DraftWire’s Jeff Risdon listed a UDFA to watch for each team this season and Quindell Johnson was named for the Rams. https://t.co/vThoSLGl7f

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) May 3, 2023

Sean McVay says everything will earned, but he sees a handful of rookies who will have “legitimate chances” to start in Week 1 https://t.co/tysMHe2vDg

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) May 3, 2023

Sean McVay sees Zach Evans as a nice complement to Cam and Kyren, talking a little bit about his game

Says he has some "special traits" https://t.co/RWH8NvHQRp

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) May 3, 2023

ST Coordinator Chase Blackburn played a pivotal role for Rams during draft, identifying three new starters as part of rookie class https://t.co/gWlwWtjVkf

— TurfShowTimes (@TurfShowTimes) May 3, 2023

Which rookie kicker will win starting job for Rams? Christopher Dunn seems to have the upper hand over Tanner Brown entering training camp: https://t.co/UM2FnNMi8X

— TurfShowTimes (@TurfShowTimes) May 3, 2023

From Chad Reuter, Ranking favorite picks in every round: https://www.nfl.com/news/2023-nfl-draft-ranking-favorite-picks-in-every-round?campaign=Twitter_atn

Zach Evans

Drafted: No. 215 overall

Speaking of low-risk, high-reward picks, that’s exactly what the Rams got in the sixth round with Evans. The Ole Miss running back is a top-five back in the class when on point, powering through contact, stiff-arming defenders and finding a burst in the second level to create explosive plays. Don’t be surprised if he takes some carries from Cam Akers this season.

Inside the Rams’ 2023 NFL Draft: Nerves at No. 36, ‘no-hitter’ treatment and top picks

Jourdan Rodrigue

The most fun I have reporting and writing a story each year:

Inside the Rams draft house, from some clenching and discipline in the 1st and 2nd, to the "no-hitter" treatment for one favorite, and intel + analysis on *every single* pick…hope you enjoy: https://t.co/tHxmW6X4om

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) May 3, 2023

link: https://twitter.com/JourdanRodrigue/status/1653763366509506562

ENCINO, Calif. — Day 2 of the NFL Draft started with whispers and rumors, as it always does. This time, the Rams were involved.

When Kentucky quarterback Will Levis dropped out of the first round, pundits and football fans speculated about a potential connection with the Rams, because head coach Sean McVay recently employed Liam Coen as offensive coordinator. Coen, who is back at Kentucky, successfully ran a version of McVay’s system with Levis in 2021.

But Levis was never in the Rams’ plans. Internally their opinions about him were far from consensus. They entered the draft with the expectation to wait until Day 3 to pick up a quarterback who would back up Matthew Stafford. As they reset their draft board ahead of Friday’s second and third rounds, general manager Les Snead wrote their coaching and scouting consensus No. 1 player for Day 2 on a sheet of lined paper, and passed it around: TCU guard Steve Avila.

Snead, who loves to play the antagonist, later openly smirked about the quarterback rumors in his post-draft press conference. He also had a U-T Chattanooga sweatshirt draped over the back of his chair in the war room upstairs, a wink at a mischaracterized viral moment from the 2022 first round when Snead and McVay tipsily cackled about the Patriots selection of offensive lineman Cole Strange — laughing at themselves for doing so much work on a player 90 picks out of their reach.

This year, their first pick was at No. 36. And instead of spending their pick-less first round, ah, “bonding” with their staff, McVay and Snead stayed in the Rams’ war room on the second level of their 10,000-square-foot draft house in the San Fernando Valley.

They were discussing a possible trade into the first round, and needed to remain upstairs — surrounded by analysts, other executives, their coordinators Mike LaFleur and Raheem Morris and their senior draft consultants, as well as several digital screens feeding them information on official picks and trades being filed over to the league as much as 15 minutes before the television broadcast displayed them.

Thursday night, the Rams debated about five players — all offense — who either were falling, or could fall, far enough in the first round to merit a trade up. They “knocked on some doors,” Snead later said, to inquire about costs. Suddenly, the Giants made their move into pick No. 24 (the TV broadcast was only on pick No. 21 or 22 at that point) and the Jaguars flipped their new No. 25 to Buffalo. Shortly after, the group upstairs got its intel on how the rest of the first round would likely shake out and some started to make their way downstairs (the broadcast still only showing picks 23-24 by now).

