Where will this LA Rams team show the most improvement in 2024?

I: Field goal kicking and accuracy

The LA Rams invested next to nothing into the placekicker in 2023, and had to cycle through four different players, two of those players were brought back for a second run at the role. Ultimately, it seems as thought the team got what it paid for.

Well, you can't fault the front office this year. The Rams drafted former Stanford kicker Joshua Karty, who was the top kicking prospect in the rookie class of 2024 on many draft boards. In three seasons kicking for Stanford, he was perfect at extra points in two of three seasons. In the one year that he failed to kick one extra point, he was perfect at kicking field goals. In his final two seasons with the Cardinals, Karty hoofed 45 of 46 extra points, while kicking 41 of 45 field goals.

When the Rams selected Karty in Round 6 of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 209th overall pick, the front office was investing in their field goal kicker of the future. But by many accounts, the team may have claimed one of the biggest steals of the draft. We know that the San Francisco 49ers used the 99th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to select kicker Jake Moody. It was a Day 2 pick that incensed 49ers fans. But the Rams' selection of Karty was greeted with the opposite type of reaction. In short, the fans loved it.

As they should.

While not exactly even odds, the Rams could be a special 'perfect storm' for rookie Joshua Karty to set an NFL record for rookie kickers. That is certainly doable in 2024. After all, the record for rookie kickers is 157 points set by Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey who scored 157 points in 2023. He made 49 extra points and 36 field goals to set that record.

In 2023, the Rams attempted 43 field goals and 37 extra points. With a bit of luck, and accuracy, Karty could flirt with his own record this season.

To ensure that he has competition, the team re-signed kicker Tanner Brown to vie for the kicker role. But unless Brown is perfect and Karty struggles, it's a safe bet to look for Karty to win the competition.

In the end, the LA Rams front office certainly did address their greatest weaknesses from 2023. Now, it's up to the coaching staff to ensure that the team can deliver better performances in 2024.

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