Rams 2024 NFL Draft remains a heartwarming testament to friendship

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Perhaps you need a pick-me-up today. If so, then you need to look no further than to the LA Rams and their coup from the 2024 NFL Draft. After all, the stories found in professional football are not just about statistics, high-salary contracts, and bright spotlights. The tales that I find the most compelling to discuss, and perhaps what draws me to the sport in the first place, are about the bonds of friendship, perseverance, and hope.

Let's start at the beginning. The LA Rams entered the 2024 NFL Draft with an objective that was clear. Somehow, this team needed to find a way to compensate and overcome the loss to retirement of All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

Let's reset the stage. When the LA Rams entered the 2024 NFL Draft, the team did not have the defense as their top option with the first-round pick. That honor surprisingly fell to the offense, as the team earmarked the Round 1 pick for Georgia TE Brock Bowers, who the team tried frantically to trade up to select. But he was not their only target for trading up. It was not until Texas DT Byron Murphy came off the board that the team stopped working the phones and opted to stand pat.

And we all are thrilled that they did.

We only mocked Florida State Seminoles OLB Jared Verse to the Rams once, because most online simulators had him off the board long before the team picked the 19th overall selection. But on draft day, he was there on the board. In many opinions, he was the ultimate defensive rookie prospect. Such as the opinion of former Rams DL Coach Eric Henderson:

Great pick! Violent football player with who In my opinion should be the most productive out of all the rookies in this years class. He has the speed to power 1st mindset which is the number 1 rush in the league. You have to be able to rush with speed to power and build…
— Eric Henderson (@Coach_Henny) April 26, 2024

The team needed to set the foundation for the future of this new Chris Shula defense, and took a huge towards that goal by adding Verse. In many ways, Jared Verse brought more to this defense than what he added individually. By pairing him up with OLB Byron Young, the team instantly formed one of the most promising (and young) edge rushing pairs the NFL would see in 2024.

But his arrival also added another pass rushing threat to aid NT Kobie Turner. And his arrival allowed the team to place OLB Michael Hoecht into a much more suitable situational pass-rushing role. It was a cascade effect of positive improvement. But the team's front office was only just getting started.

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