By Friday afternoon, with Avila locked in as their top target at No. 36 and league-wide smokescreens circulating, some on staff were getting nervous. A couple of assistant coaches, including new offensive line coach Ryan Wendell, started a game of bags in the backyard to try to settle down. Wendell hovered near the staircase as the second round began, in case the Rams were in reach of their guy. If he fell to them, Wendell would be called upstairs by McVay’s right-hand assistant, Carter Crutchfield, to get on the phone and help call in the pick (the Rams do this with all of their position coaches).

A mini-run on the top two remaining tight ends started right ahead of the Rams — the Lions took Sam LaPorta, and then the Raiders traded up for Michael Mayer (perhaps believing the Rams would take him). Tight end was a need for the Rams, who thought very highly of several prospects in the class — but regarded no Day 2 player higher than Avila. They had a clear runway to file Avila over to the league office as their pick at No. 36, amid raucous applause and hollering.

Wendell came back downstairs, took a breather, and then went outside and sank the game-winner in bags.

Avila will likely immediately start for the Rams at either guard or center. He has excelled at both: a team captain who started for TCU at center before a transfer player/coaching change sent him to guard, where he didn’t allow a single sack in 2022 and became a consensus All-American.

“(He is a) tough guy, I mean a large human being who moves very well for that size. A guy that is in the business of moving people,” said area scout Cedric Jones, who was the lead on Avila. He joked that watching Avila even got “boring” because he was just so consistent snap after snap.

At No. 36, and later in the second round — all picks within the top 100, after trades from No. 69 to No. 73, then No. 73 to No. 89 left them with Nos. 77 and 89 — the Rams wanted players who could physically get on the field as early as possible. But also important were these specific players’ acumen for the sport and their leadership qualities. Because the Rams will be so young at so many positions, this draft was not just about filling holes — it was also about resetting a cultural foundation after a calamitous 2022. That only made Avila a more coveted player.

“He has a great personality, he can relate to a lot of different people,” Jones said. “You can put that guy in, he’s gonna come and do his job. We’re pretty confident in that.”

At No. 73, the Rams took Tennessee edge Byron Young. He went from no-star recruit who didn’t have the grades to attend a Division I school, to postgraduate school to get his grades together, to assistant manager at Dollar General where he saw a flier for tryouts at Georgia Military College in the spring of 2019. From there, Young (who also lost the 2020 season because of the pandemic), got his tape out to junior colleges and eventually signed with Tennessee. Area scout Billy Johnson latched onto Young around that time, but Young required some digging past just his short stint there. Senior personnel executive Brian Xanders went back over all of Young’s scraps of tape to get a better feel for the pressures and quarterback hits he amassed at his various stops.

The Rams lack any sort of presence off the edge, and Young’s 4.43 40-yard dash speed was his most attractive athletic quality especially because their pass rush was frequently neutralized by opponents’ quick game in 2022. But Young’s run defense is still a big work in progress — and something he said new outside linebackers coach Joe Coniglio spoke about in-depth with him when they had a Zoom call in the weeks before the draft. The Rams still lack a player who can definitively play every down at outside linebacker.

At pick No. 89, the Rams drew another rare consensus between scouts and coaches when they selected Wake Forest defensive tackle Kobie Turner.

Turner is undersized (6-foot-2 and 293 pounds), but built like a barrel full of rocks. He’s also bright and self-aware, noting Friday night that he especially studied Rams star Aaron Donald’s tape from years ago to see how he developed his hands and technique. “Especially a few years back, knowing that I was a little undersized by other people’s terms, I learned just how good his hand placement is (and) how everything works in sync,” he said.

Turner was compared to former Rams defensive tackle Greg Gaines, another undersized difference-maker, during his evaluation process. Gaines signed with Tampa Bay this spring. Like Gaines, Turner possesses an understanding of how all of the pieces of a pass rush interconnect and that is important when working in tandem with Donald, who can freestyle where he sees an advantage. In college, Turner created enough havoc along the interior defensive line to make quarterbacks hesitate (another trait identified for setting up Donald).

“He’s just one of those guys that when you watch him play, there’s no play off,” Snead said.

With their first three picks Friday night, it felt as though the Rams selected players who (in theory) would immediately help at least two in their aging three-man star core: Stafford and Donald.

