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

While LA Rams fans are not exactly paying much attention to the 2024 NFL Draft just yet, the Rams personnel department does not have the luxury of sitting back and enjoying the Rams' late-season success. This is the Christmas shopping season for scouts and personnel executives, the time with the past year's notes, field work, analysis, and report submissions all come to fruition.

Even now, with the legal tampering period of the 2024 NFL Free Agency market just hours away, the front office must balance their draft board with free agency targets. If the front office fails to reinforce the Rams roster with viable free agents or trades, then the fall back position is the 2024 NFL Draft, or the post-draft free agent market.

So far, the LA Rams are already hitting the track running on pre-draft meetings. So lets break down the positional groups so far:

Offense (10)

• Offensive tackle - 3
• Interior offensive lineman - 1
• Running back - 2
• Wide receiver - 3
• Quarterback - 1

Defense (12)

• Edge rusher - 4
• Defensive lineman - 2
• Defensive back - 5
• LB - 1

Special Teams (1)

• Kicker- 1

Now, why are the Rams meeting with prospects?

There are many reasons to do so. The most obvious answer is to interview the player and gauge his strengths, weaknesses, mindset, and even passion for the game. But there are other reasons to do so as well. The team may need to clarify questions or concerns over former injuries. There may be interest in trading up for the player, prompting an interview to asses the player's reaction in that scenario.

Who have the Rams met with, and when?

1. Who are these players, and when are they projected to come off the board?
2. Meetings with multiple prospects
3. Offensive players
4. Defensive players
5. Special Team specialists

Who are these players, and when are they projected to come off the board?

If you are seeking clues as to the LA Rams draft strategy, keep in mind that meetings do not take place for teams to tell prospects 'We are absolutely selecting you,' in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. Oftentimes, the meeting takes place due to some interest, but it gives scouts an opportunity to make that prospects draft profile more three-dimensional.

It also affords an opportunity to clarify some less obvious matters, or pose questions to the player raised by personnel executives or coaches prior to the meeting taking place.

To give you a feel of when these players are likely to hear their names called out, we have turned to the experts at NFL Draft Buzz and their projections for 2024 on their big board. Keep in mind that updating hundreds of player profiles manually is very time-consuming, so projections should be viewed with some degree of skepticism.

Who have the Rams met with so far?

• RB Audric Estime - Notre Dame: Projected Round 4
• CB Ennis Rakestraw - Missouri: Projected Round 2
• EDGE Bralen Trice - Washington: Projected Round 2
• LB Jaylan Ford - Texas: Projection Round 7
• WR Rome Odunze - Washington: Projected Round 1
• OT Taliese Fuaga - Oregon State: Projected Round 1
• QB Bo Nix - Oregon: Projected Round 1
• OT Karsen Barnhart - Michigan: Projected Priority FA signing after draft
• WR Ricky Pearsall - Florida: Projected Round 2
• DE/Edge Brennan Jackson - Washington State: Projected Round 5
• Kicker Will Reichard - Alabama: Projected Priority FA signing after draft
• WR Roman Wilson - Michigan: Projected Round 2
• Edge Jaylen Harrell - Michigan: Projected Round 7
• CB Mike Sanristil - Michigan: Projected Round 3
• OT Troy Fautanu - Washington: Projected Round 1
• DL Savion Jackson - NC State: Projected Priority FA signing after the draft
• DB Andru Phillips - Kentucky: Projected from Rounds 2-6
• DB Mark Perry - TCU: Projected Priority FA signing after the draft
• Edge Chop Robinson - Penn State: Projected Round 1
• RB Jase McClellan - Alabama: Projected Round 6
• DT Norell Pollard - Virginia Tech: Projected Priority FA signing after the draft
• IOL Avery Jones - Auburn: Projected Priority FA signing after the draft
• DB Gabe Jeudy-Lally, Tennessee: Projected Priority FA signing after the draft

So what does that tell us? The Rams frequency of meeting with prospects from common position groups highlights the fact that the team will likely select at least one player from that positional group in the upcoming draft. The Rams met with Iowa State DE/Edge Will McDonald prior to the 2023 NFL Draft. McDonald was selected in Round 1 with the 15th overall pick by the New York Jets.

The Rams eventually selected Tennessee OLB Byron Young with the 77th overall pick.

The Rams are meeting with a variety of players, and as vigilant as we try to be, even we cannot capture every meeting that the team has with prospects before the draft.

Meetings with multiple prospects

Some early names confirmed to have met with the #Rams at the combine so far (Per Alexis Kraft):

• RB Audric Estime - Notre Dame
• CB Ennis Rakestraw - Mizzou
• EDGE Bralen Trice - Washington
• LB Jaylan Ford - Texas

The Rams were also rather busy at Michigan's pro day, and have met with multiple prospects before and after their event (Per JT Pearson)

• WR Roman Wilson - Michigan
• CB Mike Sainristil - Michigan
• Edge Jaylen Harrell - Michigan
• OT Karsen Barnhart - Michigan

Even as the Rams scouts continue to attend, take notes, and sometimes meet with players, keep in mind that not every prospect who the Rams are eyeing up for the 2024 NFL Draft will meet with scouts, nor do we hear about every meeting.

