2024 NFL Scouting Combine: Group III Cheat Sheet

When it comes to the NFL Draft, do you believe that the LA Rams will be more focused on defensive linemen and linebackers (Group I), defensive backs and tight ends (Group II), quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers (Group III), or offensive linemen and special team specialists (Group IV)? No matter how you answer, the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine continues to parade some of college football's most talented prospects.

Group II is on full display on Saturday, March 2, 2024, and the group is certainly going to get a lot of coverage. This group features quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers, and has already been making headlines. Several of the top stars projected in the 2024 NFL Draft: QB Caleb Williams, QB Drake Maye, and WR Marvin Harrison Jr., are not testing. That simply opens the door for others to leave a good impression on the gathered NFL scouts and personnel executives.

I get the reason behind not testing in athletic feats. Two top defensive backs in the 2024 NFL Draft, both cited as players the Rams may draft fell to injury during Group II athletic events. While neither is expected to miss training camp due to injury, the experience highlights the risk that even track and field events pose to NFL hopefuls.

But some of the top-tier college prospects are going beyond declining to compete. Some, like USC QB Caleb Williams, have opted out of the medical examinations, insisting that only teams that he meets with will be privy to that information. That is enough to sour my interest in him, all the while fully understanding that he will likely be selected first overall anyway.

Still, let's focus on the matters at hand. Who might the Rams have interest in from Group III? Who should you keep on your radar? Let's dive in, shall we?

Which prospects deserve monitoring from Group III?

1. Quarterbacks
2. Running backs
3. Wide receivers

Quarterbacks

I am more and more convinced that the real value to the 2024 NFL Draft at the quarterback position is not focused solely on the top two or three quarterbacks from this class. And the more I study this group, the more I am convinced that the Rams can pull off landing a true future franchise quarterback by focusing on a motivated and talented quarterback who simply needs to be coached up to the NFL level.

I featured a listing of quarterback options in a preview article of the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, and you can check that out here. As you can see, I attempted to target a quarterback on each day of the 2024 NFL Draft.

• Day 1- Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
• Day 2 - Michael Penix, QB, Washington
• Day 3 - Sam Hartman, QB, Notre Dame

Still, that did not seem like enough. So I pulled out all the stops and gave a quick breakdown of the Rams and how the Top-10 quarterback prospects might align with the team's needs. I have to say that the 2024 NFL Draft has some talented prospects, and may deliver five or more NFL starting quarterbacks before the dust settles.

While I have done a lot of background work on at least 11 quarterbacks in this draft class, more names may surface over time. I do believe that the Rams will add a solid quarterback to the team, whether through the draft, extending Carson Wentz, or simply shopping the 2024 NFL Free Agency market for a bargain player. So let's roll right along and look at some running backs.

Running backs

As other position groups, I covered a trio of rookie prospects in my NFL Scouting Combine preview, and you can check out those profiles by clicking here. Still, there are many players who are intriguing, so let's add some more names to this group.

• Day 1 - Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
• Day 2 - Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
• Day 3 - MarShawn Lloyd, RB. USC

Missouri running back Cody Schrader has Rams offense written all over him. And had the team not commited a Tender Offer to backup running back Ronnie Rivers, he would be nearly a lock to be a rookie prospect on the team's draft board, and he may still be a targeted player anyway. Standing 5-foot-8 and weighing a robust 207 pounds, Shrader is a compact fireball who has enough power to move the chains even when stuck in a pile. He also makes a solid receiver in the flat, and is difficult to bring down with the football in his hands. He is a versatile workhorse who fits the Rams mold for the position. Projection: Day 3

TCU running back Emani Bailey is another runner who wears the small-but-mighty moniker that seems to make RB Kyren Williams such an ideal fit in the Rams offense. He stands just 5-foot-7, but weighs a powerful 207 pounds. Because he is shorter than many backs, he is sneakily effective at staying in the shadow of his linemen until the running lane opens up, then kicking in the afterburners and scooting through the hole. He is a willing blocker, but his size can pose a problem to picking up bigger blitzers who have a head of steam. Projection: Late Day 3

Notre Dame running back Audric Estime is one of a handful of players who the Rams have reported met with already. And he seems to buck the trend of smallish rushers, as he stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 227 pounds. This guy is a powerhouse, and his thunderous strides allow him to plow through arm tackles and make his own way to daylight. He moves like a pinball off bumpers (remember those?), spinning and bouncing off contact, all the while continuing to gain yardage. At the heyday of NFL running backs, he could have been a Day 1 prospect. But runners are no longer as valued as they once were. Projection: Early Day 3

Now let's take a look at some wide receiver prospects:

Wide receivers

As with other positions, I broke down three wide receiver options, one for each day, in the article that previewed the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. You can revisit that article by clicking here: But even as you do that, I want to emphasize the fact that West Kentucky WR Malachi Corley is an ideal prospect who is likely to gain interest from the Rams front office. But I suspect he will be popular with many teams in the 2024 NFL Draft.

• Day 1 - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
• Day 2 - Malachi Corley, WR, West Kentucky
• Day 3 - Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama

USC wide receiver Brendan Rice is a physical, tall, and ferocious wide receiver who oozes swag and confidence, and believes that any football in his vicinity is his for the taking. That is exactly how he goes about his business, shining in contested catches. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 212 pounds, Rice is a solid receiver who should be able to handle the physicality of the NFL receiver role. He steps up in big games and at big moments, which will please any offensive coordinator. He is incredibly athletic, and his stock will undoubtedly be on the rise after competing at the Combine. Projection: Round 3

Texas WR Xavier Worthy seems to possess the attributes that the Rams often seek in a wide receiver. Standing 6-foot-1 but weighing just 172 pounds, Worthy will fight questions of durability and physicality. But beyond that, he is a proven playmaker. He can play either as an outside receiver, a slot receiver, and has success and experience as a punt returner as well. His best attrbute is a full service route tree, and he is more than happy to make catches anywhere on the football field, even punishing catches across the middle. He will need to bulk up in the gym to sustain a long NFL career, and learn how to sit in zone coverages. But he is incredibly impressive, and could fill a number of roster needs. Projection: Late Round 2

There is no doubt that South Carolina WR Xavier Leggette will draw oohs and ahhs when competing at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. He is an ideal receiver, standing 6-foot-1, weighing 223 pounds, and is blessed with balance and speed. He is a raw receiver who is fundamentally elite. He possesses all of the uncoachable traits that should make him a top receiver. But his technique and refinement needs work. He struggles to sit in zone coverage, and he lets the football get to his chest. Because he has so much potential, he could get a huge boost from Combine competition. But he is truly a feast or famine prospect. Projection: Round 3