Rams rookies will astound fans with competitiveness in mini-camp

Defense (15)

The LA Rams did address the team's secondary in the offseason. But compared to over aspects of the team, the need to bolster the pass rush, and the loss of two starters on the defensive front who accounted for 1500 defensive snaps, the front seven on the defense had to be viewed as a significant need in this draft.

The loss of two starters, coupled with the huge chasm left behind on the roster filled by All-Pro DT Aaron Donald was a black hole of gravity that was no easy fix. The strategy employed by the team's personnel department to address the need with young rookies is a curious one. But the team did manage to land the best defender in the rookie class of 2023 in Kobie Turner. Could the team double down in 2024 and achieve the same results?

Defensive linemen (5)

• Defensive tackle Braden Fiske (39th overall)
• Defensive tackle Tyler Davis (196th overall)
• Defensive end Anthony Goodlow (UDFA)
• Defensive lineman Tuli Letuligasenoa (UDFA)
• Defensive tackle David Olajiga (UDFA)

It was clear that the LA Rams front office recognized the need to replenish the depleted ranks of defensive linemen in 2024. Having failed to add players before the draft, the team may no bones about their focus and have added five defensive linemen both during and after the 2024 NFL Draft.

Much fuss has been made over the team's willingness to pay a high premium to move up from 52 to 39 in Round 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft. But the team needed to ensure a starter on the defensive line who had the potential to have as productive of a season as NT Kobie Turner accomplished in 2023, and Braden Fiske was their guy all along. At the end of the day, the Rams front office landed their target.

Keep in mind that the team boasted just DT Cory Durden (Reserve), DT Larrell Murchison, NT Bobby Brown III, NT Kobie Turner, and DE Desjuan Johnson on the roster before the draft. Now the team has doubled that number. As a result, I could see multiple defensive linemen from the group making the team, perhaps as many as three earning their way onto the team's 53-man active roster.