LA Rams draft needs, hit rates, and when should Rams pick a QB?

The LA Rams have a perplexing and difficult challenge as the team embarks on turning the corner after a Week 10 BYE to attempt crawling out of a 3-6 record back to .500 or better football. But the downside of failing to turn the corner and get hot in the 2023 NFL season could mean that the LA Rams have a solid bank of draft picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.

As of today, November 17, 2023, the LA Rams are projected to hold ten draft picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, with the team's first pick appearing in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft, potentially as the seventh overall pick of the draft.

Which leads us to the topic of discussion. When should the LA Rams target a franchise quarterback? Or, on a larger topic, which positions in the NFL are more dependant upon when that player is chosen in an NFL Draft?

Rams only have one pick in Round 1

After all, you could make a compelling argument for the LA Rams to draft a quarterback, left tackle, edge rusher, shutdown cornerback, tight end, wide or even a stout interior defensive lineman in terms of positions of need for the Rams right now. But even with the Rams first pick in Round 1 since the team hired head coach Sean McVay, the Rams only hold three of the Top 100 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft.

So the Rams must prioritize which position to address, knowing that all other positions will suffer as the Rams front office will address those positions later in the draft, from an ever shrinking pool of talent.

Isn't that what makes it all a challenge after all? Rams fans are as limited as the LA Rams. But that does not stop anyone from fixating on a prospect as the annual NFL Draft approaches, comepletely disregarding the obvious fact of who may be selected before the Rams step up to the podium. And fans tend to recall the prospects that were hits, while instantly forgetting those prospects who were not instant successes. But there is one more problem. What is the definition of 'hitting,' on draft picks, anyway?

What are the right positions for the Rams to target early in the 2024 NFL Draft?

1. What is the criteria for a draft hit?
2. Which positions are more likely to hit on Day 1?
3. What happens to those positions that must wait for Day 2?