Pick No. 128, QB Stetson Bennett

Day 3 of the draft started at 7 a.m. with two fresh pots of coffee, which awaited coaches and scouts on the countertop in the open-concept kitchen. Coniglio, among the first wave of coaches who helped drain a pot, started a third as the rest of the house started to fill with bustle and noise. After their two Day 2 trades, the Rams finally held a fourth-rounder (they called their former dearth of picks in that round “the black hole”), No. 128.

Curiously at the time, former NFL quarterback Kellen Clemens paced, expressionless, through the house. He spoke to no one. In hindsight, his presence was a huge giveaway that the Rams were targeting a backup quarterback on Day 3. Internally, they had all agreed that they’d take a quarterback Saturday if one they liked got to one of their picks. Clemens was a consultant hired by the Rams in January to help them evaluate a giant class of quarterbacks, and they never announced it publicly like they had their other hires in order to hide their hand for the draft.

As the staff filed one by one up the stairs and into the war room in the minutes before the fourth round began, they chatted quietly to one another about how they felt the board ahead of their pick would fall. Former Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett was at the top of Snead’s list. The offensive staff liked him. The defensive staff especially liked him — whoever the Rams brought in as backup to Stafford would also run a live scout team against the first-team defense. That player would have to be capable of developing as a quarterback while at the same time being enough of a competitor to challenge and thus help develop a very young defense.

The Rams also felt that a few teams around the league were pretending they weren’t as high on Bennett as they really were. One person involved in Bennett’s evaluation process said he had a pit in his stomach that morning, worrying they wouldn’t get him.

So they gave Bennett the “no-hitter” treatment, to not jinx anything. They didn’t say his name or talk about him. They weren’t really in communication with him late in the draft process (to the point where he bought several different team hats pre-draft to ensure he had the right one on for his introductory Zoom press conference, not knowing who would pick him).

Clemens had gone to Athens, Ga., and put Bennett through a series of mental evaluations including whiteboard work and in-game decision-making exercises. Clemens, silent all morning, was a totally different person after the pick was filed and even did a miniature press conference with reporters in the garage alongside director of draft management J.W. Jordan.

Jordan said that even with all the talent around Bennett on Georgia’s title-winning rosters, he isn’t just a quarterback who stands and hands off the ball.

“That’s what you think going in,” Jordan said. “So in a way, it’s like you’ve got to overcome that bias. But when you start watching him, you’re like, ‘Oh. This guy is more than just a cog in the wheel. He’s driving the bus — for better or worse, however good or bad he is, he’s driving the bus.”

Bennett is just 5-foot-11, but that was less of a concern for Rams evaluators. They were more so drawn to the quality Jordan described. In 2022, they collectively finally understood the difference between “worst-case scenarios” for their offense: There is the situation in which the starting quarterback goes down and there is little chance the backup can come in and give the team a chance to win, and there is the situation in which the starter goes down and the team knows it has a shot to win. Like waiver wire acquisition Baker Mayfield, the fourth quarterback who started for the Rams in 2022, they believe Bennett is the latter.

About that live scout team, and competing in practice …

The Rams drafted a teammate of Bennett’s, offensive tackle Warren McClendon Jr., at No. 174 on Saturday. McClendon (who currently can plug in as a “swing” player capable of backing up multiple positions along the line) described a Georgia football tradition called “bloody Tuesdays.”

“(It) was our most physical practice,” McClendon said. “Having that competition and coming into practice and practicing hard, I think we’ll both have success there.”

Pick No. 161, OLB Nick Hampton

Everything started moving very fast around this point. The Rams made three more trades (five total in the entire draft) to maneuver around the board.

Hampton, a standout pass rusher at Appalachian State, got the call surrounded by his parents and two brothers. He answered on the first ring.

“I fit their defense because it’s similar to what we did at App State,” Hampton said of the Rams. “I’m a relentless pass rusher. Always giving effort. I’m going to get to the quarterback and get the ball out.”

Hampton, a strong and physical presence on the edge, was No. 84 on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks list” for standout athleticism and one of seven players the Rams took a closer look at via Senior Bowl tape.

Pick No. 175, TE Davis Allen

New tight ends coach Nick Caley liked Allen, as long as he was a Day 3 pick. Allen is still growing into his skill set as a pass catcher and blocker, but has an intriguing foundation in both phases.

“Dream come true,” said Allen, before spending the next few minutes of the call (somewhat endearingly) talking about all of the things he needs to improve.

