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

Can the LA Rams restock the defensive roster in the 2024 NFL Draft to compensate for the loss of legendary All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald? Probably not. But, the team can use their 11 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft to carpet bomb the defensive front. With the right players, the right rotation, and the right coaching, the team can compensate enough to keep the success of 2023 rolling right on through 2024.

Unlike some mock drafts that presume that the favored targets that seem to fit the team's need and culture ought to be there, we presume that many of the best prospects for this culture will not be there. It's easy enough to replicate by using an online NFL Draft simulator. For this version of the mock draft, I used Pro Football Network's online draft simulator. To keep it as realistic as possible, I rejected all draft day trades.

To ensure that I would emerge with a draft that would help the team in the aftermath of Aaron Donald's retirement news, I prioritized the following:

• Defensive linemen
• Edge rushers
• Defensive backs
• Offensive skill players
• Offensive linemen
• Linebackers
• Special team specialists

Of course, just setting priorities do nothing once the draft begins. And it's safe to conclude that other NFL teams, knowing that the Rams front office would seek to replenish the pass rush, will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that the best pass rushers come off the board before the Rams have an opportunity to add them to the roster.

Still, this is a draft class that has plenty of talent. Fortunately, the LA Rams enter this draft with plenty of picks. If the team is as successful finding players who fit the team culture and scheme, 2024 could be a very successful season.

The post-Aaron Donald 2024 LA Rams mock draft

1. With the 19th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft
2. With the 52nd pick of the 2024 NFL Draft
3. With the 83rd pick of the 2024 NFL Draft
4. With the 99th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft
5. With the 154th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft
6. With the 155th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft
7. With the 196th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft
8. With the 209th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft
9. With the 213th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft
10. With the 217th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft
11. With the 254th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft
12. Summary

With the 19th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft

With the team searching for young and passionate pass rushers in the 2024 NFL Draft, the first step towards that goal is to select Jared Verse, edge rusher, out of Florida State. On some draft boards, Verse is a Top-10 prospect. On others, merely a Day 1 prospect. But on all draft boards, he is a passionate and formidable pass rusher who is more likely than not to get to opposing quarterbacks.

Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 258 pounds, he is the runner-up to UCLA's Laiatu Latu, and he may push past Latu on some boards. Because the 2024 NFL Draft is headlined by quarterbacks, offensive tackles, wide receivers, defensive backs, and even a tight end, edge rushers may not come off the board as early as some positions.

All of which plays right into the LA Rams hand.

Verse is a twitchy, overpowered pass rusher who has a complete arsenal of rush moves to get after the quarterback. And he does, putting up 9.0 quarterback sacks in each of his two seasons with the Seminoles. He does much of his damage behind the line of scrimmage, as he also average 15.0 tackles for a loss in the past two seasons.

"He really sees the game well and he has got the athleticism to go with it. I think he will be one of the best defensive players to come out of this draft."

NFL Executive

He has the size to bulk up, and that may be a wise option, as he will need to improve his durability to compete at a much more physical level over a long 17-game season. He will likely stay on the edge as an outside linebacker, but he does have the physicality and the refinement to have an excellent rookie season. Now, what about a defensive lineman?

With the 52nd pick of the 2024 NFL Draft

The LA Rams need a muscle man to slide into the defensive line and Ruke Orhorhoro, a defensive tackle out of Clemson, fits the bill nicely. He is another 6-foot-4 294-pound powerhouse whose performance at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine boosted his stock considerably.

He is still improving as a football player, which is why he falls to the Rams at 52. But he is strong, quick footed, has powerful club hands for a defensive tackle, and has a wide range of skillsets that allow him to slide anywhere on the three-man defensive line. He is quicker than fast, but keep in mind that he raced a 4.89-second 40-yard dash at the combine.

He has enough burst out of the blocks to put up a formidable pass rush from anywhere on the defensive front. That is an attribute that is critical for this defense to ensure adherence to.

