V: Generational talent at kicker
When the Executive Director of the Reese Senior Bowl speaks, it's always a great idea to listen. That's why we featured Jim Nagy's quick analysis of six rookies selected by the Rams who competed in the 2024 Senior Bowl. Still there was one draft analysis from that six-pack of scouting expertise that bears repeating and discussion. That is the paragraph that discusses Stanford placekicker Joshua Karty:
Here's what #RamsHouse fans can expect from @seniorbowl rookie class:
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) May 5, 2024
🐏 DT Braden Fiske (Round 2, Pick 39)- Top P5 riser in entire '24 class. Disruptive penetrator with best get-off quicks & snap anticipation in DL class. High-end athlete with enough position flex to start… pic.twitter.com/1IHPT9Bhzz
Nagy had this to say about the Rams new kicker:
"(Joshua Karty is a) Big-legged kicker that many specialist gurus we consult with thought was one of best PK prospects in past 5-10 years. Thought he might go 4th/5th round. Has leg talent (and) mental wiring to be long-term answer."Jim Nagy
Now keep in mind that the LA Rams drafted him in Round 6 of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 209th overall pick. NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected him to be selected in Rounds 4 or 5 as well. The draft profiles for Karty are about as good as they get in terms of Karty's perceived NFL upside. It bears mentioning that the San Francisco 49ers invested a Top 100 pick (99th overall in Round 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft) to select their kicker of the future, Jake Moody. And taking the time to compare Moody's draft profile to Karty's draft profile leads you to suspect that the Rams drafted the better kicker.
Of course, potential, upside, projections, and the like are all fictional assessments that create a narrative of what might be. But the same authors of the projections for both players seem tol believe that Karty is the stronger of the two. And if you compare the draft pick invested into each player, the Rams football team has already come out ahead of the NFC West Division rival.