“There’s a lot of room for improvement for me, I think there always will be,” he said. “But I do think I can do a little bit of both.”

Pick No. 177, WR Puka Nacua

Nacua’s skill set is very familiar to Rams fans: He’s a physical yards-after-catch player with a real savviness for how the game works and the layers within an offense.

His injury history is a concern and did contribute to his pick point. He and Rams star receiver Cooper Kupp share a former receivers coach in common, Junior Adams (now at Oregon).

“Love Puka,” Adams said in a text message. “Growth mindset. Always trying to get better. Ultra-competitive with the ball in the air and loves doing the dirty work in the run game.”

Pick No. 182, CB Tre Hodges-Tomlinson

Hodges-Tomlinson, the nephew of Hall of Fame running back LaDanian Tomlinson and last year’s Jim Thorpe Award winner, is under the Rams’ usual height profile at cornerback (he’s 5-foot-8). But he also has outstanding ball skills and athleticism, is twitchy, tenacious and smart — characteristics the Rams need in their secondary in order to get back to a stickier, more aggressive match zone.

Tomlinson definitely, definitely has a chip on his shoulder because of how late he was selected in the draft. He knows it was because of his height.

“People degrade me, even though I’ve done as much as I’ve done in this game of football and continued to prove (them) wrong,” he said. “You know, it seems to still go over others heads. The Rams, you know, they believed in me. They chose to make the pick. So I’m gonna make sure that this pick right here is gonna be one of the greatest picks they’ve ever had. I’m ready to get to work, and I’m gonna continue to show others why they shouldn’t have passed up on me.”

Pick No. 189, OLB Ochaun Mathis

Mathis was a late-round favorite of Morris. He was very impressive at TCU in 34 starts (32 tackles for loss in those games), but didn’t play much after transferring to Nebraska ahead of the 2022 season.

“Mathis has impressive physical traits with his size measurables and athletic tools, but his play strength and pass-rush instincts are underdeveloped,” The Athletic’s lead draft analyst Dane Brugler said. “His raw talent is better than his tape, making him a potential draft-and-develop rusher for an NFL team.”

Pick No. 215, RB Zach Evans

For the second year in a row, the Rams traded up for a running back. Evans was projected to be selected on Day 2 of the draft, but fell in part because of some past injuries and also for what Brugler called “baggage,” referring to Evans as a “boom or bust” prospect, “but there is no denying his burst and balance to create explosive plays in different ways.”

Pick No. 223, P Ethan Evans

Late Saturday afternoon, special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn and assistant Jeremy Springer hunched in one corner of the house’s first floor, cheeks flushed, surrounded by screens and papers. The coaches and the scouts knew that the top kicker and punter in this year’s draft class would likely be selected with higher picks than they would be allotted for the position group. But the Rams entered the draft with zero specialists on their roster, so they had to have a strategy to fill every spot.

If the top kicker(s) were picked before the Rams, they would draft either a punter or a long-snapper, the latter with the latest picks if it came to that and the former only if the right punter fell to the right pick in the seventh round. Then, they would go all-in recruiting multiple kickers to their undrafted free agent class, and whichever third specialist position they didn’t draft.

Both special teams coaches had been on the road visiting prospects all spring. Blackburn attended the Wingate pro day (a private Division II college in North Carolina with a student population of about 2,500) this spring, and took Evans out to dinner — a nice place, added Evans, noting he’s from a small mountain town and that Blackburn “could’ve taken me to McDonald’s, I wouldn’t care.”

The two had a good connection. Evans, just 21 years old, has an impressive leg and finesse even though he’s still growing. Blackburn liked that Evans knew a little Rams history: former special teams greats Johnny Hekker and Greg Zeurlein came into the 2012 class together, and built something impressive from the ground up. As the seventh round began and he headed upstairs, Blackburn was practically vibrating from excitement — they believed Evans would fall to them at pick No. 223, and Blackburn would get to make the call for the first time in his career.

The word Snead used to describe Blackburn throughout the pre-draft process (it’s not a real word, but typically Snead): “Thorough-cus. … Thorough plus focused.”

Pick No. 234, S Jason Taylor

Taylor, an Oklahoma State standout who was projected to be drafted in the late fourth or early fifth round, instead watched with his family as pick after pick came off the board. He sank deeper into sadness and frustration as time passed, and finally walked into the backyard with his mom so that the two could discuss his options as an undrafted free agent.

Then, the Rams called. Taylor’s mom got to listen in as Snead told him they were drafting him, and then they both hurried inside to inform the rest of the family.

“This is all so quick, you know? I just got drafted!” Taylor said over the phone, emotional and fighting to keep his voice even. “I’m here talking now, and I’m just full of happiness and gratefulness.”

Taylor’s voice finally cracked as his tears began to flow. “I think just being with my family, um, I think this is the most special moment. All of this, we went through this process together just to get to this point and the fact that I got a lot of my family here, enjoying each other and having a good time … that’s what makes this special.”

His journey from the draft into his NFL career, if he can stay on course, draws parallels to other Rams safeties who have worked their way up from humble rookie beginnings: Nick Scott and Jordan Fuller.

Pick No. 259, DL Desjuan Johnson

This year (via trade) the Rams held the final pick in the draft — a bit tiresomely named “Mr. Irrelevant”. Johnson was a tackle-for-loss machine in college, albeit at the MAC level, and (on theme for this Rams draft class), a little undersized at his position. He’ll get a chance to compete for a depth role, though, because their roster is so thin on defense.

“I didn’t know it was the last pick, or ‘Mr. Irrelevant’, until we made the trade,” quipped Snead.

The Rams drafted 11 players Saturday, and then agreed to terms with 24 undrafted free agents (they hit 25 by Monday night). Their roster overall faces a steep uphill climb this season. That is next week’s problem. As the sun started setting over the San Fernando Valley, a few scouts cracked beers (and hard seltzers, no judgment) and turned their attention to one last game of bags.

zn wrote:

from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/lists/rams-nfl-draft-grades-experts-2023-class-report-card/

Touchdown Wire – Grade: B

Doug Farrar liked what the Rams did at the top of the draft, particularly with their first pick, Steve Avila. He questioned the selection of Stetson Bennett in the fourth round, however, which many fans and analysts have done, too.

I love the addition of Steve Avila up top — he’s a natural power blocker who will work his way into that depleted offensive line right away. And Tennessee’s Byron Young is a hybrid-sized (6-foot-2, 250-pound) rusher who had nine sacks and 42 total pressures last season. The fifth round was a value round for the Rams — Warren McClendon Jr. was a personal favorite as was Puka Nacua, Davis Allen should thrive in Sean McVay’s offense, and if Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson was six feet tall and weighed 200 pounds, we’d have been talking about him as we were talking about Devon Witherspoon, Christian Gonzalez, and Joey Porter Jr.

Full analysis: Click here

NFL.com – Grade: A-

Chad Reuter wasn’t as critical of the Bennett pick, saying he has the tools to potentially replace Matthew Stafford after he retires – though he needs to do some maturing, too. He also liked the selections of Avila and Taylor in the first three rounds, but he believes Kobie Turner went earlier than expected.

Analysis: Super Bowl-winning quarterback Matthew Stafford functioned as the Rams’ first-round pick again this year. The team added more picks through various Day 2 trades. Adding Avila bolsters the interior of the offensive line, while Young’s closing ability gives him a chance to become an effective edge defender. Turner was a productive player at Richmond and Wake Forest but went a bit earlier than projected.

Full analysis: Click here

Pro Football Focus – Grade: A-

Pro Football Focus noted that Young isn’t a finished product as a pass rusher, but the potential is there for him to become a quality player. Turner got some good recognition from the analytics site, which viewed him as one of the most underrated players in the entire draft.

The Rams grab one of the most underrated players in the class. After producing at an elite level in the FCS for Richmond, Turner transferred to the Demon Deacons and earned a 92.2 PFF grade in 2022 — the second-best mark in the Power Five, behind only Georgia’s Jalen Carter. Turner plays with excellent leverage and possesses strong hands and quicks.

Full analysis: Click here.

Sports Illustrated – Grade: B

Gilbert Manzano, who used to cover the Rams, gave them a grade of ‘B’. He views Avila as a potential starter at guard next season and the team’s center of the future, while Young fills a clear need at edge rusher. Turner should get better after learning from Aaron Donald, too.

The Rams were smart to add depth to the offensive line after the starting unit was decimated by injuries in 2022. Avila could compete for a guard spot next year and possibly become the center of the future. L.A. followed with another smart decision, addressing its pass-rushing need by selecting Young, who could provide that after recording seven sacks last season. Turner lacks ideal size as a defensive tackle, but he’s a polished pass rusher and will get to learn from Aaron Donald. The Rams made noise on Day 3 after selecting Bennett to be the backup for Matthew Stafford. — G.M.

Full analysis: Click here

The Ringer – Grade: C+

Danny Kelly noted how large the Rams’ draft class is, consisting of 14 total players. The quantity is there, but he doesn’t believe they found a star in this class. And while Byron Young is an older prospect, Kelly sees him as “an athletic marvel.”

I’m also a fan of day-three role players Clemson tight end Davis Allen, BYU pass-catcher Puka Nakua, and Ole Miss running back Zach Evans, the latter of whom could push Cam Akers for carries early on. This wasn’t the flashiest group of players for the Rams, and I’m not sure I see a star. But L.A.’s got to rebuild the depth of their roster—and this was a solid start.

Full analysis: Click here

FOX Sports – Grade: B

Eric D. Williams gave the Rams a ‘B’ for their class, noting that Bennett should be a “solid backup” to Stafford. Young will help replace Leonard Floyd on the edge, and Avila should shore up an offensive line that turned into a revolving door last season.

The Rams had several needs to fill, particularly on the defensive side, where Aaron Donald is one of the few starters sticking around. Tennessee edge rusher Byron Young should help replace the production left vacant by the departure of Leonard Floyd. TCU product Steve Avila helps bolster an offense that started 14 different offensive-line combinations in 2022. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett should be a solid backup for the aging Matthew Stafford.

Full analysis: Click here

…

From Roundup: Grades for and reactions to Rams’ 2023 NFL Draft picks

Stu Jackson

https://www.therams.com/news/rams-2023-nfl-draft-grades

CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco: B

Prisco says TCU guard Steve Avila (Round 2, No. 36 overall) was the Rams’ best selection.

“The Rams didn’t have a first-round pick — shocking, right? — but they made the most of the picks they did have,” Prisco writes. “They picked a lot of good players. In addition to Avila, I liked a lot of their picks, including third-round edge Byron Young. Sixth-round corner Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson is a quality player, who could be a good nickel. This team is being overhauled and this is the kind of draft that gives a team some good, young bodies to help make it happen.”

Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer: B-

“The Rams, for a change, loaded up on draft picks after not having a first-rounder again,” Iyer wrote as part of his analysis. “There’s a lot of volume here, with Avila, Young, McLendon, Hodges-Tomlinson and Zach Evans standing out as the most valuable picks for Les Snead and Sean McVay.”

ESPN’s Todd McShay says Tennessee outside linebacker Byron Young was the Rams’ best value pick (subscription required to read full analysis).

“Hitting on the Day 2 and 3 picks is going to be important, and I think a lot of prospects in the Rams’ rookie class will have a chance to start at some point this season,” McVay wrote as part of his breakdown. “So getting an impact edge rusher such as Young in the third round? Massive. He has a really explosive first step and closing burst, and it’s no surprise that Young lit up the combine with a 4.43-second 40 at 250 pounds, along with wild 11-foot broad and 38-inch vertical jumps. All three numbers were first or second among edge rushers.”

Matthew Stafford is throwing no-lookers and Cooper Kupp is throwing down "dunks"

Rams' offseason program is in full swing! https://t.co/h8WNdTaqXD

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) May 2, 2023

Elvis

Couple tidbits from Jourdan:

She says Fuller is healthy and the Rams are expecting a lot from him at safety this year.

She has Hunter Long at #2 TE.

Like a lot of people has the OL: Alaric, Avila, Shelton, Bruss, Havs.

Breaking down Rams’ draft picks and undrafted free-agent signings

GARY KLEIN

https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/story/2023-04-29/rams-2023-picks-why-they-were-drafted

The Rams did not have a first-round NFL draft pick again this season, last one coming in 2016 with the No. 1 pick of Jared Goff, but they did select a whopping 14 players over the last two days.

L.A. grabbed six offensive players, seven defenders and a punter. The Rams entered the draft without a kicker, punter or long snapper on the roster. They addressed both lines on Day 2 of the draft, in rounds two and three. On Day 3, they had a fourth-round pick, four fifth-round picks, three sixth-round picks and three seventh-round picks.

Breaking down the picks and how they might contribute with the Rams next season.

Steve Avila — offensive lineman

6 feet 4, 331 pounds, Texas Christian, Round 2, Pick 36

Notable: Avila, a Texas native, played guard, center and tackle during his college career. He started at left guard in 2022 for the Horned Frogs, who advanced to the College Football Playoff title game.

Last season: Avila played in 15 games and did not give up a sack. He was voted to the All-Big 12 Conference team.

Why the Rams drafted him: The Rams’ offensive line underperformed last season even before injuries began to mount. The Rams let guard David Edward leave as a free agent and unproven Tremayne Anchrum is returning from an ankle injury he suffered in the season opener. Logan Bruss, the Rams’ top pick last season, also is coming back from a knee injury suffered during the second preseason game.

Byron Young — edge rusher
6 feet 2, 250 pounds, Tennessee, Round 3, Pick 77

Notable: According to Tennessee’s website, Young worked at a Dollar General store for about 18 months before making the team at Georgia Military College. He played two seasons at the junior college and transferred to Tennessee.

Last season: Young had seven sacks and 12 tackles for losses for the Volunteers. He was voted All-SEC by the league’s coaches. Young had 12½ sacks in his two seasons in Knoxville.

Why the Rams drafted him: The Rams are in desperate need of edge rushers. Last season, the Rams released outside linebacker Justin Hollins and Terrell Lewis. After the season, they released edge rusher Leonard Floyd. Converted defensive lineman Michael Hoecht and Daniel Hardy, a second-year pro who was injured last season, are on the roster.

Kobie Turner — defensive lineman
6 feet 2, 288 pounds, Wake Forest, Round 3, Pick 89

Notable: Turner, a Virginia native, walked on at Richmond and amassed 14½ sacks in three seasons before transferring to Wake Forest for his final season.

Last season: Young played in 13 games but did not start. He posted 10 tackles for losses, including two sacks. He also forced four fumbles for the Demon Deacons.

Why the Rams drafted him: Aaron Donald is a three-time NFL defensive player of the year but the Rams need reinforcements on the interior line. After last season, the Rams let Greg Gaines and A’Shawn Robinson leave as free agents. Turner joins a defensive line group that includes Bobby Brown and Marquise Copeland.

Stetson Bennett — quarterback
5 feet 11, 192 pounds, Georgia, Round 4, Pick 128

Notable: Bennett is the first quarterback selected by the Rams during the Sean McVay era — and only the fourth since Les Snead became general manager in 2012.

Last season: Bennett, who began his career as a walk-on, led Georgia to the College Football Playoff championship. He passed for 27 touchdowns, with seven interceptions.

Why the Rams drafted him: Rams starter Matthew Stafford is 35, and he is coming off a season in which he worked through right-elbow issues, suffered a concussion and was sidelined for the final seven games because of a spinal bruise. Bennett will presumably be able to learn from Stafford, who also played at Georgia, before ultimately succeeding him.

Nick Hampton — edge
6 feet 2, 236 pounds, Appalachian State, Round 5, Pick 161

Notable: Hampton caught the attention of NFL scouts when he recorded 11 sacks as a junior in 2021.

Last season: Despite missing three games because of injury, Hampton had 9½ tackles for losses, including seven sacks.

Why the Rams drafted him: The Rams released Justin Hollins, Terrell Lewis and Leonard Floyd, leaving converted defensive lineman Michael Hoecht and second-year pro Daniel Hardy as the only remaining edge rushers on the roster. Hampton joins third-round pick Byron Young as young players who will try to fill the void.

Warren McClendon Jr. — offensive tackle
6 feet 4, 306 pounds, Georgia, Round 5, Pick 174

Notable: McClendon was a three-year starter at right tackle for Georgia, which won back-to-back national titles.

Last season: McClendon was voted All-Southeastern Conference after starting 14 games. McClendon helped protect quarterback Stetson Bennett, who was selected by the Rams in the fourth round.

Why the Rams drafted him: The Rams are in need of offensive linemen to improve a unit that underperformed and was riddled with injuries last season. McClendon could back up veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein. McClendon was the second offensive lineman drafted by the Rams, joining second-round pick Steve Avila of Texas Christian.

Davis Allen — tight end
6 feet 6, 245 pounds, Georgia, Round 5, Pick 175

Notable: Allen spent most of his first two seasons as an on-line blocker before breaking into the starting lineup as a pass-catching threat as a junior.

