Rams North Star

[Noregar]

In the last two Rams drafts they have done very very well. I have been a fan for 50 years and these last two drafts combined are the probably best comprehensive 2-year draft period that I can recall. The key to their draft success especially in 2024 was focusing more on mental traits than physical traits. High character, leadership, competitiveness, toughness, and love for the game. Some of the guys drafted like Verse also have elite athletic traits as well but quite a few don’t check all those trait boxes. I think the Rams need to continue following this North Star - Character, competitiveness, toughness, and love of the game.

In 2023 even without a first-round choice they found 4 legitimate starters (5 if you include Evans the punter) though the draft. They also found 4 rotational depth guys from that class along with a UDFA long snapper. In year three 10 of the 14 picks are still on the roster. And the other four are still in the NFL for now. Note: the 4 that are gone were basically edged out due to the finding better players in 2024. The two standouts from that class were Puka Nacua and Kobie Turner, Nacua made the pro bowl and was runner up for offensive rookie of the year. Kobe Turner was third on the list for defensive rookie of the year and continued to ascend in 2024, becoming a young leader for the defensive front. The Rams also have Emmanuel Forbes a former 1st round pick from the 2023 draft class now on the roster. Currently 11 players from the 2023 draft class were on the roster in 2024. Note: this excludes Stetson Bennett who spent the 2024 season on the practice squad and may be long shot to make the team in 2025.

In the 2024 draft the Rams found 4 more starters (including a kicker) along with a nice bounty of 9 total draft choices, along with 5 undrafted free agents that also netted them a starter and two waiver wire claims that populated 53-man roster. The 2024 class netted a total of 16 players that have spent time on the 53-man roster at various times. There is potential for some of those backups and rotational players to graduate to starters in the future. Many of the non-starters from 2024 contributed and some significantly, with only 7th round pick, KT Leviston, not playing due to being stashed on IR. All of the 16 players from the 2024 draft class are still rostered on the team in 2025 heading into the draft.

List of the 10 Established starters from the last two draft classes

• Steve Avila Starting RG -2023 2nd ; PFWA all-rookie team 2023
• Kobie Turner Starting DT 2023 3rd; PFWA all-rookie team 2023
• Byron Young Starting OLB 2023 3rd; PFWA all-rookie team 2023
• Puka Nacua Starting WR 2023 5th; PFWA all-rookie team 2023; 2nd team All Pro 2023;
• Ethan Evans Punter 2024 7th
• Alex Ward Long Snapper 2023 UDFA
• Jared Verse Starting OLB 2024 1s; PFWA all-rookie team 2024; Pro Bowl 2024; Defensive Rookie of the Year 2024
• Braden Fiske Starting DT 2024 2nd PFWA all-rookie team 2024
• Omar Speights Starting ILB 2024 UDFA
• Joshua Karty kicker 2024 6th

There are 5 potential future starters from 2023 and 2024. Even if none of them start in 2025 they will still be key depth and rational players for the Rams.

• Bo Limmer RG 2024 6th (14 starts 2024 including 2 playoff games)
• Emmanuel Forbes 2023 1st (Waiver claim - 8 career starts & 1 for the Rams in 2024)
• Kamren Kinchens Safety 2024 3rd (4 starts in 2024)
• Blake Corum RB 2024 3rd (1 start in 2024)
• Davis Allen TE 2023 5th (6 career starts in with 5 in 2024)

Other key rotational depth and potential future starters

• Jordan Wittington WR 2024 6th (3 starts in 2024)
• Justin Dedich C/G 2024 UDFA (3 starts in 2024)
• Josh Wallace CB 2024 UDFA (3 starts in 2024)
• Jaylen McCoullugh Safety 2024 UDFA (1 start 2024)
• Tyler Davis DT 2024 6th No credited starts but a key rotation player

There are also some practice squad players from the 2024 class who were not on the 53 -man roster in 2024 that could still find their way on the final 53.

Are we now spoiled, and do we now have too high of an expectation that the Rams will continue to hit it big in the draft? My Expectations have been raised but I also understand that not all drafts are equal in talent offered.

 

[VegasRam]

To answer your question (excellent post btw), I don't think high expectations are unrealistic at all.

There are some on here who keep lamenting the loss of Brad Holmes - like he was the real brains behind everything.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but he had nothing to do with the last two drafts.

 

[RamFan503]

Great post. We may be spoiled, but we were due.

I like the idea that they are going with mature, smart, hard nosed, real football players. Your North Star analogy is a good one.

 

[Merlin]

They're on a hell of a run in their drafting, no doubt about it.

Last year's draft two players they wanted went off the board without them being able to move up, then Verse fell to them and they did a great job of going up to add Fiske as well. But these picks are easy to miss on too. This is why I always tend to favor them going up for a guy they covet as even if they lose picks the guys they covet probably have the biggest chance to hit.

I think on offense the most glaring position that could use an upgrade is TE. On defense it's the back end, so ILB or secondary (S or CB). Also we need a dedicated depth chart returner, I think it's stupid that we have zero threat in the teams phase to flip the field or win us a game here or there when you get the big return.

This roster is so close now. If this draft is as good as the last couple we're gonna be in business.

 

[Noregar]

Potentially 27 of the 53 man roster could from the last two classes. How many teams can say that. Also throw in 8-10 more rookies this year and 35 to 37 of the 53 man roster would be in their first three seasons with almost all of them homegrown (Drafted-RUDFA).

Only problem I see is when a chunk of of these guys start hitting hit free agency in 2027

Still, It's a great time to be Ram fan!!

 

[Memento]

In the last two Rams drafts they have done very very well. I have been a fan for 50 years and these last two drafts combined are the probably best comprehensive 2-year draft period that I can recall. The key to their draft success especially in 2024 was focusing more on mental traits than physical traits. High character, leadership, competitiveness, toughness, and love for the game. Some of the guys drafted like Verse also have elite athletic traits as well but quite a few don’t check all those trait boxes. I think the Rams need to continue following this North Star - Character, competitiveness, toughness, and love of the game.

In 2023 even without a first-round choice they found 4 legitimate starters (5 if you include Evans the punter) though the draft. They also found 4 rotational depth guys from that class along with a UDFA long snapper. In year three 10 of the 14 picks are still on the roster. And the other four are still in the NFL for now. Note: the 4 that are gone were basically edged out due to the finding better players in 2024. The two standouts from that class were Puka Nacua and Kobie Turner, Nacua made the pro bowl and was runner up for offensive rookie of the year. Kobe Turner was third on the list for defensive rookie of the year and continued to ascend in 2024, becoming a young leader for the defensive front. The Rams also have Emmanuel Forbes a former 1st round pick from the 2023 draft class now on the roster. Currently 11 players from the 2023 draft class were on the roster in 2024. Note: this excludes Stetson Bennett who spent the 2024 season on the practice squad and may be long shot to make the team in 2025.

In the 2024 draft the Rams found 4 more starters (including a kicker) along with a nice bounty of 9 total draft choices, along with 5 undrafted free agents that also netted them a starter and two waiver wire claims that populated 53-man roster. The 2024 class netted a total of 16 players that have spent time on the 53-man roster at various times. There is potential for some of those backups and rotational players to graduate to starters in the future. Many of the non-starters from 2024 contributed and some significantly, with only 7th round pick, KT Leviston, not playing due to being stashed on IR. All of the 16 players from the 2024 draft class are still rostered on the team in 2025 heading into the draft.

List of the 10 Established starters from the last two draft classes

• Steve Avila Starting RG -2023 2nd ; PFWA all-rookie team 2023
• Kobie Turner Starting DT 2023 3rd; PFWA all-rookie team 2023
• Byron Young Starting OLB 2023 3rd; PFWA all-rookie team 2023
• Puka Nacua Starting WR 2023 5th; PFWA all-rookie team 2023; 2nd team All Pro 2023;
• Ethan Evans Punter 2024 7th
• Alex Ward Long Snapper 2023 UDFA
• Jared Verse Starting OLB 2024 1s; PFWA all-rookie team 2024; Pro Bowl 2024; Defensive Rookie of the Year 2024
• Braden Fiske Starting DT 2024 2nd PFWA all-rookie team 2024
• Omar Speights Starting ILB 2024 UDFA
• Joshua Karty kicker 2024 6th

There are 5 potential future starters from 2023 and 2024. Even if none of them start in 2025 they will still be key depth and rational players for the Rams.

• Bo Limmer RG 2024 6th (14 starts 2024 including 2 playoff games)
• Emmanuel Forbes 2023 1st (Waiver claim - 8 career starts & 1 for the Rams in 2024)
• Kamren Kinchens Safety 2024 3rd (4 starts in 2024)
• Blake Corum RB 2024 3rd (1 start in 2024)
• Davis Allen TE 2023 5th (6 career starts in with 5 in 2024)

Other key rotational depth and potential future starters

• Jordan Wittington WR 2024 6th (3 starts in 2024)
• Justin Dedich C/G 2024 UDFA (3 starts in 2024)
• Josh Wallace CB 2024 UDFA (3 starts in 2024)
• Jaylen McCoullugh Safety 2024 UDFA (1 start 2024)
• Tyler Davis DT 2024 6th No credited starts but a key rotation player

There are also some practice squad players from the 2024 class who were not on the 53 -man roster in 2024 that could still find their way on the final 53.

Are we now spoiled, and do we now have too high of an expectation that the Rams will continue to hit it big in the draft? My Expectations have been raised but I also understand that not all drafts are equal in talent offered.

How could you forget Mr. Irrelevant himself, Desjuan Johnson?! (2023 Mr. Irrelevant, who has been a solid defensive lineman when he's played.) I'd say he's a key rotational depth piece. There's also Brennan Jackson (didn't play much, but will likely assume a bigger role with Hoecht's departure), Warren McClendon (2023 fifth round pick who started a few games and did all right at right tackle), Nick Hampton (2023 fifth round pick, not a starter, but a solid special teams player), Xavier Smith (2023 UDFA who became our starting punt returner), KT Leveston (2024 seventh round pick who didn't play, but could assume a much bigger role next year), Charles Woods and Cam Lampkin (2024 UDFA corners), possibly David Olajiga (2024 UDFA International defensive lineman who is a physical freak).

Then you include players drafted or signed by other teams in that time frame (Dylan McMahon, 2024 sixth round OC pick of the Eagles we took off their practice squad, Cody Schrader, 2024 UDFA of the Whiners whom we plucked off of their practice squad), and Emmanuel Forbes (2023 #16 overall pick of the Comm anders whom we picked off of waivers from them when they cut him).

Counting other players whom are currently still on the roster while being undrafted free agents who may or may not make it (Drake Stoops, Tanner Ingle, Elias Neal, Stetson Bennett), and that's thirty-six players who were eligible from 2023-2024 on our roster, not including the moves we'll make in 2025.

That's a masterclass on fucking scouting - and if you included 2022 (where we really hit on our later picks like Durant in the fourth, K-Will in the fifth, Lake in the sixth, Kendrick in the sixth, Arcuri in the seventh, Kier Thomas, Shaun Jolly, and Ronnie Rivers as UDFAs, and Nate Landman as a UDFA of the Falcons who signed with us this year,) the number would grow even more to forty-five, not even including potential 2025 picks and UDFAs.

Absolutely outstanding work by our scouting group, led by Snead, and an outstanding example of player development by our coaching staff.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

The odds of a third killer draft in a row cannot be very good. We can all hope, but I’m not overconfident.

 

[hotanez]

The odds of a third killer draft in a row cannot be very good. We can all hope, but I’m not overconfident.

are they any worse than 2 killer drafts in a row?

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

are they any worse than 2 killer drafts in a row?

I think so. There have been many instances of back to back good drafts.

Think about it though. There is a limited number of players they really like. 31 other teams have to pick players that are not on the Rams board in each round for the Rams to get their guys. It’s not like there are several Puka’s in each round. How often does a Kobe Turner last into round 3? Things have to fall just right.

Plus they now have another team that’s likely looking to draft some of the same players with Gladstone in Jacksonville.

