Best of the Draft

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  • October 4, 2023 at 7:15 pm #145903
    Avatar photoZooey
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    Which 2023 NFL Draft picks have excelled so far? Our early All-Rookie Team

    The Athletic NFL Staff

    Oct 4, 2023
    …..
    Wide receiver: Puka Nacua, Rams; Tank Dell, Texans; Zay Flowers, Ravens

    Honorable mention: Marvin Mims Jr., Jordan Addison, Josh Downs, Michael Wilson, Jayden Reed, Trey Palmer, Rashee Rice, Ronnie Bell, Dontayvion Wicks

    Nacua has been the clear top rookie wideout … just like we all thought, right? He ranks No. 1 among all NFL players in targets (50, tied with Davante Adams) and receptions (39) and is second in receiving yards (501, behind only Justin Jefferson). Somehow, he has found the end zone only once, but that touchdown won an overtime game Sunday. Based on his college film, I gave Nacua a third-round draft grade, but the major variable was his durability. Despite being banged up, he has stayed on the field thus far for Los Angeles, and he landed in a perfect situation with Matthew Stafford.

    Offensive line: Dawand Jones, Browns; Jarrett Patterson, Texans; Steve Avila, Rams; Matthew Bergeron, Falcons; Paris Johnson Jr., Cardinals
    Honorable mention: O’Cyrus Torrence, Darnell Wright, Cody Mauch, Chandler Zavala, John Michael Schmitz Jr., Anton Harrison, Joe Tippmann, Peter Skoronski, Atonio Mafi

    No surprise to see Torrence on this list — he was ready to go when he was drafted. Avila has had some technical issues, but he fights through every rep and looks like a keeper.

    Edge: Will Anderson Jr., Texans; Tuli Tuipulotu, Chargers; Byron Young, Rams
    Honorable mention: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Lukas Van Ness, Keion White, Colby Wooden, Myles Murphy, Zach Harrison

    Young is in the same cluster as Anderson and Tuipulotu, as he leads all rookies in total pressures (16) and pressure rate (15 percent). If he stays healthy, he can be another major steal by the Rams as their roster pivots.

    Defensive line: Jalen Carter, Eagles; Bryan Bresee, Saints
    Honorable mention: Gervon Dexter Sr., Kobie Turner, Karl Brooks, Keeanu Benton

    Punter: Ethan Evans, Rams
    Honorable mention: Bryce Baringer, Brad Robbins, Lou Hedley, Ty Zentner

    Evans (pick No. 223) leads all rookie punters with a 48.5 yards-per-punt average, which puts him less than a yard outside the NFL’s top 10 in that category. He’s also averaging a respectable 41.1 net yards per punt and has forced a touchback on 95.2 percent of his kickoff attempts.

    …..

    That’s five guys.

    That’s good.

    October 4, 2023 at 7:29 pm #145905
    Avatar photoInvaderRam
    Moderator

    that’s very encouraging.

     

    i’d say that the rams’ biggest needs at this point are edge rusher, dline, offensive tackle, and running back.

    October 4, 2023 at 8:53 pm #145908
    Avatar photoZooey
    Moderator
    InvaderRam wrote:

    that’s very encouraging. i’d say that the rams’ biggest needs at this point are edge rusher, dline, offensive tackle, and running back.

    I agree with that, more or less.

    I think the Rams could use a difference-maker at LB.

    October 5, 2023 at 12:02 am #145914
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator
    Zooey wrote:

    That’s five guys.

    Nacua, Avila, Young, Turner, Evans.

    Others that got good buzz during the summer but haven’t come through in regular season play yet are McClendon,  Allen, Tomlinson, and Mathis.

    A good draft hits on 40%, which would be between 5 and 6 players. A great draft hits on 50%, which would be 7 players.

    October 6, 2023 at 1:24 pm #145954
    Avatar photoZooey
    Moderator

    Then…there’s this:

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