Deep dive into complex LA Rams draft needs in the 2024 NFL Draft

The LA Rams success in the 2023 NFL Draft is both a boon and a bane for their efforts as the team approaches the 2024 NFL Draft. The bane of their latest success is the risk of becoming overly confident in the team's ability to land another excellent rookie class of 2024 as a follow up to their outstanding rookie class of 2023. And the optimism of any draft class to immediately contribute is at an all time high among Rams fans.

The Rams got some quality play out of rookie DT Desjuan Johnson and TE Davis Allen. The Rams were rather lucky with offensive lineman Steve Avila and punter Ethan Evans. The Rams got extremely lucky with OLB Byron Young and NT Kobie Turner. But the Rams hit a grand slam with rookie WR Puka Nacua. That certainly helped catapult from a bottom 10 NFL team to a playoff team well ahead of schedule.

The Rams shopping list for the 2024 NFL Draft is one that will lead to robust discussions between now and the end of the draft. After all, it's an open invitation for plenty of input, as this is the first time since the Rams hired Sean McVay to be the Head Coach of the LA Rams in 2017 that the Rams have a draft pick on Day 1 of the draft.

And like any unexpected asset, the presence of that Day 1 pick will generate 15 different prospects that should be selected. Like the first paycheck, the first investment, or even the first tax refund, the Rams possession of a draft pick in Round 1 will be a newsworthy event. But it won't fix all of the Rams roster shortages, nor could it.

The Rams offseason roster-building strategy is most successful when the Rams, and Rams fans, weigh out a priority for positions that must be addressed in the 2024 NFL Draft, and how important filling a spot at that position is to the benefit of the entire LA Rams roster. While we can all agree that the LA Rams need to address the kicker position for 2024, does that suggest that the Rams need to do so on Day 2, or more appropriately with a late pick on Day 3?

Or even wait until after the 2024 NFL Draft to address the matter?

Then there are the conditions of hit rates in the draft and when is the optimal round in any NFL draft to select specific positions? If a team has a laundry list of positions to fill, some rounds in the NFL draft bear a better success rate than others. And thankfully, Round 1 is not the optimal round for all positions.

Of course, there are multiple avenues to improve the team, and shopping in the NFL Draft is merely one of those options. Let's explore how the Rams front office may improve the team for the 2024 NFL season: