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

The LA Rams may not be sending a full entourage to the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, but you can bet that they will be sending enough scouts and personnel executives to ensure that they are fully aware and monitoring events as they happen in real time. And this year is particularly special for Rams fans, as the team will step up to the podium on Day 1 (theoretically, at least) for the first time since the 2016 NFL Draft.

While there are a number of dates and actions that signify the conversion to a new year of NFL football, no other event holds a candle to that of the annual NFL Scouting Combine. So now, the question becomes: How should you prepare for the event?

Well, that depends on how invested you wish to become.

Keeping track of all 321 prospects who are expected to participate is no small feat and one that will keep the entire scouting and personnel departments of all 32 NFL teams quite busy for the next week to 10 days. It's virtually impossible to do so, even if you take a vacation to coincide with the entire nine-day event. As you can see from the event calendar above, four separate positional group itineraries are staggered through six days of events. That means that at its peak, the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine will feature all 321 NFL candidates in different stages of competition and events.

Good luck keeping up with that.

The best news is that if you have limited time or interest, we will be recapping each day's highlights from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, as well as tracking all of the pre-draft meetings with candidates that often give clues as to which positions and at what point in the draft the Rams are most interested in making a selection.

But you may have a greater thirst than we can quench with our best efforts. For you, let me share some solid sources of information, and give you an opportunity to monitor events in real time as well. All set? Let's go . . .

How to stay updated with the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

1. 2024 NFL Scouting Combine: General coverage
2. Social media: Top 20 to follow on X
3. Schedule of events: When should you tune in for what
4. Some Rams prospects to keep an eye on from each positional group
5. Group 1
6. Group II
7. Group III
8. Group iV

2024 NFL Scouting Combine: General coverage

Perhaps one of the first stops on the path of solid and real-time information is to sort out the best and legitimate websites (from the myriad of fake sites on social media and webpages that would love nothing better than to troll you or lure you into a trap to infect your computer with maleware.) To help get you started off on the right foot, here are some of the sites/sources that we monitor throughout the annual NFL Scouting Combine events.

• NFL Scouting Combine home page: Click on this link here
• NFL Combine Tracker: You can follow on X here
• NFL Draft home page: Click on this link here
• LA Rams social media: You can follow on X here
• Ramblin Fan - Click here to follow our Facebook page

Social media: Top 20 to follow on X

Perhaps one of the toughest aspects of any significant NFL-related event is maintaining an update and robust group of sources that deliver the type of information in a real-time basis. Sometimes an NFL Insider retires, is repurposed to a new sport or area of the NFL, and the well goes dry. And each and every one of you can hold your own list of social media accounts to follow to your own preferences.

As for me, if I had to pare every social media account that I have access to over the course of the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine down to 20 accounts, these would be my Top-20.

1. Adam Schefter - @AdamSchefter
2. Peter Schrager - @PSchrags
3. Jay Glazer - @JayGlazer
4. Jordan Reid - @Jordan_Reid
5. Ian Rapoport - @RapSheet
6. John Vogel - @DraftVogel
7. Hunter Haas - @NFLDraftHaas
8. Justin M - @JustinM_NFL
9. Aaron Wilson - @AaronWilson_NFL
10. Jim Nagy - @JimNagy_SB
11. Tony Pauline - @TonyPauline
12. Ryan Fowler - @_RyanFowler_
13. Jourdan Rodrigue - @JourdanRodrigue
14. NFL - @NFL
15. Mel Kiper Jr. - @MelKiperESPN
16. Rams official social media account - @RamsNFL
17. Ramblin Fan - @RamblinFan
18. With The First Pick - @Withthe1st_pick
19. NFL Mocks - @NFLMocks
20. NFL Spin Zone - @NFLSpinZone
    

Of course, I have no idea how active each account will prove to be this year, but they have been the most robust and helpful social media accounts even through last year's pre-draft meeting tracking. So my hope is that they will all serve well this year too.

Schedule of events: When should you tune in for what

Okay, so now that you have the persons to follow, and the sites to monitor, when does the real action begin? You are likely referring to the on-field workouts, the dates for the sprints, jumps, pivots, catches, and a host of other measurables that fans delight over, but many NFL scouts and personnel executives simply keep in the corner of their eyes.

Despite the proliferation of data generation and data analytics, the tried and true method of truly becoming comfortable with the chances of a college football player to succeed in the NFL is to assess how well they play the game of football. But if all things are equal, then the matter of drills and measured performances can serve to break the ties among closely competitive players.

And for the NFL fans who do not watch hours upon hours of film and videos, it's a great way to establish your own personal front runners for the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.

When fans think of the NFL Scouting Combine, what many are thinking about is the live drills coverage that will begin this year on Thursday, February 29th, with exclusive live coverage on the NFL Network starting at Noon PT. The full lineup of scheduled NFL Network live coverage, dates, times and positional groups can be found below:

• Thursday, February 29th, 12:00 pm PT – Defensive Linemen, Linebackers
• Friday, March 1st, 12:00 pm PT – Defensive Backs, Tight Ends
• Saturday, March 2nd, 10:00 am PT – Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers, Running Backs
• Sunday, March 3rd, 10:00 am PT – Offensive Linemen, Special teams

Keep in mind that this is merely the aggregate event of 321 college athletes. Many more will participate later during their college or regional Pro Days, events that are more inclusive of all athletes from that school or region who hope to hear their name called out in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.

On average, approximately 20 to 30 players are selected in the annual NFL Draft who did not participate in the NFL Scouting Combine. If you expand that to include undrafted players, the number grows to over 100+ players. So the annual NFL Scouting Combine is simply the first step of many to fully vet and evaluate the health, well-being, and athleticism of colleg football players.

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.

Group II

Group II is the unique combination that test secondary players alongside offensive tight ends.

Defensive backs

• Day 1 - Nate Wiggins, CB Clemson
• Day 2 - Quinyon Mitchell, DB, Toledo
• Day 3 - Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon

1. The LA Rams have an unexpected opportunity to land a true shutdown cornerback in the 2024 NFL Draft. With as many as eight cornerbacks with Day 1 potential, the team could benefit greatly from an early run on quarterbacks, offensive linemen, and wide receivers. One defensive back, Clemson's Nate Wiggins, is likely to fall to the team at 19. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 185 pounds, Wiggins may not give off a first impression of a hard-hitting secondary specialist, but looks are deceiving. Wiggins is a polished pass defender, a solid fit for a secondary that needs a new rising star. Wiggins could be that guy.
2. While there is much abuzz about Toledo defensive back Quinyon Mitchell, I am holding out hope and belief that he could fall to Day 2. Standing 6-foot0 and weighing 195 pounds, Mitchell turned heads, dropped jaws, and raised eyebrows with a far better-than-expected performance in the Senior Bowl. Still, there is simply too much talent in this draft to allow him to leap over enough prospects, and I am convinced that many NFL teams simply do not believe that a defensive back from Toledo warrants a Round 1 pick.
3. Oregon defensive back Khyree Jackson is an ideal fall-back prospect to aim for on Day 3 if the secondary is not quite 'there,' by that time in the draft. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 203 pounds, Jackson is a tall defensive back whose height offers a wide range of opportunities to use him in unique coverage schemes. He even has the hybrid physicality of taking on a coverage linebacker in nickel or dime sub-packages. He can be a bit conservative in playing off the receiver, but that can be readily corrected by NFL coaching.

Tight ends

• Day 1 - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
• Day 2 - Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
• Day 3 - Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State

1. There is so much buzz about Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, that every other tight end in this draft class is eclipsed. Bowers is so popular right now, that many expect the age-old tradition of ignoring tight ends in Round 1 to be abandoned quickly this year, perhaps as quickly as among the Top 10 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. I know that the Rams would love to have a chance to fold Bowers into this offense. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 240 pounds, Bowers is a matchup nightmare, too talented to be covered by linebackers, and too powerful to be brought down by defensive backs. He is the one player who I believe the Rams would try to trade up to acquire.
2. While he may not generate nearly as much buzz, do not underestimate the upside of Texas tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 252 pounds, Sanders is an excellent blocker who also possesses soft hands and has command of a route tree that puts many wide receivers to shame. He also has tremendous potential for yards after the catch, and for that very reason, I could see him being an exciting addition to the Rams' offense.
3. Ohio State tight end Cade Stover may not fall far enough on Day 3 to be within the reach of the Rams, but that chance always exists. Stover is another huge target, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 251 pounds. He is a solid tight end but is not particularly impressive in blocking, agility, or creating separation. He simply is a mean physical tight end who is a juggernaut after making the catch. He is Mr. Clutch, the go-to guy when a first down or a red zone score is needed. He is also very capable of racking up yards after the catch is made.

Group III

Group III is typically the group of offensive skill players. While the excitement over running backs is in a bit of a lull, there are many talented rushers in this class to warrant paying attention. Of course, there is conversation about the LA Rams and what they will do to address their backup quarterback situation. I believe that if the team wishes to do so, there are solid prospects throughout the draft. Let me show you what I mean:

Quarterbacks

• Day 1- Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
• Day 2 - Michael Penix, QB, Washington
• Day 3 - Sam Hartman, QB, Notre Dame

1. LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is getting a lot of positive buzz right now, and I do not expect that to subside throughout the NFL Scouting Combine. It may increase significantly. But the 6-foot-4 210-pound dual-threat quarterback is not one of the prospects who I view as an immediate starter in the NFL. He has tremendous upside, but I view him as a prospect who would benefit most by sitting a year out and learning behind a solid veteran. Still, I have seen some mocks projecting Daniels off the board within the Top 5.
2. Washington quarterback Michael Penix may be the best pure passer of this draft class. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 212 pounds, he has the right size to play NFL quarterback and uses that size to launch the football for long distances effortlessly. He is a natural leader, remaining calm, cool, and collected in the pocket, and instilling confidence in his receivers in the process. He truly has the feel of a Matthew Stafford understudy. But he is a southpaw thrower, which could dissuade teams from selecting him as it could require flipping their offensive plays.
3. Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman may not show up on everyone's draft board, which is all the more reason why I love this guy on Day 3. He stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 209 pounds, which is ideal for the NFL. He has the potential to be a solid NFL quarterback even as quickly as his rookie season with the right training camp. He is one of the participants in this year's combine that I expect will see his stock on the rise. Keep Hartman on your radar.

Running backs

• Day 1 - Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
• Day 2 - Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
• Day 3 - MarShawn Lloyd, RB. USC

1. Texas running back Jonathon Brooks is the best runner in the 2024 NFL Draft, but even that may not warrant his selection in Round 1. Standing 6-foot-0 and weighing 202 pounds, Brooks offers an offense a three-down, durable runner who is as gifted when taking a handoff as he is when slipping across the line of scrimmage as a receiver. He is an all-purpose running back who could easily put up 1000+ yards in his rookie season if allowed to carry the lion's share of the rushes.
2. Florida State running back Trey Benson is an even bigger bodied rusher than Jonathon Brooks, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing a burly 223 pounds. He has deceptive speed, oftentimes kicking in the afterburner to pull away from pursuers. He is also an effective receiver, able to slip through and gain critical yards through the air. He has a questionable medical history that could allow him to freefall a bit. He also will need to improve his blocking skills in training camp.
3. The LA Rams have a bias toward shorter running backs. Well, USC RB Mar'Shawn Lloyd is right up their alley in that case. Standing 5-foot-9 and weighing 210 pounds, Lloyd is a powerful runner who has a surprising burst of speed to gain huge chunks of ground quickly. He can run effectively between the tackles but also can threaten defensive perimeters with his agility and speed. An ACL suffered in 202o cold limit interest in him from NFL teams.

Wide receivers

• Day 1 - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
• Day 2 - Malachi Corley, WR, West Kentucky
• Day 3 - Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama

1. Washington WR Rome Odunze may not be Marvin Harrison Jr., but he is a solid prospect who deserves Round 1 consideration. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 215 pounds, he is tall target who boasts the ability to put up plenty of yards after the catch (YAC). He truly adds another dimension to an offense, and combines size, speed and catch radius to become a clear target for NFL quarterbacks.
2. Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley is a wide receiver whose stock is already skyrocketing. Standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 215 pounds, he is a small school weapon with big game impact. He is a true Swiss Army knife type of player, who fits at almost any position in the offense (not OL or QB, of course). He has an unmatched ability to put up yards after the catch, which has earned him the nickname 'YAC King.' I would love to see how Rams HC Sean McVay might use Corley.
3. Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton has been mocked by some higher that I expect him to be selected, but the 6-foot-0, 194-pound receiver is almost certain to be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. He can push secondaries deep, but possesses a limited route tree. And unfortunately, he shows inconsistency in effort. If the ball is going elsewhere, he does not sustain the same energy and effort in plays. But you can fix those issues by coaching, and you can't coach speed. Burton could flirt with an eye-popping time on the 40-yard dash.

Group iV

Offensive tackles

• Day 1 - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
• Day 2 - Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
• Day 3 - Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame

1. Nothing says mean and ferocious offensive tackle like someone who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 332 pounds. That is why Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga makes my Day 1 option at offensive tackle. Fuaga is a blocker-extraordinaire, and lined up alongside Steve Avila could easily set the stage for complete dominance for the left side of the offensive line. He holds enough versatility to slide into other positions, but he is not going to sit on the bench for long. He did not surrender a single quarterback sack in 2023. Yes please.
2. Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan is another versatile offensive tackle who could be viewed as an offensive guard prospect in the NFL. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 312 pounds, Morgan is a solid option on Day 2, as his reach is not exactly ideal for an offensive tackle. Still, his performance on the football field remains very impressive.
3. Notre Dame's 'other guy' at offensive tackle who is not Joe Alt is Blake Fisher. Fisher stands an impressive height of 6-foot-6, and weighs 312 pounds. Where some offensive linemen succeed with mean streaks, Fisher is a headsy offensive tackle who succeeds by outthinking his opponent. He does not maul defenders. Rather, he is crisp and succinct in his blocks, gaining the advantage of leverage and initiating contact. Because he is more cerebral than physical, his grades are likely to be all over the place. But he is well coached, and could be a huge contributor on the team.

Interior offensive linemen

• Day 1 - Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
• Day 2 - Cooper Beebe, IOL, Kansas State
• Day 3 - Zach Frazier, OL, West Virginia

1. I hate to say it, but Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson is getting as much interest from Rams fans as Kansas City Chiefs' center Creed Humphrey did before he was drafted. The 6-foot-3 334-pound center is getting tremendous push even before the combine, leading some to believe that he will hear his name called out in Round 1. Many fans hope that the Rams will do so. But he is exclusively a center, and the center position is not known for selection on Day 1. Will JPJ be one to buck that trend? Rams fans hope so.
2. Kansas State Cooper Beebe is another barrel-chested interior offensive lineman who could make Rams fans forget that veteran Kevin Dotson once played for the team. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 335 pounds, Beebe has the foundation of a dominant NFL offensive guard. He has a vice-like grip to lock on pass rushers and immobilize them. And his size is more than adequate to negate even the strongest defenders. While he needs work to improve his overall technique, he could be a starter for the Rams offensive line in 2024 if drafted.
3. West Virginia center Zach Frazier is another option for the Rams' interior offensive line. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 314 pounds, Frazier has the background of a wrestler and that cross-trained technique shows up quite often when he engages in blocks. He is a grinder, a blocker who sticks with his opponent until he puts the defender on his back or until the whistle blows the play dead. He is very versatile, able to slide in and start at any of the three interior offensive line positions.

Special Teams: Kickers/Punters/Long Snappers

• Day 3 - Joshua Karty, K, Stanford
• Day 3 - Will Reichard, K, Alabama

1. Stanford kicker Joshua Karty could not have performed any better in 2022 but did stumble slightly in 2023. In 2022, he was a perfect 18 of 18, including 13 field goals over 40+ yards. But in 2023, his accuracy fell to 23/27 field goals. He was five of five from inside 30 yards, seven out of eight from 30-39 yards, a perfect seven of seven from 40-49 yards, but only four out of seven from 50+ yards. His longest FG in 2023 was 56 yards.
2. Alabama kicker Will Reichard should certainly be another name for Rams fans to take note of. Because he played for Alabama for five years, he has faced almost every pressure cooker situation in college football. He was a perfect 55 of 55 on extra points, He was a solid 22 out of 25 on his 2023 field goals too. He was a perfect three out of three from inside 30 yards, and a perfect seven out of seven from 30-39 yards. He struggled a bit, kicking just seven of ten from 40-49 yards, but he was a perfect five of five from 50+ yards His longest field goal in 2023 was 52 yards.