Why Rams won't regret not prying 10th overall pick from Jets GM Joe Douglas

Why Rams won't regret not prying 10th overall pick from Jets GM Joe Douglas

I won't lie. One of the reasons that I did not feature Florida State Seminoles OLB Jared Verse in Rams Mock Drafts lies in the fact that I never expected him to fall to the team at the 19th overall pick. After all, he was the highest rated outside linebacker on a majority of 2024 NFL Draft Big Boards, some projections as high as a Top-10 selection.

I shudder when confronted with the team's fascination with low-yield positions in the NFL Draft with valuable picks. Even if the Rams sat every tight end and played TE Brock Bowers as a starter in 2024, how many times would he be targeted in this offense? Would he be thrown to as frequently as WR Cooper Kupp, or Puka Nacua? Would he master every aspect of this offense that would keep him on the football field, and as many as four other tight ends on the bench?

I am still skeptical.

As far as the Rams defense, does Byron Murphy II give the defense so much more upgrade over Braden Fiske, that he is the equivalent of both Verse and Murphy?

Again, call me skeptical.

The team needs multiple rookies who can contribute right out of the gates this season. By ensuring that the team transplanted Seminoles chemistry in bunches into this defense, the front office has give the defensive coaching staff a jump start to aligning new players on the team with this year's goals. Even rookies who played elsewhere must compete with the Seminoles, which forces them to elevate their progress and pace to stay on track.

Compared to how the Rams did turn out, I have to share that I am quite relieved at the Rams inability to trade up in this draft. Granted that I am not a professionally trained NFL scout, and that much of my knowledge about the team and the prospects are the result of reading, research, and review. But just like my conclusion about the Rams 2023 NFL Draft, I am thrilled at the quality and number of rookies added in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Yes, I could be wrong. But to be wrong, the Rams must whiff on OLB Jared Verse, DT Braden Fiske, and DB Kamren Kinchens. And no, this is not similar to the Rams selection of WR Tutu Atwell in 2021. Atwell was the player chosen who held marginal value to the roster, much like Bowers.

Instead, the team has added three players who could be starters and who could contribute significantly in 2024. Let's see how the 2024 NFL season pans out.

Thanks for reading.