One year ago, NFL.com put Los Angeles Rams rookie defensive linemen Kobie Turner and Byron Young on their all-rookie team ahead of the 2023 season. Those two players went on to combine for 118 tackles, including 16 for loss and 17 sacks.
This year they have done it again.
Both their first and second-round draft picks landed on the 2024 All-Rookie team. With their first first-round pick in eight years, the Rams selected Jared Verse with the 19th overall pick. Then they traded up in the second round to add Verse’s Florida State teammate, Braden Fiske.
Los Angeles Rams Invest Draft Capital into Defensive Line
These four players represent the most draft capital they have used to address the defensive line in the McVay era. In the six drafts before these last two, the Rams have used exactly one draft pick in the top 100 picks or higher to address the defensive line. That was Terrell Lewis, who was drafted 84th in the 2020 draft. He played 823 snaps and was cut before the end of his rookie contract.
In the last two drafts, the Rams have used four of their seven top 100 picks along the front five positions.
Of course, the elephant in the defensive line room was and is Aaron Donald. The Rams could get away with rolling the dice at these positions because of Donald’s dominance. Now he is enjoying his retirement.
Have the Rams rebuilt the defensive line well enough to compensate for Donald’s absence? NFL.com draft analyst is a believer in Verse and Fiske;
“Rams 2023 third-round picks Kobie Turner and Byron Young were selected to last season’s NFL.com All-Rookie Team after earning nine and eight sacks, respectively. Verse and Fiske will be another dynamic duo, bolstering a team effort in replacing future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald. Verse will overpower and outhustle tackles on the outside to post at least seven sacks, while Fiske should benefit from single-block situations inside thanks to his workmanlike effort in run support and on third down.”
