The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine prospects have LA Rams fans excited. Here's why:

Some Rams prospects to keep an eye on from each positional group

Group 1

Group one is all about the defensive front, and will be one of the main groups of focus for the LA Rams front office. Not only does the team seek to bolster the pass rush, but the arrival of new DL Coach Giff Smith will necessitate adding some new faces to the defensive line to his specifications. With that in mind, we have named a set of select prospects who could be favored targets of the Rams in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. But this list is by no means exhaustive. It's merely intended to showcase the talent projected to be available in each draft day:

Defensive linemen

• Day 1 - Jer'Zhan Newton, DL, Illinois
• Day 2 - Byron Murphy, DL, Texas
• Day 3 - Logan Lee, DL, Iowa

Defensive linemen will certainly intrigue fans this year. This is a solid group of players who are well-prepared for the grind to succeed in the NFL. So what can we tell you about the three prospects names above?

1. Jer'Zhan Newton is the consensus top defensive lineman in this year's draft. But he is competing against a deep group of QBs, WRs, OTs, and DBs to hear his name called out early. That could allow this 6-foot-2 295-pound defensive tackle to fall to the Rams at 19. His size could give NFL teams an excuse to look elsewhere, but he is an ideal bookend to play alongside DL Aaron Donald and NT Kobie Turner.
2. Some view Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy to hear his name called out in Round 1. But the talent available at other positions could allow him to fall to Day 2. Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 208 pounds, Murphy is an incredibly athletic defensive tackle who may struggle to get Day 1 looks from NFL teams due to his size. Much like Kobie Turner, he has made rushing the passer from an interior defensive line position into an art form.
3. Logan Lee is a 6-foot-5 291-pound defensive lineman out of Iowa who may not come in and immediately start but could be a solid rotational player. He was a standout in the annual East-West Shrine game and has that intensity and never-stop drive that fans and coaches love to see in a defensive lineman.

Linebackers

• Day 1 - Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
• Day 2 - Zion Tupuola-Fetui, EDGE, Washington
• Day 3 - Curtis Jacobs, LB, Penn State

1. From a pure football perspective, UCLA's outside linebacker Laiatu Latu is the top edge rusher in the 2024 NFL Draft. But with medical concerns, many teams may be unwilling to invest a Round 1 pick into Latu. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 261 pounds, he has a solid foundation to reach elite status in the NFL in his career. Still, it's a risk-reward matter. He could fall to the Rams for that very reason.
2. Some view Zion Tupuola-Fetui as a Day 3 prospect, but I believe that he has enough in his tank to hear his name called out late on Day 2. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 248 pounds. Tupuola-Fetui possesses the explosiveness and stamina to dog quarterbacks from start to finish. Because he is a bit bigger framed, he has the potential to hit the gym and muscle up to 255+ pounds for the NFL. His combine numbers could be vital to generate a positive buzz and get his stock rising.
3. For an interior linebacker to team up with veteran Ernest Jones, the Rams may follow Penn State linebacker Curtis Jacobs very closely. He stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 236 pounds. He is the type of 'backer who loves to deliver a thump to ballcarriers who enter his domain. He is ideally suited in coverage and playing larger amounts of field, as he has solid instincts that allow him to be in the right place at the right time. He may need to bulk up in the weight room to optimize his impact, but he is a solid get on Day 3.