Rams Group I feature: Is a 2nd Kobie Turner hiding in 2024 NFL Draft?

Do LA Rams fans truly appreciate the miraculous season that rookie NT Kobie Turner gave the team in 2023? This was a young man who appeared in all 17 games, but who only started four. He competed in just 697 defensive snaps, which worked out to just 62 percent of the defensive action. But even in that somewhat limited role, he was devastatingly effective.

Turner tied the rookie record of All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald with 9.0 quarterback sacks. But Donald played 10 more defensive snaps in 2014. Turner racked up 57 tackles, 16 quarterback hits, eight tackles for a loss, and even had two pass deflections. Donald had 48 tackles, 13 quarterback hits, 18 tackles for a loss, one pass deflection, and two forced fumbles in 2014.

I don't think that it's out of the question to compare the two players and even hope that Turner can take a huge step forward in his second NFL season, much like Aaron Donald did in 2015. But even as the team prepares for a larger role on the defense for The Conductor in 2024, who will come in to bolster the defensive line rotation to even higher heights? The team needs playmakers on the defensive line of scrimmage.

But this is all about the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, and we want to talk about prospects who, at first glance, may offer this team another diamond in the rough to target on Day 2 of this draft. After all, there are a total of 321 invitations to the event, and 49 defensive linemen this year. Do any appear to have similar potential as Wake Forest NT Kobie Turner held in 2023? Let's take a look: