Latest LA Rams Mock Draft plays the numbers game to address vital needs

Even now, as LA Rams fans await news of who may be signed to the roster and for how much via the 2024 NFL Free Agency market, a bigger onramp to this team waits on the horizon. The 2024 NFL Draft waits for the team to select 11 choice rookie prospects to the team.

When the LA Rams step up on Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft, the team will have more options than you might imagine. Whether your preference with that first selection is offense or defense, there will be prospects on the draft board that some will swear to being truly game-changing rookies. If there is a run on quarterbacks early in the draft, the number of key contributors at other positions may be overwhelming.

But there is an inherent risk no matter what the Rams do on Day 1.

There will be opportunity costs in the 2024 NFL Draft. As the team makes their selections, or trades, the opportunity to select alternative prospects may frustrate some fans who strongly supported a specific player. But judging a draft too soon is no more accurate than judging a cake by viewing the ingredients at the grocer's checkout counter.

A draft should not be judged too quickly. A free agency effort should not be graded immediately after contracts are signed. The proof in that pudding comes after players showcase what they can do on a football field months later. There will be OTAs, training camp, and preseason games that will serve as checkpoints along the way.

NFL teams are best assessed after the NFL Draft by assessing how the team had managed to address roster needs in terms of depth and competition. And the draft is co-dependant with free agency, as both events serve to add talent to the roster.

So, what might the LA Rams have up their metaphorical sleeve in the 2024 NFL Draft

LA Rams mock draft

1. Round 1: With the 19th pick
2. Round 2: With the 52nd pick
3. Round 3: With the 83rd pick - Trade
4. Round 3: With the 98th pick
5. Round 4: With the 108th pick (from Falcons)
6. Round 5: With the 142nd pick (from Falcons)
7. Round 5: With the 153rd pick - Trade
8. Round 5: With the 154th pick
9. Round 5: With the 169th pick (from Saints)
10. Round 6: With the 189th pick - (from Saints)
11. Round 6: With the 195th pick
12. Round 6: With the 209th pick
13. Round 6: With the 213th pick
14. Round 6: With the 217th pick
15. Round 7: With the 254th pick
16. Summing it all up

Round 1: With the 19th pick

The LA Rams select CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson. While the team has a promising young edge rusher in OLB Byron Young, and an even more promising nose tackle in Kobie Turner, the secondary is still searching for young stars to light up opposing quarterbacks. That is not to say that the young quartet of Russ Yeast, Quentin Lake, Derion Kendrick and Cobie Durant have not flashed significant promise.

They have.

But with the exit-stage left of veterans Jordan Fuller, Ahkello Witherspoon, and John Johnson III, the team will need to act quickly and decisively to restore the secondary to 2023 performance levels, let alone bolster the pass defense to that of an NFL Championship team.

I believe that will be the primary focus in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft. It makes complete sense, as Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft is loaded with top-tier defensive backs, all of whom can be viewed as cornerstones to reforming an elite NFL secondary. In this mock draft, Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell is already off the board, but Clemson's star cornerback Nate Wiggins is available. The team wasts no time selecting the 6-foot-1 173-pound defensive back.

While Wiggins' weight may jump out at you, rest assured that he is a dynamic defensive back who can infuse secondary heroics into the team's pass defense. He is blessed with incredible speed, as documented by his 4.28-second 40-time at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

He is a defensive coordinator's dream defender. He is tall enough to handle big receivers, fast enough to stay near even the fastest receivers, and he is fearless. He has great technique, and his production is off the charts. He even has two pick-sixes under his belt, a trait that he will undoubtedly look to improve on in the NFL.

He has every skillset to flourish in the NFL, but is not quite a DAWG mentality. But that is perfectly suited for Rams DB coach Aubrey Pleasant, whose own DAWG mindset quickly infects his players. Wiggins could emerge as a true NFL shutdown cornerback. I love his value, and what he adds to the secondary.

Round 2: With the 52nd pick

The LA Rams select DT Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson. While it's unusual for the team to target the same college in successive picks, Ruke Orhorhoro is too good to resist in the second round. Orhorhoro is a versatile defensive lineman, and a wonder new face to a defensive line who will be led by DL Coach Giff Smith.

