Do the Rams deserve these grades from the 2023 NFL Draft?

How can anyone truly 'know,' how a rookie draft class will perform for a team less than 24 hours after the NFL Draft has ended? Well, most take a look at their board, compare to the players chose, and make the fatal presumption that their Big Board is the gold standard.

To even begin to have any validity, grading a draft class should not happen until one full season has passed. To have a solid handle, the waiting period should allow three years before we really should discern just how effective an NFL team was at drafting that year.

But as soon as an event happens, we seem to be compelled to find out how we did. Is it fair? Not at all. But it's been baked into the annual NFL Draft so often that it just feels like the right thing to do, despite all the wrong reasons. So in keeping with this infamous tradition, how have NFL pundits and analysts judged the Rams this year?

NFL Game Day: What they said

"Adding Avila bolsters the interior of the offensive line, while Young's closing ability gives him a chance to become an effective edge defender. Turner was a productive player at Richmond and Wake Forest but went a bit earlier than projected. "

NFL Game Day Grade: A-

Sporting News: What they said

"The Rams, for a change, loaded up on draft picks after not having a first-rounder again. There's a lot of volume here, with Avila, Young, McLendon, Hodges-Tomlinson, and Zach Evans standing out as the most valuable picks for Les Snead and Sean McVay. Bennett was a major reach early, as were Allen and Nacua for the offense."

Sporting News Grade: B

Pro Football Focus: What they said

PFF gives a detailed analysis, this is just an excerpt:

"Avila was the model of consistency in pass protection during TCU’s Cinderella run in 2022. He averaged less than one pressure allowed per game last season and surrendered just one pressure to a vaunted Georgia defensive line in a blowout national championship loss."

Pro Football Focus Grade: A-

USA Today: What they said

"I love the addition of Steve Avila up top — he’s a natural power blocker who will work his way into that depleted offensive line right away. And Tennessee’s Byron Young is a hybrid-sized (6-foot-2, 250-pound) rusher who had nine sacks and 42 total pressures last season. The fifth round was a value round for the Rams — Warren McClendon Jr. was a personal favorite as was Puka Nacua, Davis Allen should thrive in Sean McVay’s offense. . . "

USA Today Grade: B

The Ringer: What they said

"The Rams had a lot of picks, finishing up the draft with a 14-man class. The team led things off with TCU guard Steve Avila, who could be a starter from day one. Tennessee edge rusher Byron Davis is an older prospect (25 years old), but he’s an athletic marvel, bringing first-step burst as a rusher. Former Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett, drafted in the fourth round, gives Sean McVay a developmental backup to work with . . . "

The Ringer Grade: C+

New York Post: What they said

"The Rams became too finesse, and their first three picks should help restore a sense of physicality and toughness. Young could be a true steal as a pass-rusher. Bennett (all he does is win) will be mentored by a fellow Georgia alum in Matthew Stafford."

New York Post Grade: C-

It's pretty clear that objective assessment flies out the window with day-after draft grades. But don't sweat it. The Cleveland Browns used to get A+ draft grades every year, and then win one or two games that NFL season. So yes, the worse the grade, the better that team often performs.