With 2023 NFL training camps on the horizon, we’re starting to get an idea of how 2023 NFL draft classes will impact each roster this season.
Let's look at the Los Angeles Rams, breaking down the most likely instant-impact rookies from each class, while also providing some insight into why certain early picks may not see the field.
These insights are an excerpt from Warren Sharp's 500+ page book “2023 Football Preview” which is now available for download.
In the book, you can find a comprehensive breakdown of the rookie class for all 32 NFL teams by draft guru Ryan McCrystal.
Who are the Los Angeles Rams rookies?
- Steve Avila, G, TCU | Round 2, Pick 36
- Byron Young, EDGE, Tennessee | Round 3, Pick 77
- Kobie Turner, DT, Wake Forest | Round 3, Pick 89
- Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia | Round 4, Pick 128
- Nick Hampton, EDGE, App State | Round 5, Pick 161
- Warren McClendon, OT, Georgia | Round 5, Pick 174
- Davis Allen, TE, Clemson | Round 5, Pick 175
- Puka Nacua, WR, BYU | Round 5, Pick 177
- Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU | Round 6, Pick 182
- Ochaun Mathis, EDGE, Nebraska | Round 6, Pick 189
- Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss | Round 7, Pick 215
- Ethan Evans, P, Wingate | Round 7, Pick 223
- Jason Taylor II, S, Oklahoma State | Round 7, Pick 234
- Desjuan Johnson, EDGE, Toledo | Round 7, Pick 259
Los Angeles Rams Draft Class Grade:
The Rams received an A- rookie class draft grade from PFF, a B from ESPN, and a C from NFL Network.
Which Rams Rookies Will Make An Impact?
The perception that Les Snead doesn’t value draft picks has always been false, as evidenced by his 14 selections this year. Snead simply understands which picks are overvalued (first rounders) and undervalued (everything else).
Steve Avila (second round) will be expected to win an immediate starting job either at left guard or center. Avila’s strength is run blocking, and Sean McVay has made it clear he wants the team to establish a more consistent run game. TCU averaged 3.4 yards before contact when running to Avila’s gap last season.
Byron Young (third round) will have an opportunity to compete for a starting job on the edge. He’s already 25 years old, so it's unclear how much room there is for growth in his game, but his athletic traits indicate he could be a dangerous pass rusher.
Unfortunately, Young has been boom or bust as a pass rusher. He posted seven sacks last year at Tennessee but ranked 24th out of 35 SEC edge rushers in pressure rate at 10.0%.
Young will be joined by Nick Hampton (fifth round), Ochaun Mathis (sixth round), and Desjuan Johnson (seventh round). Mathis is an enigma. His career has steadily gone downhill since a breakout season in 2020 in which he generated a 16% pressure rate off the edge.
Kobie Turner (third round) is another older prospect (24 years old) who could provide interior pass-rush help in four-man fronts. However, he’s undersized and lacks ideal length (31-inch arms), so he may not be well suited for the Rams' heavy use of three-man fronts.
Stetson Bennett (fourth round) was a bizarre, unnecessary reach. Bennett exceeded expectations in every possible way at Georgia, but a 5-foot-11 quarterback with ordinary athleticism and poor arm strength is an extreme long shot to develop into a long-term starter.
Warren McClendon (fifth round) was Bennett’s right tackle at Georgia, where he excelled in pass protection. Rob Havenstein has three years remaining on his contract, so McClendon will serve as the backup, though his status on the roster likely depends on his ability to demonstrate position versatility.
Davis Allen (fifth round) has an uphill battle to earn a roster spot behind TE returnees Tyler Higbee and Brycen Hopkins and the recently acquired Hunter Long.
The Rams added some depth to a depleted receiving corps with Puka Nacua (fifth round). At 6-foot-2 with modest speed and reliable hands, he fits the same profile as Cooper Kupp.
He’s not the next Kupp, but he’ll have value on the depth chart if the Rams can groom him into a lesser version.
Tre Tomlinson (sixth round) would have been off the board much earlier if he weren’t 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds.
Based on route-adjusted metrics, Tomlinson generated a ball-hawk rate 50.1% above expected in 2022. And that production was no fluke, as it was identical to his rate the previous season.
Tomlinson should push Cobie Durant for the starting slot cornerback job.
Zach Evans (sixth round) was the third overall running back recruit in 2020, behind Bijan Robinson and one spot ahead of Jahmyr Gibbs. His college career was inconsistent due to a long list of injuries, but he certainly has the talent to push Kyren Williams for the backup job.
Jason Taylor II (seventh round) was a two-year starter at safety for Oklahoma State and could push for playing time in the deep secondary due to a lack of depth. He also has extensive special teams experience, which will ensure he earns a roster spot.
The Rams needed depth all over the roster and landed cheap backups at almost every position. It appears as though the Rams approached this draft with the intention to fill out the roster with rookies capable of contributing immediately as backups rather than using this wealth of picks to stockpile young players with high ceilings for the future.
If the Rams stay healthy in 2023 and this rookie class helps them contend again, the strategy will have paid off. If things go south, however, this class could further set back the rebuilding process.