Orhorhoro is a player who can line up practically anywhere on the team's defensive front, allowing the defensive line rotation to change throughout the season to ensure that the best players are rested and in the best position to make an impact. A nose tackle/defensive tackle by trade, the 6-foot-4, 294-pound Orhorhoro is a long-armed nightmare for offensive coordinators.

Because he is so versatile, he can sub in at any position, while giving the team a powerful fire-hydrant-like option for goal line and short-yardage scenarios. Though tall, he has great instincts at leverage, getting under an offensive lineman's pads and giving him the advantage at the point of attack.

Building a better pass rush is not just about the edge. The Rams defense necessitates one outside linebacker take coverage duties, so drafting an edge rusher simply means that rookie, or Byron Young, are covering the flat. WIth a player like Orhorhoro, you get pure pass rush boost.

Two picks and two defenders. When will the LA Rams turn to the offensive side of the football?

Round 3: With the 83rd pick - Trade

In the middle of Round 3, the team finally trades back to fill the hole caused by no picks in Round 4. And so, the LA Rams accept a trade with the Atlanta Falcons, accepting picks 108 and 142 for pick 83. While some fans may expect the team to trade back sooner, to add more picks in Round 3, that scenario takes a trade partner who is willing to shed picks in Round 3 to move up in the draft.

That scenario never developed in this mock draft simulator.

Round 3: With the 98th pick

The LA Rams select TE Cade Stover, Ohio State. With so much uncertainty surround the team's tight end room, the front office squelches all concerns with a pick in Round 3. While the team is optimistic about second-year tight end Davis Allen, the health of starting TE Tyler Higbee, and the durability of TE Hunter Long throw a wrench into the team's OTAs and training camp at the tight end position.

The team needs more tight ends, and Cade Stover is a good one.

Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 247 pounds, Stover is a sturdy and surprisingly agile receiver. He checks all of the boxes for earning playing time in this offense, possessing the ability to run crisp routes, a willing and effective blocker, and can add plenty of yards after the catch.

Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect in Stover's arsenal is his ability to morph into an elusive ball carrier to avoid tackles from big-bodied defenders, coupled with his ability to lower the pads and punish would-be defensive back tacklers. He is a clutch receiver, one who can succeed in making contested catches, and a solid option to help improve this offense in red zone scenarios.

Round 4: With the 108th pick (from Falcons)

The LA Rams select Edge Austin Booker, Kansas. Some prospects are chosen sooner than expected, while others fall without explanation. 6-foot-5, 240-pound edge rusher Austin Booker is among the latter category. He is projected as a Round 3 prospect but falls to the Rams in Round 4.

Booker is a rare combination of limitless potential mixed with very limited action (he played 505 defensive snaps). In his one and only season with Kansas, he played 12 games and recorded 56 tackles and 12.0 tackles for a loss, 8.0 quarterback sacks. two forced fumbles, and one pass deflection. Because he is so tall, he is a natural for the position, His long arms create a huge radius to deny passes from reaching their targets. And his long-arm-of-the-law allow him to reach the quarterback with an outstretched arm as he turns the corner.

Yes, he is raw. He will need to learn discipline at setting the edge. He will need to muscle up in the gym to give himself better body armer to endure a 17-game NFL season. But, he is truly blessed with tremendous size and instincts. He could surprise everyone in 2024.

Round 5: With the 142nd pick (from Falcons)

The LA Rams select S Malik Mustapha, Wake Forest. After adding a top-tier cornerback in Round 1, the team needs to bolster the back end of their defense. and in the early stretch in Round 5, the front office does exactly that. The team loved what Wake Forest NT Kobie Turner brought in 2023, and hopes that Malik Mustapha can do the same in 2024. And he might.

Mustapha is a 5-foot-10, 209-pound defensive back who looks the part who walks the walk. He is a muscle-bound bully in the defensive backfield, having added over 20+ pounds of muscle during his college football days. He is a perfect fit for Coach Aubrey Pleasant's secondary.

