7 seldom-heard from Rams that could make a huge difference this year

II - DT Cory Durden

While the Rams front office will be looking for reinforcements to the defensive line, 6-foot-4 292-pound defensive tackle Cory Durden remains ready to show up in 2024. Durden is a seldom-used defensive lineman, playing just 44 defensive snaps plus 19 special teams snaps. But he did add three tackles for the team, and the team is likely looking for far more from him this season.

When the team faced the unexpected loss of Bobby Brown III to injury in 2023, they added Durden to the practice squad, followed by a promotion to the active roster three days later. Durden is a 6-foot-4 292-pound defensive lineman who is versatile enough to line up anywhere on the team's 3-man defensive line.

Because he was the team's solution to the prolonged absence of NT Bobby Brown III, you can project him to have a head start on the backup nose tackle role if the team follows through by moving Kobie Turner to assume Aaron Donald's vacated spot. Durden may be viewed by some as an insurance policy for now, but don't discount the fact that he has 44 defensive snaps and experience in this defense via four games in 2023.

Many of the weaknesses cited for Cory Durden in his draft profile are coachable corrections. The fact that he signed on with the Rams in 2023, was either on the active roster or the practice squad for much of the season, and is still with the team indicates that he has improved to the point of warranting more opportunities this year. Without Aaron Donald or Jonah Williams on the roster, Durden has a golden opportunity to leverage last year's role to earn more playing time in 2024.