wisely have learned not to compete with the herd, but to simply turn their attention elsewhere. The team was able to select OLB Jared Verse, the sixth-best player in the 2024 NFL Draft board, by waiting for him to fall to the 19th overall pick.

If similar circumstances form in this year's draft, the Rams could emerge with one of the top-three wide receivers, offensive tackles, or yes, even quarterbacks of the 2025 NFL Draft as he falls to the 26th overall pick. If ESPN's Mel Kiper is correct, the Rams could grab the third-best QB in the 2025 NFL Draft in Mississippi QB Jaxson Dart.

I'm not convinced that all Rams fans will be excited at that selection.

Presuming that Rams GM Les Snead anticipated the available talent in the 2025 NFL Draft, is this truly the year that the Rams get their elite tight end? Or does the wizard of the NFL Draft have another position in his sights for the 26th overall pick?

Yes, the Rams could add to the defensive line with their Round 1 pick. But that seems too similar to what other teams will be doing. Les Snead marches to the beat of a different drum. Perhaps defensive tackles will be on the menu for a Day 3 selection. But I expect Snead to have more offensive impact in mind on Days 1 and 2 of the draft.

The Los Angeles Rams draft is only days away. Are you feeling optimistic? There are so many directions the team can go this year. I look forward to sharing this year's draft with you.

As always, thanks for reading.

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