Mustapha is a fearless, powerful young man who reminds me of the WWE wrestler Ivan Putski, the Polish Hammer. Not blessed with heigh, Mustapha has compensated by hitting the weight room, and is undoubtedly one of the most athletic DBs in this rookie class. But can he defend the pass?

In a word, Yes.

He will need to refine his anticipation, as he sometimes bites on double moves and pump fakes. But, he hits like a ton of bricks. If you liked what former Rams DB Nick Scott did, you will love Malik Mustapha

Round 5: With the 153rd pick - Trade

With two successive picks in Round five, the LA Rams accept a trade with the New Orleans Saints for picks 169 and 189. that gives the team an additional pick, plus ensure that the team can select a player they want at this point in the NFL Draft

Round 5: With the 154th pick

The LA Rams select Edge Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian. Sometimes, the more the merrier. For the LA Rams edge position, more competition makes new Defensive Coordinator Chros Shula ecstatic. He knows that the team needs help at getting after opposing quarterbacks. Small school prospect Jalyx Hunt may not be a household name, but he bring a big standard of play and production to the team.

Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 252 pounds, Hunt is another long-limbed pass rusher who can add a unique and highly covetted dimension to the Rams defense. You see, Hunt is a former safety who simply outgrew the position. But as such, he brings tremendous coverage skills to the outside linebacker role.

His size is only a sample of the treats that Jalyx Hunt brings. He is surprisingly stout in run defense but possesses Kobie Turner-like agility at shooting gaps and making tackles for a loss or even sacking opposing quarterbacks. When targeted, quarterback ratings fell to 42.9. That's elite stuff.

His presence allows the Rams to turn OLB Byron Young loose on the quarterback. I think he is a steal here.

Round 5: With the 169th pick (from Saints)

The LA Rams select DL/Edge Justin Eboigbe, Alabama. While the NFL has learned to adapt to hybrid-type players, they have not seen a player quite like this yet.

Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 297 pounds, you might think that Justin Eboigbe is simply a typical defensive lineman. But he isn't, which makes him so challenging and yet so promising at the same time. You see, he is avery athletic for his size, and that allows him to do things that he should not be able to do. Much like NT Kobie Turner, he can handle the job at nose tackle despite his size, because he is powerful and agile enough to get the advantage at first contact.

He pushes offensive lineman back when he cranks up his bull rush, and that could persuade quarterbacks to panic and rush into Aaron Donald, Kobie Turner, or even Byron Young. He is a true #DAWGWORK disciple, a player who simply works hard with each drill, expecting the results to show up on game day. And they do. Justin Eboigbe may not pop on every NFL team's radar, but thanks to the success of Turner in 2023, the Rams will love adding him.

Round 6: With the 189th pick - (from Saints)

The LA Rams select QB Joe Milton, Tennessee. After debating and deliberating over who would be the Rams' backup quarterback, did the team find their hurler of the future? Perhaps. So why would the team select the 6-foot-5, 235-pound quarterback prospect out of Tennessee if he is not a certain NFL starting quarterback?

Joe Milton simply does things that no other quarterback in this rookie class can do. And he is an ideal size for durability at the position. Yes, he has weaknesses, but those are all coachable. Best of all, Joe Milton needs to sit behind a veteran quarterback, be mentored, and be coached up into a successful NFL starting quarterback.

Joe Milton makes too much sense for the team in Round 6, and could be tremendous value here. The team needs a big bodied hurler who can cover the backup quarterback position for the next few years. Millton can not only do that, but over time, he could be one of the best quarterbacks from the 2024 NFL Draft class.

Round 6: With the 195th pick

The LA Rams select ILB Curtis Jacobs, Penn State. The team needs a new face to pair up with veteran ILB Ernest Jones, and Curtis Jacobs is ideally suited to settle in at the heart of this defense. There is a reason that Penn State is known as Linebacker University, and Jacobs is a throwback to the glory days of the Nittany Lions linebackers. Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 241-pounds, this hard-hitting thumper does everything well enough for the position to become an NFL starter.

He has great instincts, a nose for the football, even in heavy traffic, and loves to tackle. Even as the NFL has become a sport of track stars, Jacobs is an old-school football player whose best performances are in pads on a football field. He loves the game, and the game loves him.

