LA Rams 2024 pre-draft meeting tracker: Meetings, projections, updated 4/22 1:00 pm

Defensive players

Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is certainly quite popular, having met with more than half of the NFL teams already. He is an elite tackler, and versatile enough to be used throughout the secondary. He would give the team plenty of flexibility in the secondary for 2024.

The Rams would get a huge boost in quarterback pressure if they pull the trigger and select Washington Huskies' Edge rusher Bralen Trice. Trice is a pass rush specialist coming out of college, but he has all of the makings of a player who can develop the type of skills needed to be a complete outside linebacker in the NFL

Washington State University defensive End Brennan Jackson is cut from the same bolt of cloth as OLB Byron Young and NT Kobie Turner. He loves to play football, and never takes a play off. He can be effective in either a two or three-point stance. At 6-foot-4 and 264 pounds, I believe the Rams envision him as a defensive end on their defensive front.

And the LA Rams were very busy indeed at Michigan's Pro Day. We already discussed their meeting OT Karson Barnhart. But the scouting group also made time for CB Mike Sainristil and Edge rusher Jaylen Harrell.

CB Mike Sainristil is a bonafide elite prospect as a slot cornerback, an area that gave the secondary fits in 2023. He is 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds, and if chosen immediately competes with 2023 rookie Tre Tomlinson for playing time. If he were 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds or bigger, he would be a candidate to come off the board among the Top 10.

Michigan Edge rusher Jaylen Harrell is an ideal depth player for the Rams at outside linebacker. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 250 pounds, Harrell is best when in pass coverage. Because he is so good at dropping into coverage, he gains an element of surprise when he rushes the passer. He needs to learn more pass rush moves to add to his arsenal, but he has the feel of a niche player who the Rams could be quite happy with in 2024.

At 6-foot-2 and 290 pounds, NC State's Savion Jackson caught the Rams' eye because he has a solid complement of skillsets and the versatility to line up anywhere on the defensive line. Jackson put up 2.5 quarterback sacks in 2023, adding some spice to his NFL-ready run defense. Injuries impacted his playing time in both 2021 and 2022. The Rams are looking at prospects who may be available after the 2024 NFL Draft, and Jackson will be a hotly pursued prospect.

Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips is a highly coveted defensive back who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 190 pounds. He continues to garner increasing interest from NFL teams, including the Rams. He played four seasons for the Kentucky Wildcats but started just his most recent two seasons in their secondary. There is no true consensus for him, some projections have him as early as Round 2, while others have him falling to Round 6.

His super power value is his versatility, the ability to mix his pass coverages seamlessly. While he has yet to record an interception, he is always close enough to break up the pass, which he has done five times in each of his last two seasons.

The Rams are rumored to have shown Mark Perry 'extensive' interest per The Draft Network's Ryan Fowler. Perry tipped the scales at 211 pounds while standing 6-foot-0, a great size for an NFL safety.

Perry may be one of the players who did not get an invitation to the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, but who could hear his name called out in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The name Chop Robinson as the OLB from Penn State has shown up on many LA Rams mock drafts, so it falls to reason that the team would want to get a first-hand look at the young man before the 2024 NFL Draft. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 254 pounds, Robinson has outer space as his upside. He is a raw and dominating edge rusher whose ferocity and violence on the defensive line of scrimmage are unequaled. Many would be thrilled to hear his name called out by the Rams in this draft. Count me among them.

A draft sleeper at defensive lineman, Virginia Tech defensive line Norell Pollard is drawing heavy interest from the LA Rams. Standing 6-foot-0 and weighing 283 pounds, Polllard has the versatility to line up at multiple positions on the team's odd-man defensive front. Not heavily scouted, Pollard truly turned some heads on his Pro Day. Norell Pollard's production with the Hokies has been very promising.

Tennessee defensive back Gabe Jeudy-Lally may not be on your radar yet, but he is certainly on speed dial for many NFL teams. He is listed at 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, but without official measurements from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, those figures are subject to change. You may recall that he was the DB who confirmed Puka Nacua as a legitimate playmaker. Now, he is working hard to start his own NFL career.

He is a versatile defensive back who put up 41 tackles, four tackles for a loss, broke up five passes, got 1.0 quarterback sacks and one interception. He even forced a fumble. He was exposed to a number of defenses in college, adding to his allure for his NFL debut.