5 positions the Rams could double dip for the NFL Draft

Wide receiver

Another area that is bursting with NFL starter talent is the wide receiver position, with some draft boards already projecting as many as 8-10 prospects hearing their name called out in Round 1. Will the Rams be among the teams that do so? I continue to struggle over who and which position the team will address with that valuable Round 1 pick. But one thing is certain, whoever does make a selection for a wide receiver on Day 1 will be adding a talented pass catcher to their roster.

The thing is that double that number are capable of earning a starting role in the NFL in their rookie season, and quadruple that number are capable of earning a spot on the 53-man roster. Wide receivers can surprise teams each season. Rookie WR Puka Nacua set the All-Time NFL Rookie Receiving Record and was selected with the 177th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. You can bet NFL teams will try to replicate that success in this year's draft.

Defensive Lineman

While the abundance of hand-in-the-dirt for quality defensive linemen is not particularly high-quality or particularly abundant in the 2024 NFL Draft, there are other reasons for the team to double dip at the position. With the retirement of DL Aaron Donald and the loss of starting DE Jonah Williams in free agency, the team needs to compensate and cover 1500 vacated defensive snaps on the defensive front. While some of that can be handled by larger roles for DT Larrell Murchison and DE Desjuan Johnson, the ranks are currently very thin.

In an uncertain scenario with fewer obvious high quality prospects, the strategy is to increase the number of prospects. It's the rifle bullet vs shotgun pellets contrast. By multiplying the number of selections for the position, the team can improve the likelihood of someone exceeding expectations.

Not only that, but the team is down two starters on an odd-man defensive front. The front office will almost certainly double-dip on the defensive line, and may even triple-dip to ensure sufficient depth is on hand for training camp.