Summing up the most likely projected comp picks awarded to LA Rams in 2024

For the first time in a very long time, and for the first time since the LA Rams hired head coach Sean McVay to lead the Rams team, the Rams are finally looking at owning a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. While that in itself is worth a focused article by itself, the Rams currently own seven draft picks in that draft.

The only round in the 2023 NFL Draft that the Rams do not possess a pick in turns out to be Round 7. That is due to the fact that the LA Rams traded ILB Kenny Young and a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Denver Broncos for their 2024 sixth-round pick

As a result, the Rams have picks in each of the first six rounds in the 2024 NFL Draft, plus a second pick in the sixth round. That is a complete change of roster building strategy if the Rams keep all their draft picks, but that is only the starting point. You see, the LA Rams have enough data about their 2023 NFL Free Agency market experience to make some reliable projections in terms of the compensatory draft picks that are likely to be awarded to the LA Rams for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Projected awarded 2024 compensatory picks

The algorithms that are used to determine the value of awarded compensatory picks has not been shared, but we know enough about how the car runs to ignore how to build the engine. Teams are limited to a maximum of four compensatory draft picks due to the loss of free agents. When those picks fall is always at the end of each round, beginning with Round 3 of the NFL Draft. And the round of an awarded compensatory draft pick is further determined by the annual value of the contract signed by a player.

While there is no official awarding of compensatory picks until the NFL owners meeting at the start of a new NFL year, there is enough of a database to project awarded compensatory picks with some degree of confidence. Using past trends and the LA Rams' 2023 free agency, we concluded that the LA Rams are likely to be awarded four compensatory picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.

2 Round 6, 2 Round 7 comp picks

We formed that projection based on the value of contracts signed by K Matt Gay to the Indianapolis Colts and QB Baker Mayfield who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Each should trigger an award of a sixth-round compensatory draft pick to the LA Rams.

As far as the two awarded compensatory picks in Round 7, we project that the signing of DB Nick Scott by the Cincinnati Bengals and the signing of DL Greg Gaines by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will both trigger a seventh-round compensatory pick to be awards to the LA Rams in the 2024 NFL Draft.

A quick survey of projected future awarded compensatory picks by OverTheCap.com confirms our current projections. Four picks on Day 3 may not be enough to excite everyone, but if used wisely, they can each result in a solid depth player who has a chance to develop into a key future contributor for the LA Rams next year and beyond.

The LA Rams are currently in the midst of what appears to be a two-year process of reassembling the Rams roster to become a perennial NFL Playoffs contender. With four picks added to the LA Rams draft ammo in both the 2023 NFL Draft and projected for the 2024 NFL Draft, the net effect is eight more rookies who join the LA Rams who could find successful NFL careers.