Rams’ post NFL draft depth chart: OLB, DL filled out while CB depth remains a question

What a difference a year makes, huh?

Last offseason, the Los Angeles Rams were in the process of filling out one of the sketchiest-looking rosters (on paper) in the NFL. Fourteen draft picks in 2023 produced six starters or key depth contributors, and another 10 last week filled (on paper) remaining needs with some of their favorites in the class.

Here’s what the roster looked like entering, and exiting, this year’s draft:

Offense

Quarterback

Despite some external speculation, I did not believe the Rams would take a quarterback in the early or middle rounds of this year’s draft. Stetson Bennett is back on campus, and while Jimmy Garoppolo will have to miss the first two games of the season because of an NFL-mandated suspension, the Rams have bigger issues at play if they need Garoppolo that early in the year.

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Offensive line: Starters and backups

I composed it this way to showcase the broader depth chart along the Rams’ offensive line, but when they get down to game-day actives the backups really are just Joe Noteboom (swing player) and Warren McClendon (swing player). KT Leveston is a sneaky-great development pick, and I would like to see him stay at tackle. Beaux Limmer can be the backup center but could also plug in as a reserve guard.

Wide receiver

I would keep an eye on Jordan Whittington, the Rams’ seventh-round pick, this spring and summer. General manager Les Snead, whose stepson is a long snapper at Texas (Whittington’s alma mater), gushed about the receiver and said everybody in the building referred to him as the Longhorns’ “heartbeat.” Whittington’s yards-after-catch ability, physical play style and resume on underneath concepts make him a fit for Sean McVay’s offense.

Running back

Second team: Zach Evans

McVay wanted to find a second running back, and he and position coach Ron Gould hoped to bring in a player similar to lead rusher Kyren Williams so that nothing schematic would need changing if Williams were to miss any time or has to keep fresher legs through a long season. Some fans raised their eyebrows at drafting a running back in the third round, but Blake Corum was one of their top players at the position and needed in light of Williams’ injury history, and the two remaining years on his contract.

Tight end

Tyler Higbee and Hunter Long are both recovering from injuries. Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen will be the Nos. 1 and 2 tight ends in the meantime, with Higbee expected to return in the middle or later part of the season.

Defensive line (interior)

If Bobby Brown III can stay on the field at nose tackle, Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske will be able to play more of the three-technique/four, 4i roles that will allow them more opportunities to pass rush. I could also see Tyler Davis getting playing time earlier than expected.

The Rams overpaid to get up to No. 39 for Fiske, but to them, the cost was worth it. If they didn’t trade back from No. 19, they would have traded into the 30s-40s anyway because their evaluations of the talent at defensive lineman dropped steeply after that. Further, once they picked outside linebacker Jared Verse at No. 19, they knew they would try to get FSU teammate Fiske to bring in instant chemistry along their front. The cost of the trade is the cost of that chemistry, versus spending a year learning how to rush off each other in a post-Aaron Donald world.

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Outside linebacker

Pre-draft second team: Nick Hampton, Ochaun Mathis, Keir Thomas
Post-draft second team: Michael Hoecht, Brennan Jackson, Hampton, Mathis

Aside from the starters, it’s probably best to look at the depth players as a rotation because they will do different things. Hampton, for example, is a speed rusher, while Hoecht and Jackson are more power and could even move inside.

Verse immediately lends significant firepower to this group.

Inside linebacker

Second team: Jake Hummel

As of now, Ernest Jones will play through his fourth season without a contract extension, but that could always change closer to training camp. This year’s inside linebackers draft class wasn’t considered to be a strong one.

Safety

To get the promising Kamren Kinchens on the field earlier, the Rams may show more three-safety looks that also feature Quentin Lake in a “dime linebacker” role, or they could play Kam Curl in the “star” and keep Lake and Kinchens in the two-high pre-snap look.

Cornerback

Depth is still a concern at cornerback, in consideration of the age of Darious Williams and Tre’Davious White and of White’s continued recovery from an Achilles repair surgery. The Rams will need Cobie Durant to take another step forward in 2024.

Specialists

The Rams! Drafted! A kicker!!!!!!!

I met the Karty parents in Mobile while walking to the entrance gate for practice. His mom told me flat out she hoped the Rams either would pick him or sign him. She had studied all the NFL rosters and felt that was the right fit. You can see by her headgear she held out hope! https://t.co/DT8mOMftfz

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) April 28, 2024

(Photo of Jared Verse: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)