LA Rams pre-2023 NFL Draft meeting tracker

Meeting X: Edge Adetomiwa Adebawore - March 18, 2023

If you believe some 2023 NFL Draft projections, then you will wonder why the LA Rams would talk to Northwestern's versatile defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore. The truth of the matter is that the LA Rams defensive line depth chart is pretty barren right now, and Adebawore is the type of versatile and athletic defensive lineman who some project as a Day 1 starter right out of the gates.

He is a player who offers a ton of NFL upside, and you know full well that Rams DL Coach Eric Henderson would love to coach this young man. If you were excited about Calijah Kancey, you will fall out of your chair over this guy. He is a NFL doppelganger of LA Rams All-Pro DL Aaron Donald, but in rookie form:

The draft profile of the young man struggles to project him into the NFL, due to his less-than-prototypical size. But make no mistake, he is a player who could have an Aaron Donald-like NFL career.

Adebawore has the speed of an edge rusher but curiously does his best damage at defensive tackle, where he beats offensive guards with his lightning-fast moves on his way to taking down the quarterback. Better yet, while he applies incredible pressure on quarterbacks from an interior defensive line position, he is very good at run defense as well. So why might he fall to the Rams?

He is raw, a young player who some draft profiles cite as needing to clean up his tackling. The other problem is that his size and strength are tough to position for NFL defensive positions. If he is a defensive tackle, you lose his ability to optimize his speed and agility. If you play him at defensive end, you pit him against more formidable offensive tackles. If you play him as outside lineback, you commit him to pass defense on occasion.

Meeting XI: TE Luke Schoonmaker - Mar. 18, 2023

There is a widespread belief among NFL analysts and Rams fans that this team continues to seek help at the tight end position. Even though the LA Rams just acquired new tight end Hunter Long, the tams has not exactly been getting maximum production out of the position. Tight end Tyler Higbee suffered regression in 2022, and the team continues to await the breakout season of tight end Brycen Hopkins, now in his fourth and likely final season with the team.

And so, the latest Rams rumored pre-draft meeting will certainly place a smile on some fans' faces. It seems that the Rams held a meeting with Michigan tight end Luke Schoonmaker, a 6-foot-5 251-pound tight end who could certainly hear his name called by the Rams during the 2023 NFL Draft.

Truthfully, this young man is ideally suited for the LA Rams offense. He excels at blocking, has a full spectrum route tree option at his disposal, and has the size to put on about 10-15 pounds of muscle to ensure no durability concerns in the NFL.

So why is he projected to fall to Day 3? Well, he knows a sophisticated route tree, but he needs to refine his use of them all. He does not have the type of strength that you would expect a player of his size to possess, so he will need to hit the weight room to bulk up.

As is the case for many NCAA tight ends, his production does not compare to that of college wide receivers. But he did catch 54 passes for 637 yards and seven touchdowns in three seasons, and each season showing significant improvement over the previous year. If he is there when the LA Rams select on Day 3, I would be shocked if the Rams do not call out his name.

Meeting XII: Edge Will McDonald IV - March 21, 2023

If you want the LA Rams to select an edge rusher with the 36th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, you may be in luck, as the Rams do tend to make plenty of time to meet with and discuss football with some of the top outside linebackers in the 2023 NFL Draft class. Their latest meeting is Iowa State's OLB Will McDonald IV, and there is a lot to like about this guy.

For starters, he is 6-foot-four and 239 pounds, although he has the frame to put on about 10 more pounds of muscle. His Pro Day workout stunned the spectators, and the only negative comment heard was that he was too fast for his body at times.

Will McDonald will not fall far in the NFL Draft, as he is currently generating a lot of buzz and was already projected to be selected in the middle of Round 2. He was quite popular at the event, getting requests to meet with as many as 16 official requests for visits before the 2023 NFL Draft.

He won't be able to meet with every team that has shown interest.

Will McDonald is an athletic wonder, a true football prospect who shows the promise of a potential All-Pro NFL career if all the dominos fall the right way. He has the complete arsenal of pass-rush moves and a sneaky low bend that allows him to pivot on a dime. He is still a bit raw, and will need time to learn when to rush when to set the edge and contain, and when to shed blockers and stuff the run. If you wanted a rookie edge rusher to build a 2024 contender, then Will McDonald IV is your guy.