Rams Mock Draft: Les Sneads loads up roster with play-makers

With the 254th pick

. . . the LA Rams select Kristian Boyd, defensive end, out of Northern Iowa.

It only seems fitting that the team who has a track record of finding small school defensive end like Colorado State-Pueblo DE Morgan Fox and Weber State DE Jonah Williams should continue that streak by selecting another small school defensive end, this time Northern Iowa's DE Kristian Boyd.

Boyd is a 6-foot-4, 314-pound Titan-sized defensive lineman who could bring immediate playing time to this defensive line. Not all worthy prospects are invited to compete at the annual NFL Scouting Combine, and this year Kristian Boyd was snubbed. He has the size and versatility to line up anywhere on the 3-4 defensive line, but he has experience at playing the 1-tech and 3-tech:

Similar to draft profiles of NT Kobie Turner, many draft scouts love to tamp down optimism in their assessment of Boyd with that phrase: "He can . . . but . . ." which pretty much negates all of the positive accolades stated.

He is big, strong, and powerful. He can routinely win one on ones at the line of scrimmage, and has better than even odds of double teams. In 49 college games, he put up 149 tackles, 22.5 tackles for a loss, 10.5 quarterback sacks, and he broke up five pass plays and forced two fumbles.

While he has the versatility to play anywhere, I believe that the Rams can project him as a defensive end in their defense. He is very much large-and-in-charge, but is not quite as capable of stuffing the run against double teams as other players.

Summary

Okay, so how did the team do in this mock draft? While the secondary did not get top billing, the roster certainly added a busload of talented players, many of who can deliver in their rookie season.

1. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
2. Kris Jenkins, DL, Michigan
3. Austin Booker, Edge, Kansas
4. Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina
5. Renardo Green, CB, Florida State
6. Malik Washington, WR, Virginia
7. Jalyx Hunt, Edge, Houston Baptist
8. Joe Milton, QB, Tennessee
9. Zion Tupulo-Fetui, Edge, Washington
10. Isaiah Davis, RB, South Dakota State
11. Kristian Boyd, DL, Northern Iowa

Still, if you wanted a bit more, don't forget that the team can sign undrafted prospects after the drart as well. In fact, here are 10 priority FA signings after the 2024 NFL Draft: