Los Angeles Rams NFL Draft 2024 guide: Picks, predictions and key needs

The Beast, Dane Brugler’s expansive guide to the NFL Draft, is here.

The Los Angeles Rams have the 19th pick in the NFL Draft when the first round begins April 25 in Detroit. The Rams own 11 total picks in the seven-round draft.

Rams’ draft picks

Full draft order

Every pick in the seven-round NFL Draft.

GO DEEPER

NFL Draft 2024 ‘The Beast’ Guide: Dane Brugler’s scouting reports and player rankings

NFL Draft details

• Round 1: April 25, 8 p.m. ET
• Rounds 2-3: April 26, 7 p.m. ET
• Rounds 4-7: April 27, noon ET

All rounds will be televised on ESPN/ABC and NFL Network and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes.

About the Rams

• Head coach: Sean McVay (eighth season)
• General manager: Les Snead (13th season)
• Last year’s record: 10-7, lost in wild-card round of playoffs

The Rams re-signed guard Kevin Dotson — a big, important move — and then signed guard Jonah Jackson. Third-year running back Kyren Williams (1,144 yards, 12 TDs in 2023) should be thrilled as will QB Matthew Stafford. The Rams also brought back CB Darious Williams, who played three-plus seasons for the Rams before going to the Jaguars the past two seasons. After being one of the surprise teams in 2023, winning 10 games and making the playoffs, McVay’s team won’t sneak up on anyone in 2024.

Rams’ key position needs 

Edge/outside linebacker: The Rams opted to invest in their offensive line in free agency, and in a couple of low-cost deals for veteran defensive backs. Between that and Aaron Donald’s retirement, strong signs point toward outside linebacker and defensive lineman being two priority positions in this year’s draft. Byron Young had a solid rookie season as a full-time starter on the edge, but he needs a partner on the other side.

Defensive lineman: Nobody is replacing Donald, but the Rams need to find a good difference-making partner for Kobie Turner. Turner was a starter last season and became a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate. He may move to the three-technique after pairing with Donald as the nose tackle in 2023, which would mean more pass-rushing opportunities.

Running back: The Rams should draft a running back every year, period. While Kyren Williams emerged as a bonafide star in 2023, finishing just behind MVP candidate Christian McCaffrey in production despite missing four games to injury, the latter point is a concern. Williams has dealt with injuries in each of his two seasons and could use a true No. 2, with Ronnie Rivers a No. 3 and key special teams contributor.

Wide receiver: The Rams will have Nos. 3 and 4 receivers Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell either on a one-year deal or entering their contract year. Second-year player Puka Nacua put up historic numbers as a rookie, but the Rams need to make sure his physical toll isn’t too great as his career continues. Cooper Kupp will be 31 as the 2024 season begins and has not been healthy in two years (though McVay believes he will bounce back this year). Despite all of their production in 2023, receiver is quietly a significant need for the longer-term.

Rams draft analysis

Rams NFL Draft big board: 35 prospects with plenty of edge rushers and D-linemen

Sean McVay, Les Snead’s pre-draft presser: Rams’ notes, news — and unhinged moments

Rams 7-round mock draft: Arguing for and against Dane Brugler’s picks

Rams and ‘The Beast’: NFL Draft possibilities at each position of need

Which NFL teams’ quarterback depth charts are in the best shape heading into the 2024 NFL draft?

VP of football operations Tony Pastoors discusses contracts, position investments and more

Rams GM Les Snead on Aaron Donald’s retirement, free agency, draft priorities

Rams mock draft analysis: Reasons for and against taking an edge rusher in Round 1

The Athletic’s latest mock drafts

April 19: 2024 analytics mock draft: What the projections tell us
How about a Round 1 receiver for the Rams?

April 17: 7-round mock draft: Dane Brugler predicts all 257 picks
An edge in Round 1 and a surprise in Round 2

April 8: Nick Baumgardner’s 3-round mock
Surprising trade up to get an edge rusher

April 4: Bruce Feldman projects the first round
Local edge rusher gets the nod at No. 19

March 21: Beat writer mock draft 2.0
With Aaron Donald retired, finding someone at defensive tackle makes sense.

March 5: Dane Brugler’s post-combine mock draft
Brugler targets an edge rusher to the Rams in Round 1.

Feb. 22: Beat writer mock draft 1.0
Before free agency hit, the Rams might have targeted this offensive lineman.

Rams’ last five top picks

2023: G Steve Avila, No. 36 — The Rams thought Avila would be the type of player up front who could help them run more physical plays and he was just that and more, starting all 17 games and playing 100 percent of the snaps as a rookie. Avila will shift from left guard to center to accommodate the signing of free-agent Jonah Jackson in 2024 and the Rams have to be excited about the potential of their interior offensive line.

2022: OL Logan Bruss, No. 104 — The Rams’ first pick came in the third round when they selected Bruss. But things took a downturn for Bruss quickly, when he tore an ACL and MCL in the second preseason game and missed his rookie season. He signed a reserve/future contract in January with the Rams after the team waived him and then placed him on their practice squad last season. He has yet to take a regular-season snap and will revert to his original position of right tackle, after a rocky experiment at guard.

2021: WR Tutu Atwell, No. 57 — The small (5-9, 165) and fast receiver started out slow. He only played in eight games as a rookie and had zero touches on offense. But he caught 18 passes in 2022 and 39 last season (for 483 yards and three TDs) in becoming a speed complement to Kupp and Nacua.

2020: RB Cam Akers, No. 52 — He ran for 625 yards his rookie season and looked like the team’s future at the position. But he tore his Achilles before the 2021 season and only saw action in one game. He rebounded in 2022 and totaled 786 rushing yards and seven TDs but fell out of favor and was traded to the Vikings one game into the 2023 season as Williams (a 2022 fifth-round draft pick) became the lead running back.

2019: S Taylor Rapp, No. 61 — Rapp started 48 games in four seasons with the Rams and intercepted nine passes. He recently signed a contract extension with the Buffalo Bills.

(Photo of Chop Robinson / Michael Reaves)