And Rams fans will love that.

Round 6: With the 209th pick

The LA Rams select TE Dallin Holker, Colorado State. With the exodus of TE Brycen Hopkins, the Rams pick up a huge target pass-catching tight end who will become the player that the team envisioned Hopkins to be. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 241-pounds, Holker is a combination of Hopkins pass catching with WR Ben Skowronek's physicality, versatility, and blocking ability.

Utimately, the team finds a suitable replacement for two 53-man rostered players in Round 6. That is a huge win for the team then and there. But we're just getting started.

Holker has jaw-dropping route-running skills for a tight end, and brings something that this team loves to see in receivers, the ability to pile up plenty of yards after the catch. More than that, Holker has an incredible knack for clutch catches, whether that means moving the chains or putting up six points on the scoreboard in the red zone. He could restore the team's use of 12-personnel packages, as he is a solid slot receiver as well.

Round 6: With the 213th pick

The LA Rams select RB Dillon Johnson, Washington. The team may have extended RB Ronnie Rivers, but Rivers is so closely identical to feature RB Kyren Williams, he is simply an inexpensive understudy. And the Rams still have second-year running back Zach Evans, a player who never seemed to get much work in 2023 despite the opportunity to do so.

The team goes a bit bigger at the position in this draft by adding 6-foot-0, 217-pound running back Dillon Johnson in Round 6. Johnson is a tough, physical runner who thrives with a heavy workload. is durable, and loves to lower his pads and blow through tackles. He is a north-south runner, and adds great value as a receiver out of the backfield as well. Much like veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, the training staff will need to force Johnson to the sidelines after injury. This young man loves to compete.

He is perfectly suited to be the team's short-yardage red-zone runner in 2024. If he does well, that role can expand in 2025.

Round 6: With the 217th pick

The LA Rams select S Sione Vaki, Utah. You have no doubt read about Utah safety Cole Bishop, but this is the other guy. Standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 210 pounds, Vaki makes a solid addition to any secondary. He is willing to do whatever is asked of him, and is a great special teamer on coverage units.

Much like outgoing Rams safety Jordan Fuller, Vaki has a 'too slow to be good,' reputation that is unlikely to hold water as far as the Rams are concerned. He is good at anticipating where the quarterback wants to go with the football, reading the QB's eyes and diagnosing the routes. He has some coverage chops too, as he is football-quick and can turn quickly.

Vaki may not win a starting role instantly, but he is excellent depth and will make a roster spot from his ability to play on special teams.

Round 7: With the 254th pick

The LA Rams select K Cam Little, Arkansas. There is no secret that this team needs to address the kicker position, even with the return of Tanner Brown on a Reserve/Future contract. He made 53 of 64 field goals, and 2023 was his best ever with an 83.3 percent success. His longest kick of the 2023 season was 56 yards against Ole Miss. He kicked 33 of 33 extra point attempts and made four field goals of at least 50 yards.

We had scouted Cam Little after his 2024 NFL Scouting Combine performance, and believe that he makes sense to be selected in Round 7.

Summing it all up

While the outcome of the draft may not have addressed every roster position, the Rams front office did address a wide assortment of positions that reinforce the Rams roster in their primary positions, but also have the secondary potential to aid special teams as well.

While the team does not add a wide receiver in this mock draft, the team does pick up two very promising tight ends. And the rookie class is so deep at the wide receiver position that there could be contributing players added after the draft as well.

Offense (4)

• Two tight ends
• One quarterback
• One running back

Defense (8)

• Three defensive backs
• One defensive lineman
• Three edge rushers
• One linebacker

Special Teams (1)

• One kicker

The team enters the draft with 11 picks and emerges with 13 rookies. That's a huge haul for the LA Rams rookie class of 2024, and many of these prospects have an ideal fit, plenty of football passion, and solid potential to start or contribute this year.

While it does not address nor 'fix' everything, no single draft should be expected to do so. Best of all, this rookie class not only bolsters the offense and defense, but does a fine job of shoring up the ranks on special teams as well.

Thanks for reading.