Rams boast 2 of Top 10 2024 undrafted free agents per Pro Football Focus

As effective as the Los Angeles Rams have been in recent drafts, it's easy to ignore how well the team performs at signing collegiate free agents after the draft is over. Because these players do not hear their names called out in the draft, and because the same draft analysts never projected them to succeed in the NFL, there is little motivation by those same analysts to laud the team for discovering rookies who flourish on the team. Doing so will open a can of worms to question why analysts were unable to detect that potential.

It's a murky area. Undrafted collegiate free agents need more than passion and talent. They must persevere in the new NFL settings against talented and experienced competition. Even if an undrafted rookie makes the team, they may simply draw dust and cobwebs sitting on the bench awaiing a chance to play. And even if and when the opportunity presents itself, they need to flip the switch and deliver instantly.

That process takes a lot of dominoes falling the right way. The Rams are one of the few NFL teams that even allow undrafted players the chance to succeed.

Pro Football Focus writer Dalton Wasserman jumped out after the end of the 2024 NFL season to pen an article entitled 10 highest-graded UDFAs from the 2024 NFL regular season. Two items that jump off the page at anyone who checks out the article. Only three NFL teams that made the playoffs last season appear on the list. They are the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, and Kansas City Chiefs. Only one postseason competitor made the list with two players: The Los Angeles Rams.

So who made the list? The are:

(10) - DB Jaylen McCollough

Snaps Played: 371
PFF Grade: 59.4
Key Stat: Four interceptions (tied for second among all rookies)

What is so impressive about Jaylen McCollough? Well, for starters, he only started in Week 18, long after he had recorded four interceptions. And the other rookie he tied for second-place among NFL rookies? His teammate, safety Kamren Kinchens.

McCollough was so good that he was not to be denied getting his share of defensive snaps. The Rams were thrilled with starters Kamren Kinchens and Kamren Curl. Even safety Quentin Lake as the primary slot defensive back to allow the team to get all three safeties on the football field simultaneously. If not for the injury to veteran defensive back John Johnson III, McCollough might still not have have a chance to step onto the football field.

But he did, and that is why McCollough showed up so heroically last season.

McCollough's interceptions included a sensational pick-six. That feat is something that not many veteran defensive backs ever experience in their entire NFL careers. McCollough did so as an undrafted rookie. Not only is he an unexpected performer, but he is a player whose future is bright and positive.

(6) - LB Omar Speights

Snaps Played: 419
PFF Grade: 66.8
Key Stat: 70.0-plus PFF grade in six of 11 starts, including postseason

Former LSU inside linebacker Omar Speights had a superb training camp and preseason, but as the 2024 NFL season started, Speights was benched in favor of veteran ILBs Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom. It was not until Reeder suffered a season ending injury that Speights was given the opportunity to play.

And when he finally did take the football field, he played so well that it was clear that he was not getting benched again. He played well enough to cement his starting role for the remainder of his chapter with the Rams. So it's no surprise that he ended the season as the sixth-best undrafted rookie last year.

The Rams defense was very young, but rapidly developing last season. The team won three of their final four games with outstanding defensive efforts. Will that defensive dominance carry over to 2025? Let's hope so.

The Rams succeed by finding undrafted diamonds like DB Jaylen McCollough, ILB Omar Speights, and even LT Alaric Jackson It's that ability to find starters even after the draft concludes that has allowed Rams GM Les Snead to trade Round picks for elite veteran talent. As long as the Rams continue to find key contributors after the draft is over, the team will continue to compete in the postseason.

As always, thanks for reading.

You may enjoy these recent Rams articles