2024 NFL Scouting Combine: Group IV Cheat Sheet

We are coming to the end of the road in terms of the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. With Group IV, made up of offensive linemen and a handful of special team specialists, all but the bench press for Group IV will remain to be accomplished. This has been a very talented and exciting young group of NFL hopefuls. And there is certainly a lot to love about them in terms of how they might help the LA Rams roster in 2024 and beyond.

It's nearly impossible not to get swept up in all of the fanfare, especially in light of the success of the team's rookie class of 2023. Players like OLB Byron Young, NT Kobie Turner, WR Puka Nacua, and IOL Steve Avila not only started games, but outperformed many veterans in the process. That is rare enough for one player, let alone multiple players. And it's nearly impossible to do without a Round 1 pick.

Well, this team has 11 picks for the 2024 NFL Draft, and four of them in the Top 100 selections. In 2023. the Rams ended up making 14 selections, but only had three of those picks fall among the Top 100 selections.

As of right now, I truly wish that the team had more picks.

Despite early negotiations, the LA Rams were unable to reach any agreement with either center Coleman Shelton or right guard Kevin Dotson, and both players are expected to test the 2024 NFL Free Agency market for their value. While that is not evidence that the Rams will not be able to extend either player, it's certainly not a step in the right direction.

And the status of left tackle Alaric Jackson, himself a Restricted Free Agent (RFA) is still uncertain, as the Rams have yet to make a Qualifying Tender Offer to ensure that they have the right of first refusal. So the Rams may need to restock players on the offensive line who can reliably suit up and start on Day 1. That means selecting offensive linemen early in this draft.

If you wish to review our Combine preview article, you can check that out by clicking here. We had featured three offensive tackles and interior offensive linemen who could be instant contributors to the team.

There is an abundance of talent in the 2024 NFL Draft in offensive linemen. But NFL teams, hoping to restock their rosters of players at those five positions, hit that group hard. So let's stroll through some names of players who may be chosen to play in horns in 2024

1. Group IV
2. Offensive tackles
3. Interior offensive linemen
4. Special Teams: Kickers/Punters/Long Snappers

Group IV

While there are solid arguments for the front office to address offensive line needs, and perhaps offensive needs, by extensions and filling in the holes via good value signings via the 2024 NFL Free Agency market, I do not know if that is the plan this year. The team did invest in three players in 2023: IOL Steve Avila, OT Warren McClendon, and IOL Kevin Dotson. Does the team still believe in IOL Logan Bruss, now entering his third NFL season?

The roster has plenty of players, but the quality of those players is anybody's guess right now. So who might be joining the team to compete at SoFi Stadium in 2024?

Offensive tackles

• Day 1 - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
• Day 2 - Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
• Day 3 - Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame

Even in the face of high demand, the 2024 NFL Draft class does boast a solid group of players who could be ideally suited to help out this year. Even prospects who may come off the board on Day 3 have the potential to start if they have a solid training camp and fit what the team is looking for.

If the Rams wanted to land a franchise left tackle, this is certainly a rookie class that makes that all possible. Of course, to land a top-tier player like Notre Dame's OT Joe Alt, the LA Rams would need to trade up substantially. But players like Alabama OT J.C. Latham or Georgia Amarius Mims, or even Washington OT Troy Fautanu or Penn State OT Olu Fashanu could be a Day 1 starter fro the team.

There are plenty of options for the team to consider. I believe that the team will extend Alaric Jackson (the price is right) and perhaps add an offensive tackle late on Day 3 or after the draft to bolster the depth chart and give this team an additional player or two to develop.

Interior offensive linemen

While I believe that the team has been well served by center Coleman Shelton, the fact that he has the opportunity to test the free agency market tells me less about his intentions to sign with the team, and more about how the team is willing to lose him to another team's highest bidder. Do the Rams see value at the center position in this draft?

• Day 1 - Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
• Day 2 - Cooper Beebe, IOL, Kansas State
• Day 3 - Zach Frazier, OL, West Virginia

Michigan IOL Zak Zintner could be a solid option for the Rams on Day 3. He stands a towering 6-foot-6 and weighs a solid 309 pounds. He is a solid quarterback protector, and has NFL starter-ready skills in both run and pass blocking. Because he played for the Michigan Wolverines, he had to face the best of the NCAA football teams, and was able to open running lanes as well as keep QB J.J. McCarthy upright. Projection: Early Day 3

Utah has a long-running history of solid play in the trenches, and IOL Keaton Bills is a promising offensive lineman who continues in that tradition. He is a powerful force at the line of scrimmage and is always on the lookout for who is the greatest threat to bust the play. That means he will leave his player to block another defender who has broken free and has a clean shot to the quarterback. He is not fully refined in terms of pulling to lead running plays, so he will need to show improvement in training camp. But he is a huge 6-foot-4 321-pound prospect who loves to block, has a mean snarl, and could be available late on Day 3. Projection: Round 7

Special Teams: Kickers/Punters/Long Snappers

Even though the LA Rams made it a point to re-sign former rookie kicker Tanner Brown to a Reserve/Future contract, the tem will need to give serious consideration to adding a kicker in 2024. While the team may be content to do so after the 2024 NFL Draft, I suspect that the need warrants commiting a draft pick to ensure that the team lands the kicker that they want.

As with other positional groups, I featured two kickers in the pre-Combine preview, and you can refresh your memory by clicking here. But what if they are gone when the Rams want to add a kicker?

• Day 3 - Joshua Karty, K, Stanford
• Day 3 - Will Reichard, K, Alabama

There are other kickers worth considering. Arkansas' kicker Cam Little is taking a bold step by voiding his fourth year of NCAA eligibility and entering the 2024 NFL Draft after his junior season. His wager may pay off, as he is a solid kicker. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 180 pounds, Little has the type of frame that only works in the NFL as a kicker. But he does excel at that. He has plenty of oomph in his kick, as reflected in his making four out of five kicks from a distance of 50+, including a 56-yarder. His accuracy is solid as he made all 33 extra points, seven of seven field goals up to 30 yards, four of five up to 40 yards, and five of seven under 50 yards. Projection: Late Day 3

Missouri kicker Harrison Mevis is a rookie who you can easily remember. He has gotten the nickname of the Thiccer Kicker because he stands 6-foot-0 but weighs 241 pounds. His best season was 2021, but he continued to impress in 2023. He made 45 of 46 extra points in 2023. He was a promising 24 of 30 on field goals. Strength is not the issue, as he booted a 61-yard field goal. And he connected on all 11 kicks under 30 yards. He nailed eight of nine from 30-39 yards, two out of five from 40-49 yards, and three out of five from 50+ yards. He manages to kick off without a return 60 percent of the time, and he has never kicked off out of bounds. While he may need to hone his accuracy, he has all the power that the Rams special teams could hope for. Projection: Undrafted free agent priority signing

That's about it. Thanks so much for reading and stay tuned as we begin our own road to the 2024 NFL Draft.