LA Rams have a real chance to win the NFC West in 2024

The LA Rams certainly did not look the part in 2023 after a slow 3-6 start to the season, but the team managed to get very hot to finish the season at 10-7, good enough for second place in the NFC West Division. Better still, the Rams finished with a divisional record of 5-1, which was tied with the San Francisco 49ers for the best of the NFC West. Now, what happens in 2024?

Even as the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers face off in Super Bowl LVIII, the future of either team is far from decided. And it's that uncertainty of their futures that could open the door for the Rams to take over as NFC West Champion once more.

I believe that the Rams have a real chance to win the NFC West Division in 2024, and here's why.

III: Rams won their last game against the San Francisco 49ers

Whether it was played with starters, backup, or simply votes from earnest NFL fans, the fact is that the Rams finally stopped their horrendous regular season losing streak to the San Francisco 49ers. Some try to discount the meaning of the game by claiming that the Rams played against the 49ers backups. That is only partially true.

The Rams sat at least seven starters to open that game and sat even more starters as the game progressed. The 49ers only sat two starters to open the game and never sat more starters than the Rams throughout. Many backups who played for both teams will be counted on to start in the future.

While rosters and coaches can change, and likely will, history cannot. By winning, the team showed dominance over the entire NFC West. Now, that momentum carries over into 2024.

II: Rams roster will perform much better in 2024

The LA Rams drafted three starters from the 2023 NFL Draft with their first three picks, all from Day 2. Then the team added at least two more starter on Day 3. While records fell from their first year in the NFL, it would be myopic to believe that they will not perform even better in their encore in 2024. Plus, there are those players who showed promise in 2023, but will put everything together to earn a starting or significant starting role in 2024.

This roster, before new faces arrive, is already in position to compete this season. The front office need only to fill in the potholes that showed in 2023, plus upgrade the team in a few key positions, and this team could be a Super Bowl LIX winner. But let's settle for NFC West Division Champs for now

I: Rams are runner up in draft picks for 2024 NFL Draft

When it comes to the 2024 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals continue to boast the top number and value of picks in the upcoming draft. Per Tankathon, they have 13 picks, valued at a robust 1,472.0 relative index. At the moment, they project the Rams to have 10 draft pick assets valued at 823.3, while the San Francisco 49ers boast 11 draft picks valued at 858.5.

But Tankathon has not yet recognized that the LA Rams are due to receiver an awarded compensatory pick in Round 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, thanks to the Rooney Rule amendment of losing DC Raheem Morris to become the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, That comp pick is projected to be awarded as the 100th pick of the draft, which coincidentally holds a value of 100 per the draft value chart.

That additional pick will place the team's total picks at a relative value of approximately 920 while suppressing the 49ers picks value to about 850. The Seattle Seahawks make up the NFC West Division with draft picks valued at approximately 702.9. While that is not a guarantee of drafting success, the Rams front office has to be favored to win the NFC West after their crushing success in 2023.

Too optimistic? The Rams skyrocketed from a 5-12 season to 10-7 on the backs of rookies and no money to spend. Now that conditions are far more favorable for success, I'm simply connecting the dots. Do you want to join me?

And thanks for reading.