Braden Fiske knows he holds vital role on Rams defense, and loves the pressure

In pursuit of a Super Bowl looks like this from a defensive lineman

On paper, rookie defensive tackle Braden Fiske has the right size for a defensive lineman role in the NFL. Standing 6-foot-4 and tipping the scales at 291 pounds, Fiske has the length that NFL teams seek in a defensive end, but he possesses the power and ferocity of an interior defensive lineman . And it's that blending of attributes and skills that allows the Rams coaching staff the opportunity to view Fiske as a versatile plug-and-play defensive lineman all across the defensive front.

The thing is, Fiske has far more than height and power going for him.

While he is and was fit for the Rams roster, the team knew that his blend of skills would be very attractive to competing teams as well. That is why the Rams did not tip their hand by showing any interest in Fiske before the draft. By holding the cards close to their vest, the team did not give other NFL teams reason to jump up and grab Fiske before the Rams selected him with the 39th overall pick.

As soon as the Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft concluded, Fiske was the most logical Day 2 prospect. Fiske brough the same style of play that made Kobie Turner so effective on the Rams defensive line. He possesses incredible power, the agility of a housecat, and a relentless drive to hunt down whomever holds the football in their hands:

Defensive linemen who can catch a runner or receiver from behind in something that every DL coach salivates over, and that relentless thundering pusuit by Fiske shows up in virtually every hightlight reel. Here is the same observation about Braden FIske made by Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy:

Defensive linemen are frequently assessed for their ability to hold their ground and stuff the run. They are also judged for their ability to create pressure and generate sacks on opposing quarterbacks. But few defensive linemen are judged on their ability to chase down a running back, quarterback, tight end, or wide receiver from behind simply because no defensive lineman can do so effectively and consistently