When Aaron Donald announced his retirement a week into free agency, it seemed to guarantee the Rams would look to the first round of the NFL draft to find the elite defensive tackle’s successor. With tackles and edge rushers mostly off the board and signed with other teams, the Rams could use their first first-round pick since 2016 on a high-level reinforcement for the defensive front.
The thing is, though, that strategy doesn’t align with the Rams’ draft history. Like, at all.
Since hiring Sean McVay as head coach in 2017, the Rams have used their first selection in the draft on an offensive player six out of seven times, with Taylor Rapp the lone exception in 2019.
But the presence of the offensive-minded head coach doesn’t explain the entire story. In general manager Les Snead’s 12-year tenure, the Rams have taken a defensive player with their first pick just twice. Even in the Donald draft, Snead selected offensive tackle Greg Robinson with the second overall pick before taking Donald 11 picks later.
The results have been mixed; second-round pick Steve Avila was named to the All-Rookie team as a left guard last season, while Logan Bruss has yet to break through in his first two seasons. That’s the nature of the draft.
But the Rams’ philosophy has been clear for over a decade now. Invest top-end talent in the offense, find value on defense later in the draft.
And the 2024 draft might be the perfect situation for the Rams to find top-end offensive talent. This year’s crop of high-end prospects are heavily weighted toward the offensive side of the ball, particularly at receiver and line. Some experts predict Thursday’s opening day to break the record for the most offensive players selected in the first round.
So although the Rams appear set at receiver with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua and offensive line with four returning starters and free-agent acquisition Jonah Jackson, you can’t rule out the possibility that the Rams stick with best player available and add to an area of strength instead of drafting for need.
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LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr. could be available when the Rams select at No. 19. He led all FBS players with 17 touchdowns in 2023 and has the type of vertical speed that could open up the middle of the field for Kupp and Nacua, similar to how McVay utilized Tutu Atwell early last year.
There are plenty of other speed freaks at receiver in this draft, including the Texas duo of Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy. But with such a deep receiver class, there are intriguing options in the second and third rounds, as well. Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley, a former running back, could be the type of gadget player McVay loves to game plan for.
A receiver could make an immediate contribution, but the Rams could also play the long game and draft an offensive lineman to develop in 2024. Right tackle Rob Havenstein is entering his 10th season, while left tackle Alaric Jackson will be a free agent after playing out his one-year tender contract in 2024.
Georgia’s Amarius Mims is the type of prospect who could use some time to develop after starting just one year in college, but at 6-foot-8 and 340 pounds he has the physical gifts and the handwork to become a reliable NFL starter. Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton and Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga could be options at No. 19, too.
Speaking of long-term thinking, the Rams could look to add a quarterback this year. There wouldn’t be good value at the position at No. 19, but Michael Penix and Bo Nix could be options in the second round as the Rams look for a successor for Matthew Stafford, who has no guarantees in his contract beyond the 2024 season.