5 LA Rams 2nd-year sleepers will show up big in 2024, inc. OLB Nick Hampton

It's nearly impossible to revisit the LA Rams 2023 NFL season and not be awestruck by the outstanding performances of the rookies drafted last year. It was an emotional roller coaster in an emotional year that had the range of despair of defeat all the way up to the exhilaration of victory. And through it all, rookies grew to veterans, who grew to starters, who grew to NFL elites.

But are there more players whose time will come this season? After all, is it fair to expect rookies to either skyrocket to the top of their abilities in their first season, and then plateau out and show no more progress? Or do we trust the trend of so many young players who came before, arriving in the NFL and dangling their toes in the waters of professional football, only to witness them dive into the fray headfirst in their second season?

For some rookies, Year 2 is simply second verse, same as the first. WR Puka Nacua will obliterate secondaries. NT Kobie Turner will dominate double teams. But there are those second year players who have the opportunity to roar in their second season. And we have picked out five likely late bloomers who could raise some eyebrows in 2024. So let's start with . . .

5 - DB Tre Tomlinson

When the Rams selected Tre'Vius 'Tre' Tomlinson in Round 6 of the 2023 NFL Draft with the 182nd overall pick, the team hoped to have added an immediate contributor to the secondary. The trade of All-Pro DB Jalen Ramsey had depleted the team. Standing 5-foot-9 and weighing 177 pounds, Tomlinson very much resembled former Rams DB Darious Williams both in stature and style.

Tomlinson played 45 defensive snaps and 318 special teams snaps in 2023. He recorded 13 tackles. But he also allowed five of six passes targeting his receiver to find their target. In games in which he did compete in the secondary, he appeared nervous and too grabby. Was it all too overwhelming for the rookie defensive back?

Well, he has a mentor now. The Rams reunited with veteran DB Darious Willaims. And if anyone can show Tre Tomlinson how to play pass coverage while standing only 5-foot-9, Darious Willams can. You see, Williams is 5-foot-9 and weighs 192 pounds. And despite giving away a height advantage to nearly every receiver he faces, Williams continues to perform at an elite level.

Now, he will have the opportunity to pass that knowledge on.

The team kick-started the career of ILB Ernest Jones by pairing him with All-Pro ILB Bobby Wagner, and the results have been spectacular. There are many reasons to look for a similar impact on Tre Tomlinson's progress this season. While he did not have a great rookie season, Tomlinson was certainly eager to prove his plummet to Round 6 a mistake to the NFL.

But the chip on his shoulder became an albatross hanging around his neck. And perhaps was on full display in a preseason game against the Denver Broncos when he was ejected from the game for tackling WR Marvin Mims by the facemask.