Rams took a Fiske in the 2024 NFL Draft, so how's that working out?

Entering Week 17, the LA Rams' young pass rush had been rather quiet of late. A young defense that built itself around the ability to get after the quarterback is going to struggle if the defense no longer gets after the quarterback. To the contrary, the Rams' defense may not have recorded any sacks, but this defense has shown up in huge ways as the season winds down.

Still, an NFL team's pass rush will forever be judged by the basic premise that good pass rushers record quarterback sacks in the NFL. So it comes as no surprise that the sudden silence from the Rams defense in terms of rushing the opposing quarterback made more than a couple of fans squirm in their seats a bit. The Rams recorded just one sack in Week 12, failed to record a single sack in Weeks 13 and 14, posted just three sacks in Week 15, and had to settle for just one quarterback sack in Week 16.

Still, the lack of sacks did not necessarily translate into bad defense. Quite the opposite in fact, as the Rams have allowed just 24 points in total to be scored in the last three games. Clearly, something is working for this defense.

Perhaps I should rephrase that. Some players are working hard on this defense. And if we are being honest to ourselves, we can already guess who they are. But why is a bit more involved. You see, the Rams front office heeded the advice of former All-Pro DT Aaron Donald in 2023 by drafting players who had a pure passion for the game of football. Despite addressing the defensive front in Round 3 of that draft, the team landed OLB Byron Young, and NT Kobie Turner, two young defenders whose passion for football is off the charts.

The team was so pleased with the results in 2023 that the front office employed a similar strategy in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Rams defense needed something to keep the group productive through a long 18 game season.

Rams pass rush resumes a robust campaign in Week 17

The LA Rams defense faced unique challenges in 2024. Not only did the team lose a number of productive starters, including the retirement of All-Pro DT Aaron Donald, but the team welcomed new DC Chris Shula. Shula has proven to be a defensive coordinator who can make halftime adjustments, can rally the troops, and perhaps most of all, knows how to add something special when the defense needs to show up in a big way.

That something starts with two powerhouse defensive linemen: DT Kobie Turner and rookie DT Braden Fiske:

When the smoke cleared at the end of Week 17, NT Kobie Turner had added 1.0 QB sacks. OLB Byron Young had added 1.0 QB sacks, and rookie DT Braden Fiske had added 2.0 QB sacks. It was Fiske's third game of 2024 with multiple QB sacks. Tell me again how he was not worth trading up for in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The LA Rams did in fact invest more than many NFL analysts expected to trade up for Florida State defensive tackle Braden Fiske in the 2024 NFL Draft in Round 2 with the 39th overall pick. The Rams had a package of their own pick in Round 2 (52nd overall) with a 2024 NFL Draft pick in Round 5 and a 2025 Round 2 pick.

But the value of any procurement cannot be judged solely by the price paid. Prices vary. The true value of any procurement is the value of what, or who, is acquired. In terms of the NFL Draft, nobody blinks twice over an NFL team trading multiple Round 1 picks to move up to be in a position to select a projected franchise quarterback. And yet, the action taken by the Rams front office - trading up in Round 2 for Braden Fiske - was overwhelmingly viewed and proclaimed to be a mistake.

Oh, really?

No Fiske, no reward

Some NFL Draft analysts simply did not have Braden Fiske projected off the board early in Round 2. Almost all draft analysts viewed the Rams trade with the Carolina Panthers to move up to select Fiske as a huge overpay. But the Rams did not view it that way. In fact, Rams HC Sean McVay recapped the Rams' ability to add both OLB Jared Verse and DT Braden Fiske in the draft as his dream scenario.

Now, with one game to go in the 2024 NFL season, his assessment has been confirmed as accurate.

Braden Fiske may lead rookies with quarterback sacks, but rookie OLB Jared Verse leads all rookies in terms of QB pressures. And as it turns out, for this Rams defense, you cannot separate one from the other. It's Verse who has anchored the Rams outside linebacker role for the team, adding a defensive presence that creates pressure on opposing quarterbacks, sets the edge, stuffs the run, sheds blockers, and even adds pass coverage when needed.

Fiske is the guy who fights double teams, stuffs the run, puts pressure on the quarterback right up the middle, and creates havoc across the line of scrimmage. It's not uncommon to see Verse flush the quarterback out of the pocket and into the waiting arms of Fiske or some other Rams defender.

It's the Hammer and the Anvil scenario for the Rams pass rush, a dependant situation created by two defenders who understand football fundamentals to such an extent that they dictate their terms to opposing offenses. The Rams front office and coaches understood the interdependence among teammates when assembling the roster for 2024. Two players who emerged from college football with a strong friendship and selfless commitment to compete and win were custom-fits for this Rams team.

The Rams knew what they were doing in the 2024 NFL Draft. Now, based on what we have seen in their rookie seasons, Jared Verse and Braden Fiske know what they are doing as well. Thanks for reading.

More Rams News and Analysis