 

[Neil039]

The standout points to me were about the character traits and IQ. All of these guys coming out of college have physical strengths, some more than others. The idea of getting a cohesive group of players (A TEAM, not A-Team for you 80s Fools) makes a huge difference. Culture is key!

Nice post @Noregar

 

[Billy Baroo]

High character, leadership, competitiveness, toughness, and love for the game.

Hey wait that’s five pillars. Spags said only four. Character, the only match - WTF?
We’re doomed!

 

[fearsomefour]

When Snead trades down and picks a player I like....

 

[hotanez]

I think so. There have been many instances of back to back good drafts.

Think about it though. There is a limited number of players they really like. 31 other teams have to pick players that are not on the Rams board in each round for the Rams to get their guys. It’s not like there are several Puka’s in each round. How often does a Kobe Turner last into round 3? Things have to fall just right.

Plus they now have another team that’s likely looking to draft some of the same players with Gladstone in Jacksonville.

The draft is not easy nor do I expect the Rams to keep hitting home runs like Puka, but I believe they can keep having good drafts where they can improve the depth and maybe luck out getting a solid starter or two. Good players always emerge from almost every draft that weren't on a lot of teams radar.

Gladstone worries me as much as losing Holmes did, not very much to be honest.

 

[WestCoastRam]

The Rams also have Emmanuel Forbes a former 1st round pick from the 2023 draft class now on the roster.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

The draft is not easy nor do I expect the Rams to keep hitting home runs like Puka, but I believe they can keep having good drafts where they can improve the depth and maybe luck out getting a solid starter or two. Good players always emerge from almost every draft that weren't on a lot of teams radar.

Gladstone worries me as much as losing Holmes did, not very much to be honest.

I didn’t say it’s impossible. I just don’t think it’s likely that they find 4-5 good starters every draft.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

The draft is not easy nor do I expect the Rams to keep hitting home runs like Puka, but I believe they can keep having good drafts where they can improve the depth and maybe luck out getting a solid starter or two. Good players always emerge from almost every draft that weren't on a lot of teams radar.

Gladstone worries me as much as losing Holmes did, not very much to be honest.

Gladstone is a concern this year. Next year he’s on his own but like Holmes, in his first year he’s working with the Rams intel. The Lions picked a few reported Rams targets in Holmes first year. It makes sense, since moving to another team doesn’t mean they erase their memory of all scouting discussions from the last year.

 

[majrleaged]

Potentially 27 of the 53 man roster could from the last two classes. How many teams can say that. Also throw in 8-10 more rookies this year and 35 to 37 of the 53 man roster would be in their first three seasons with almost all of them homegrown (Drafted-RUDFA).

Only problem I see is when a chunk of of these guys start hitting hit free agency in 2027

Still, It's a great time to be Ram fan!!

And that is why there is a good chance rams try to grab Staffords replacement. So they can afford to keep all the home grown talent. Hopefully they can get him in the 3rd, so maybe Stafford could stay 2 more years.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I didn’t say it’s impossible. I just don’t think it’s likely that they find 4-5 good starters every draft.

One would expect a regression to the mean with the draft.

A trade down this draft with more bites at the apple would be nice or a trade up for a blue chipper could be good (but who's a blue chipper we could actually trade for in this draft).

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

One would expect a regression to the mean with the draft.

A trade down this draft with more bites at the apple would be nice or a trade up for a blue chipper could be good (but who's a blue chipper we could actually trade for in this draft).

Agreed. Plus it’s not a draft loaded with star talent. If it’s low on stars at the top I think that means it’s likely going to be tougher to find quality later in the draft.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Agreed. Plus it’s not a draft loaded with star talent. If it’s low on stars at the top I think that means it’s likely going to be tougher to find quality later in the draft.

From what I have read and heard, there's a lot of talent in the middle rounds and even late at various positions, TE, RB, EDGE, DT, CB but so so at WR (which supposedly there's talent in mid rounds but not much top or bottom) and offensive line overall. QB is what it is, of course.

So draft sorta aligns with some of our needs in finding quality mid to late.