No. 1 rookie class in 2024

Les Snead flexes on NFL once again after Rams GM nabs No. 1 rookie class in 2024
By
Mike Luciano
|
Jan 15, 2025

Los Angeles Rams GM Les Snead has proven himself to be one of the top executives in sports today. Having mortgaged years worth of first-round picks to add the stars necessary for a Super Bowl run, Snead has proven to be a terrific “win-now” GM with a keen eye for talent.

However, if the Rams were to be successful after that initial wave of success, Snead would need to manage a shoestring budget and nail multiple late-round picks to keep the talent flowing in. He emphatically achieved that objective. Armed with more premium picks, Snead put together a franchise-changing 2024 NFL Draft Class.

Snead fixed the Rams’ post-Aaron Donald defensive line overnight and did so by selecting two Florida State teammates in first-round edge rusher Jared Verse and second-round defensive tackle Braden Fiske. After hitting on Miami’s Kamren Kinchens and Arkansas’ Beaux Limmer later in the draft, Snead polished off the best class any team in 2024 could put together.

Pro Football Focus was overwhelmed by the talent Snead assembled in this class, awarding his group the title of No. 1 2024 NFL Draft class in terms of talent acquired. The scary part about this class is that it may not even be fully realized.

Les Snead helps Rams earn PFF’s No. 1 draft class in 2024
How well did Rams GM Les Snead do in the 2024 NFL Draft? You tell me:

Pick

Player

Position

School

Round 1, Pick 19

Jared Verse

EDGE

Florida State

Round 2, Pick 39

Braden Fiske

DT

Florida State

Round 3, Pick 83

Blake Corum

RB

Michigan

Round 3, Pick 99

Kamren Kinchens

SAF

Miami

Round 5, Pick 154

Brennan Jackson

EDGE

Washington State

Round 6, Pick 196

Tyler Davis

DT

Clemson

Round 6, Pick 209

Joshua Karty

K

Stanford

Round 6, Pick 213

Jordan Whittington

WR

Texas

Round 6, Pick 217

Beaux Limmer

C

Arkansas

Round 7, Pick 254

KT Leveston

OG

Kansas State

Verse was as close to a no-brainer pick as possible, as his floor was so high. After leading all rookies in pressures by a wide margain, both he and Fiske appear to be in line for decade-long careers as starters in Los Angeles. The hits don’t stop with those two former Seminoles.

Despite a horrid combine, Kinchens has picked off four passes and looks like a future long-term playmaker. Whittington has been integrated into the offense despite his 6th-round draft status, and Limmer started 14 games during his rookie season. Karty did a solid job handling the kicking duties.

If Tyler Davis (who played just under 30% of defensive snaps in 2024) continues to grow in his role as a backup to Fiske and Corum sees his role behind Kyren Williams grow in his second season, Snead may have landed eight players who will be in LA for the long haul in one draft. Calling that impressive is an understatement.

With Snead continuously restocking the roster with young talent and the 1-2 punch of Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford keeping the offense operating at peak efficiency, the Rams have a solid foundation that will keep them constantly competitive in a very difficult NFC West.