And just like that, the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books. Per usual, it was a wild and unexpected ride, starting with all the Round 1 action. Day 2 and Day 3 delivered surprises of their own. Some teams capitalized on the opportunity, while others came up short. Let’s take a look at the 2023 NFL Draft recap, analysis, and grades for the Los Angeles Rams. NFL Draft analysts Andrew Erickson and Thor Nystrom combine to provide their thoughts below.
- NFL Draft Grades for Every Team
- Thor’s Draft Grades (AFC | NFC)
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- Fitz’s Round 1 NFL Draft Picks: Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook (Day 2 | Day 3)
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2023 NFL Draft Recap, Analysis & Grades: Los Angeles Rams
NFL Draft analysts Andrew Erickson and Thor Nystrom combine to provide their thoughts below.
Thor Nystrom’s Overview & Grades
Los Angeles Rams | Draft Grade: C-
| Pick | Team | Position | Rank | Name | School | Comp |
| 36 | Rams | OL5 | 42 | Steve Avila | TCU | Chris Kemoeatu |
| 77 | Rams | ED16 | 110 | Byron Young | Tennessee | Ben Banogu |
| 89 | Rams | DL16 | 199 | Kobie Turner | Wake Forest | Justin Madubuike |
| 128 | Rams | QB11 | 192 | Stetson Bennett | Georgia | Ian Book |
| 161 | Rams | ED22 | 180 | Nick Hampton | Appalachian St. | Samson Ebukam |
| 174 | Rams | OT12 | 111 | Warren McClendon | Georgia | Martinas Rankin |
| 175 | Rams | TE10 | 175 | Davis Allen | Clemson | Cole Turner |
| 177 | Rams | WR15 | 114 | Puka Nacua | BYU | Discount Deebo |
| 182 | Rams | CB23 | 168 | Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson | Texas Christian | Tim Jennings |
| 189 | Rams | ED26 | 225 | Ochaun Mathis | Nebraska | Aaron Lynch |
| 215 | Rams | RB12 | 142 | Zach Evans | Mississippi | Elijah Mitchell |
| 223 | Rams | Px | — | Ethan Evans | Wingate | — |
| 234 | Rams | S10 | 134 | Jason Taylor II | Oklahoma State | Gerald Sensabaugh |
| 259 | Rams | DL22 | 274 | Desjuan Johnson | Toledo | Rakeem Nunez-Roches |
The Rams didn’t have a Round 1 pick, but they made an incredible 14 picks anyway. They doubled-up picks with trade-downs twice, adding to the kitty. Los Angeles’ hollowed-out roster could have used an exceptional draft.
The Rams didn’t get it. But the Rams’ strategy of eschewing upside for cost-certainty is likely to convert the lion’s share of this haul into roster cogs. That seemed intentional. Due in large part to the specific roster it is now joining, it is also going to provide multiple immediate starters, most prominently TCU’s Steve Avila, who is already carved into the 2023 starting lineup in stone.
The Stetson Bennett pick at No. 128 was ludicrous in lieu of the help needed elsewhere. But the Rams got serious late.
Of note, OT Warren McClendon, WR Puka Nacua, and CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson could all see the field as rookies. This is the perfect situation for Nacua – an underrated prospect with a diverse skillset and the ability to play both inside and outside. Sean McVay knows how to use guys like this.
Andrew Erickson’s Overview & Grades
The Rams’ biggest need was on their offensive line, and they wasted no time addressing the position. LA selected Steve Avila, who led all guards in the class in run behind percentage (47%) and yards before contact to their gap per game (48.9) per Sports Info Solutions.
They also hit another need along the defensive line by adding Tennessee’s Byron Young in Round 3. Young finished this past season tenth in pressures per game. Kobie Turner finished as PFF’s No. 1-graded run defender in the 2023 class last season.
The Rams got a nice value pick late on the offensive line with OT Warren McClendon. He’s not a supreme athlete like his teammate Broderick Jones, but he was productive posting the lowest pass-block rate (0.8%) in the 2023 tackle class. Definitely a better run-blocker overall, and he benefitted as a right tackle versus playing on the left side of the formation. When in doubt, cross your fingers and draft a Georgia Bulldog.
I also wouldn’t be surprised to see 5th-round Clemson tight end Davis Allen carve out a role for the Rams. Tyler Higbee is a potential salary cap casualty, and L.A. is in a total rebuild.
Puka Nacua aka “Discount Deebo Samuel” could also emerge as a legitimate option on a Rams WR depth chart that has virtually no established players outside Cooper Kupp. Nacua finished his BYU tenure strong as PFF’s second highest-graded WR in the nation (90.1) due to his impressive efficiency on per route run basis. He was targeted on 38 percent of his routes in 2022 and posted the second-highest targets above expectation in his class per Sports Info Solutions.
Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson helps the Rams secondary, which desperately needs more bodies. The TCU defender is slight, but he can man the slot with the best of them. Hodges-Tomlinson compiled the most forced incompletions and tied for first in yards allowed per coverage snap among his CB classmates (0.5) He has a chance to thrive as a projected slot CB (he’s very small at 5-foot-8 and 178 pounds) with sure-tackling a big part of his game.
RB Zach Evans was also a nice addition to the Rams backfield that is barren behind Cam Akers. I’d bet Evans can win the No. 2 job in training camp. His best-case scenario for fantasy purposes was to land on a weak RB depth chart.
FINAL DRAFT GRADE: B-
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