While much of the Los Angeles Rams organization is focused on winning their first playoff game since winning the Super Bowl in 2021 by beating the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, their college scouts are hard at work identifying which talented player they will add in the upcoming NFL Draft (It is only three and a half month away, mind you.)
The 33rd Team just released their first mock draft of the post-regular season calendar. While the Rams are among the 14 teams that don’t have a cemented spot in the draft due to a playoff berth, their current spot is the 23rd pick in the first round.
Los Angeles Rams Pick Aireontae Ersery With The 23rd Pick
With that pick, NFL Draft Lead, Kyle Crabbs sent Minnesota Golden Gophers offensive tackle, Aireontae Ersery to LA. Here is his reasoning.
“Despite all of the investment into the offensive line this past offseason, it was once again the trenches up front that posed challenges for the Rams early in the year. Granted, the team overcame once the heart of the unit got healthy, but these issues have to be getting old for Sean McVay. The answers on the interior are evident, but what about left tackle? Joe Notebook and Alaric Jackson are set to hit the market in March.
Meanwhile, Aireontae Ersery is a powerful mauler of a tackle who would give them a violent finisher in the run game and a prototypical size to protect the edge for Matthew Stafford.”
Given Noteboom’s limited role in the offense since re-signing with the team on a huge contract, it seems unlikely they will be too eager to sign him to another large contract and he won’t pose a threat as a potential starter.
Jackson will likely seek a large payday, as he has risen to the starter level, now having started 29 of a possible 34 games over the last two seasons. How much the Rams are willing to pay Jackson depends heavily on whether they can move on from their biggest 2024 free agent acquisition, Jonah Jackson, who is essentially a backup guard for the Rams, costing the team over $14 million in cap space next season.