Final Rams Mock Draft: Defense dominates in this outstanding Rams draft haul

With the 52nd overall pick

The Los Angeles Rams select Darius Robinson, defensive end, out of Missouri. While Rams fans eagerly anticipate bolstering the outside linebacker position to help with the pass rush, the front office takes the road less travelled by adding DE Darius Robinson, with the same objective of getting after the quarterback.

While the front office has been reluctant to invest heavily in the defensive end position, life without Aaron Donald on the roster forces the powers-that-be to rethink their time-tested strategy. Without Donald on the defensive front, the team can no longer shop the bottom shelf for defensive ends, and the 2024 NFL Draft reflects that new way of thinking.

6-foot-5 285-pound DE Darius Robinson is a true upgrade over former DE Jonah Williams. He is a twitchy guy who can line up anywhere on the defensive front, has a snarling savage style of bringing the fight to the offense, and loves to create confusion at the point of attack. It's that ferocity that attracts attention and makes Robinson an ideal addition for Round 2.

In 2023, Robinson recorded 43 tackles, 14.0 tackles for a loss, 8.5 quarterback sacks, one forced fumble and even one fumble recovery. Even with that much going on for him, he has more to learn and grasp about excelling at his position. While some might argue for the team to invest in the offense, there is no chance to score unless the defense can get the football back. Robinson is the type of rookie who can make a huge impact in 2024.

With the first two picks of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Rams defense has improved from 'meh' to 'Hmmm.' And the team has nine more picks to go. Or, do they . . . ?