Because the Rams have not had to face offenses without Aaron Donal for 10 years, there is going to be a lot of experimentation by mixing and matching to find an optimal blend of strength, pass rush, and containment. Complicating the matter is the fact that Chris Shula is the new Defensive Coordinator and Giff Smith is the new Defensive Line Coach.

Orhorhoro gives both new coaches not only a brick to assemble a solid wall, but his versatility allows them to use him as mortar to fill in spaces between the bricks. He can be an instant rotational player who can earn a great role as he grows in this defense and earns more defensive snaps.

With the 83rd pick of the 2024 NFL Draft

While the LA Rams need to address the defensive front, the team cannot turn a blind eye to the secondary. That is impossible to do when Khyree Jackson, a rising star at cornerback out of Oregon falls to the team at 83. He is a very promising young defensive back whose unique height, blended with great coverage skills, makes him the obvious choice at 83.

Jackson stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 194 pounds. He runs a 4.50-second 40-yard dash, and he has the size to neutralize NFL receivers and tight ends. So how does he fall to 83?

Khyree Jackson has just 14 starts throughout his NCAA career, which exposes him as a raw prospect who needs patience and coaching to fully develop his football acumen. Is it worth it? I think so. He has already demonstrated an understanding and ability to play cornerback at a high level. Now, he simply needs to do so more consistently.

While raw, Kyree Jackson is incredibly versatile and productive. In 2023, he recorded 34 tackles, five tackles for a loss, two quarterback sacks, three interceptions, and broke up seven passes. He would have had even more picks, but opposing quarterbacks quickly learned to throw away from him.

Jackson has an incredible feel for the game, and his talents amplify his instincts. As he gains experience and confidence, his ceiling is limitless.

With the 99th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft

The Rams may have addressed their secondary in free agency, but the team cannot resist a huge defensive back who falls to them at the 99th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. I am talking about Calen Bullock, a promising young safety out of nearby USC.

Callen Bullock is a 6-foot-2 188-pound safety who posses nearly elite pass coverage skills. With the addition of Kamren Curl, a physical enforcer-like safety to the Rams roster, Bullock is the perfect teammate to pair with him. He has many of the intangibles that the front office values in a rookie prospect. He has maturity, coachability, leadership, willingness to contribute however asked, and a tangible passion for the game.

He is quite adept at reading routes and quarterback's eyes, allowing him to pick off nine passes over three college seasons, two interceptions resulting in pick-sixes.

He is incredible in pass coverage, and can give the Rams secondary of playing single-high safety and inching Kamren Curl into the box. Bullock simply has pass defense down to a science. He has mastered zone, press, and man coverages and it shows up on game day on the football field.

He is not perfect, as his run defense is quite vulnerable. But he has the chops to be a competent slot corner, nickel or dime package defensive back, or simply to sit back and play centerfield.

He brings to the defense what they so desperately need, a deep defensive back who won't let the receiver get past him.

With the 154th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft

Until now, the Rams front office has been adding players who help the overall team, but none likely to slide in to fill the position that All-Pro DT Aaron Donald made famous. Well, Tyler Davis, a promising defensive tackle out of Clemson, does exactly that. Davis stands 6-foot-2, weighs 301 pounds, and has the versatility to play defensive tackle or nose tackle in the NFL.

He is a powerfully compact defensive lineman, but his athleticism is off the charts. His size and style will flash similarities to that of Aaron Donald, including natural leverage to get under the pads of offensive linemen, a quick burst to break free, and powerful tackling that simply does not let go one he gets the ball carrier.

He has all of the concerns that NFL scouts cited for Aaron Donald in 2014. Below average size. Short arms. Not ideal size for a defensive lineman. I don't think the Rams front office shares those concerns.

With the 155th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft

The best defense is a strong ball-control offense. That just so happens to be the forte of Isaac Guerendo, a powerful running back out of Louisville. He was a high-school track and field star, but at 6-foot-0 and 221 pounds, he is a strong-striding rusher who can move the chains on the ground as well as at the end of a pass. Despite his size, he has an impressive 4.33-second 40-yard dash time.

