Rams end draft by giving DC Chris Shula new fireplug nose tackle Tim Keenan III

It was clear that Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead was a man with a plan. As early as Day 2, the pattern was discernible. Snead was not just drafting the best players available. He was drafting rookies who played at the position of the most seasoned veterans on the Rams roster.

Despite the myriad of options, Snead adhered to the pattern by continuing to add rookie depth behind his veterans. What did that pattern look like?

• QB Matthew Stafford (38) -> QB Ty Simpson
• TE Tyler Higbee (33) -> TE Max Klare
• OT Rob Havenstein (33, retired) -> OT Keagan Trost
• WR Davante Adams (33) -> WR CJ Daniels
• NT Poona Ford (30) -> NT Tim Keenan III

This is a team that faces nearly two dozen extensions at season's end. While nobody knows what to expect, Snead created a beachhead for next year's salary cap balancing act by filling the depth chart at the most vital positions. Come what may, LA has manufactured some wiggle room.

But Keenan is more than a depth player. He has all of the fundamental talents that have made Poona Ford so successful. Now, he will have an opportunity to work with developing Tim Keenan to achieve his optimum NFL production.

Tim Keenan III is an NFL-capable fire plug

The LA Rams finally pay some attention to the defense, and make a solid choice in doing so. With so many new running backs added to NFC West rivals, Keenan will help defensive coordinator Chris Shula handle the heavy burden of stuffing the run.

Keenan knows how to stuff the run. But he has enough pass rush to be dangerous as a three-down nose tackle. And with Poona Ford handling between 40 and 50 percent of the defensive snaps, there is plenty of room to grow in this defense. In addition to 95 tackles, he added 12.5 tackles for a loss and 5.5 quarterback sacks. He even deflected three passes, forced a fumble, and recovered two fumbles.

Los Angeles needs help along the defensive front. Even as well as Poona Ford had performed, the constant double-teaming wears him down quickly. LA needs to rotate multiple defenders into that nose tackle spot to sustain an effective run defense. Keenan will make that possible.

Keenan closes out the rookie draft class of 2026, the smallest class drafted in the Rams' franchise history. (more on that later). How are you feeling?

As always,thanks for reading.

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