5 2024 Rams who are better than the brochure, including that gnat, Boston Scott

Perhaps one of the superpowers of LA Rams GM Les Snead is his knack for seeing the solution to a need for the team in a unique and unusual way. The team's ability to restock a struggling secondary from Day 3 prospects in 2022, and then reinforce those young players with bargain basement bare minimum veterans in 2023, says a great deal about Snead's leadership

While not perfect, and certainly not immune to degradation of play after injury (as witnessed by the decline from Ahkello Witherspoon), the team managed to put up enough defense to get red hot to close out the 2023 NFL season. That sensational finish in 2023 has left us all wanting more in 2024.

By turning the page to a new NFL season, we are also turning the page to new players, new challenges, and new opponents. Not every team has improved as readily as NFL analysts would have you believe. Not every highly regarded rookie flourishes in the NFL like many Rams rookies did in 2023. After all, professional football remains a team sport, and that means that players added to their teams must fit the culture, philosophy, coaches, teammates, and city at large.

Fitting players is what Snead prides himself at accomplishing every year.

But fitting players to new teams is never as easy or common as we might believe, or hope for. It's often a hit-or-miss venture, an investment that can pay off handsomely, or leave fans scratching their heads over why the team would bother to sign that player in the first place. That's the nature of the business in the NFL. Fans want the team's general manager to be a bit aggressive, sign players, and think outside of the box. But at the same time, they do not want the GM to be too aggressive, and sign too many too-expensive players too quickly.

After all, the goal is to improve the roster, not to go on a shopping spree.

And that is what makes Rams GM Les Snead so good at what he does. He seems to understand that balance between aggression and patience. He understands that needs on the Rams roster need to be acted on quickly, but not hastily. So let's explore the five ninjas, or under-the-radar veteran signings, that the team has made in the off-season that could play a huge role in getting the team to and through the 2024 NFL Playoffs.