Guerendo is a versatile offensive weapon, and that makes him very dangerous under HC Sean McVay. He can run between the tackles, burst to the outside to attack the defensive perimeter, catch and go on pass plays out of the backfield, or stay back and pick up blitzing defenders.

He may not possess the powerful strides to break every tackle, but he put up 810 yards on the ground (6.1 YPC) and 11 rushing touchdowns for Louisville in 2023. He also caught 22 passes for 234 (10.6 YPR). The Rams have questions about their red zone offense in 2024. Isaac Guerendo can be part of the solution.

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.

With the 213th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft

The LA Rams have done an admirable job of restocking their secondary. But when the team finds Myles Harden, a promising cornerback out of South Dakota on the board at 213, the team cannot resist adding more defensive back competition to the secondary.

Myles Harden is a 5-foot-11 195-pound cornerback who has the right size and attitude to contribute right out of the games in 2024. He fought through injuries in both 2021 and 2022 college seasons, but continued to improve and develop in 2023. In four college seasons, Harden recorded 143 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, 1.0 quarterback sack, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, broke up 26 passes, and picked off six passes.

He is versatile, and could earn defensive snaps as a slt corner or nickel-back early in 2024. He is solid in both run and pass defense, and is willing to creep in and play in the box.

With the 217th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft

While the team has a full quarterback room, the lessons learned with Aaron Donald's retirement remind the team that they must fully develop a succession plan for all veteran players. With that in mind, the team invests a Round 6 pick into a rookie, Sam Hartman, a promising quarterback out of Notre Dame.

Hartman is a 6-foot-1 211-pound mobile quarterback who threatens defenses with both his arm and his legs. In 2023 at Notre Dame, Hartman completed 191 of 301 passes for 2,689 passing yards, and 24 touchdowns to just eight interceptions. He also rushed 45 times for 123 yards and three touchdowns.

He adds improvisation to any offense, the dimension that makes starting QB Matthew Stafford so effective in the offense. Despite being mobile, he moves in the pocket to extend plays while keeping eyes trained downfield. He has the ability to make all NFL throws anywhere in the football field. He is a great option for this offense, as he brings the ability to bootleg and threaten defenses with his legs as well.

With the 254th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft

In Round 7, the team finally addresses the need for a placekicker. It comes down to Arkansas kicker Cam Little or Stanford kicker Joshua Karty. In this mock draft scenario, Cam Little is already off the board, so the pick falls to Joshua Karty.

He is a powerful kicker who also has impressive accuracy. Karty is considered the top kicker in the 2024 NFL Draft by several sites. He is the top dog because he has tremendous power, admirable accuracy, and has enough savvy to handle on-side kicks.

Rookie kickers are no sure-thing. But Karty will up the competitiveness to the next level in the search for the 2024 starting kicker.

Summary

So how did the Rams do in this draft? While they did not add any wide receivers, you have to be pleased with the teams ability to add four talented prospects to the team's defesnive front, plus three solid defensive backs.

• Jared Verse, Edge rusher, Florida State (19)
• Ruke Orhorhoro, Defensive tackle, Clemson (52)
• Kyree Jackson, Cornerback, Oregon (83)
• Calen Bullock, Safety, USC (99)
• Tyler Davis, Defensive tackle, Clemson (154)
• Isaac Guerendo, Running back, Louisville (155)
• Brennan Jackson, Edge rusher, Washingon State (196)
• Tip Reiman, Tight end, Illinois (209)
• Myles Harden, Cornerback, South Dakota (213)
• Sam Hartman, Quarterback, Notre Dame (217)
• Joshua Karty, Kicker, Stanford (254)

Of course, this is simply one of any number of scenarios that cand occur in the 2024 NFL Draft. But withe the offense all but set, the team has a great deal of flexibility to let the draft board fall to them naturally.

Thanks for reading.