Rams 7-round 2024 NFL Mock Draft after Aaron Donald retires

With the 196th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft

Have the LA Rams addressed their pass rush to your satisfaction yet? Well, the front office is not done, as they add Brennan Jackson, a talented edge rusher out of Washington State next. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 264 pounds, Jackson is a highly productive pass rusher who could be an incredible rookie on the defensive front.

He is versatile enough to rush from a two-point or a three-point stance. While he will likely platoon with other outside linebackers, I believe that with minimal time in the weight room, he could add the 10-15 pounds needed to play as a defensive end as well. So how effective is he?

In his final two seasons at Washington State, he put up 24.5 tackles for a loss, 14.5 quarterback sacks, 98 tackles, broke up six passes, forced two fumbles, recovered four fumbles and returned three of those fumbles for touchdowns. He is a passionate, all-out hustle type of player whose stamina is such that he will continue to threaten opposing quarterbacks until the final whistle.

He oozes NFL starter, despite falling so far.

With the 209th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft

There is a passionate enclave of Rams fans who insist on drafting Tip Reiman, a promising tight end out of Illinois, and in this mock draft, the stars align and he falls to the team at 209. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 271 pounds, he has the appearance of a lean offensive tackle. With his size, he will certainly be expected to block in the NFL.

But he offers so much more.

He was a walk-on for Illinois who ascended to become team captain (The Rams front office loves those type of players). Because he is so large, you may think that he simply leans into defenders. But Reiman has a bit of junkyard-dog nastiness when blocking, which will impress his coaches.

If the Rams seek a blocking tight end, Reiman is a bullseye.

But he has enough pass-catching skills to ensure that he is a three-dimensional offensive player. He has caught 41 passes for 420 yards and five touchdowns in three college seasons, which may not put him on display as an elite pass catcher, but proves that he can be an offensive weapon when asked.

He even has the ability to return kickoffs. With a 4.64-second 40-yard dash speed, just imagine a 271-pound ball carrier lumbering kickoff returns. That makes him worth adding to the team on that alone.