Of course, later reports confirmed that the Rams were present at Washington's Pro Day

Every NFL team tries to mask, camouflage, or outride hide all traces of meetings with prospects. If other teams learn which prospects the Rams have interest in, they can outmaneuver the team on draft day to ensure that they, and not the Rams, get that prospect.

That is why you will hear conflicting reports about prospects. Agents will share incredible stories about prospects chances, hoping to improve their stocks. But NFL personnel executives and scouts who have bonafide interest in selecting that prospect, sometimes leak information that places the prospect in a poor light in hopes of lowering interest in that player, giving them a better chance of falling in the draft.

Offensive players

The LA Rams have invested quite heavily into their offense, so any prospect draft in the 2024 NFL Draft on the offensive side of the football will either be elite enough to start from Day 1 or will be added as a depth player for the 2024 NFL season.

The LA Rams met with Washington WR Rome Odunze. He is an elite prospect who would be an immediate contributor to the offense in 2024.

Rams met with Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga, a versatile offensive lineman who is a bit high on the draft board to be a depth player. If selected, will he compete for the left tackle position?

And this Pac-10 quarterback, Bo Nix, is a depth player, who would be added to learn the offense in 2024. But if selected, you have to presume that he is the heir apparent to succeed after starting quarterback Matthew Stafford:

Michigan OL Karsen Barnhart met with the LA Rams at his pro day. Barnhart is incredibly versatile, having started at practically every offensive line position for the Wolverines sans center. Scouts also met with WR Rome Wilson as well (see defense section)

The Rams reportedly met with Florida State WR Ricky Pearsall. Persall has Rams offensive fit written all over him. If the LA Rams have concerns over All-Pro WR Cooper Kupp's successor, then you can bet they have a lot written up about Ricky Pearsall.

A very curious meeting took place between LA Rams scouts and Washington Huskies left tackle prospect Troy Fautanu. While the team did sign Alaric Jackson back for 2024, they may still be searching for the future heir for that blind side offensive tackle position. Outside of Notre Dame's Joe Alt, Troy Fautanu is considered by many to be a sure-fire success as an NFL left tackle. Is this the time to land one? Fautanu is projected as a Round 1 pick, and could fall to the Rams naturally at 19.

And the team continues to meet with players via Zoom. There is confirmation that the Rams have met with Washington Huskies offensive tackle for the secnd time.

The Rams are also rumored to have met with Alabama RB Jase McClellan. McClellan is a 5-foot-10 thumber who weighs 221 pounds. He has a solid blocking skill and a north-south no-nonsense running style that may not have the burst of a race car but has the traction of a Jeep. He is gifted as both a runner and a receiver. Even though he is projected to come off the draft board on Day 3, he has the versatility that makes him an ideal Rams running back prospect.

The Rams rumors continue to spin, this time over Notre Dame RB Audric Estime. Projected to be selected early in Day 3, many fans view this 5-foot-11 221-pound rushing prospect out of Notre Dame hearing his name called out much sooner. Esime had a productive college career, and showed steady development as both a runner and receiver. Unlike smaller runners who rely on elusiveness, Estime challengers would-be tacklers by running through them with a sadistic style that takes it's toll over the course of a fame.

The LA Rams are always on the lookout for versatile offensive linemen, and Auburn Tigers interior offensive lineman Avery Jones checks all of the boxes. Primarily viewed as a center, the 6-foot-4 317-pound offensive lineman can start in all three interior line positions, and could even stand in at offensive tackle in a pinch.

There will be more offensive players discussed as we draw closer to the 2024 NFL Draft. Now, what about that defense?

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.

Special Team specialists

The LA Rams will undoubtedly seek help for special teams during and after the 2024 NFL Draft. For now, I'm willing to go out on a limb and state that punter Ethan Evans and long snapper Alex Ward will have starting roles in 2024.

The Rams also took steps to ensure that they have competition on Day 1 of OTAs and training camp by signing former kicker Tanner Brown to a Reserve/Future contract. But that only ensures that the team has a kicker. It does nothing to guarantee that the team has their starting kicker for 2024.

The Rams special teams coaches turned out to watch Alabama kicker Will Reichard on his pro day. Reichard has both power and accuracy, which are what the team is looking for in a starting kicker in 2024. He is the fourth-ranked kicker in this draft class by BNBFootball.com. So far, he is the only placekicker that the team has met with.

The team can look for options in other football leagues as well.

So far, the team has a diverse group of positions that they have met before the 2024 NFL Draft. Stay tuned, as more names will appear in this pre-draft meeting tracker.

And thanks for reading.