Last season: Allen, who caught 28 passes as a junior, grabbed a career-best 39 passes for 443 yards and five touchdowns.

Why the Rams drafted him: The Rams want to build tight end depth. Veteran Tyler Higbee is entering his eighth season — and possibly the final year of his contract. Brycen Hopkins is in the final year of his rookie deal, and the Rams acquired Hunter Long in the trade that sent star cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Miami Dolphins.

Puka Nacua — wide receiver
6 feet 2, 201 pounds, Brigham Young, Round 5, Pick 177

Notable: Nacua played his first two college seasons at Washington before returning to his home state and playing for the Cougars.

Last season: Nacua caught 48 passes for 625 yards and six touchdowns. He also is a threat as a rusher.

Why the Rams drafted him: The Rams are searching for receivers to complement star Cooper Kupp, who is returning from an ankle injury that required surgery. The Rams recently traded Allen Robinson. Van Jefferson is in the final year of his rookie contract, and Tutu Atwell and Ben Skowronek have shown improvement.

Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson — cornerback
5 feet 8, 178 pounds, Texas Christian, Round 6, Pick 182

Notable: Hodges-Tomlinson is the nephew of Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

Last season: Hodges-Tomlinson was an All-American and won the Jim Thorpe Award as college football’s top defensive back. He intercepted three passes.

Why the Rams drafted him: The Rams did not re-sign veteran Troy Hill, who played as a nickel back. So Hodges-Tomlinson could compete for that role in a cornerback group that includes Cobie Durant, Derion Kendrick and Robert Rochell. The cornerbacks are once again coached by Aubrey Pleasant, who returned to the staff after stints with the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.

Ochaun Mathis — edge
6 feet 5, 250 pounds, Nebraska, Round 6, Pick 189

Notable: Mathis, a Texas native, played three seasons at Texas Christian before transferring to Nebraska for his senior season.

Last season: Mathis started 12 games and recorded five tackles for losses, including 3½ sacks.

Why the Rams drafted him: The Rams and defensive coordinator Raheem Morris continued their search for players who can work with star tackle Aaron Donald and consistently pressure quarterbacks. Mathis joins fellow draftees Byron Young and Nick Hampton to help fill the void left by the release of Leonard Floyd and others.

Zach Evans — running back
5 feet 11, 202 pounds, Mississippi, Round 6, Pick 215

Notable: Evans began his career at Texas Christian and played two seasons for the Horned Frogs before transferring to Ole Miss.

Last season: Evans was sidelined at times because of a hip injury and a concussion, but he rushed for 936 yards and nine touchdowns.

Why the Rams drafted him: Running back Cam Akers, who rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the final three games last season, will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season. Second-year pro Kyren Williams was injured most of last season. Evans gives new running backs coach Ron Gould some depth.

Ethan Evans — punter
6 feet 4, 238 pounds, Wingate, Round 7, Pick 223

Notable: Evans is the first punter to be drafted by the Rams since 2005, when they selected Reggie Hodges of Ball State.

Last season: Evans averaged 40.3 yards per punt for a Wingate team that won 11 games.

Why the Rams drafted him: With no specialists on the roster, new coordinator Chase Blackburn needed players. Last season, Riley Dixon replaced longtime Rams punter Johnny Hekker but the Rams released Dixon and let kicker Matt Gay and long-snapper Matt Orzech leave as free agents.

Jason Taylor II — safety
6 feet, 204 pounds, Oklahoma State, Round 7, Pick 234

Notable: Evans, an Oklahoma native, was a two-year starter who made plays in the secondary and on special teams.

Last season: Taylor was named All-Big 12 Conference after making 99 tackles and intercepting six passes.

Why the Rams drafted him: The Rams needed depth at safety. Nick Scott and Taylor Rapp, starters last season, signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills, respectively. Jordan Fuller is returning from injury and Russ Yeast and Quentin Lake will be second-year pros.

Desjuan Johnson — defensive lineman
6 feet 2, 285 pounds, Toledo, Round 7, Pick 259

Notable: Johnson was selected with the 259th and final pick in the draft. The Rams acquired the pick when they traded pick No. 167 to the Texans for Nos. 174 and 259.

Last season: Johnson had 16½ tackles for losses and 5½ sacks for Toledo, which had a 9-5 record.

Why the Rams drafted him: The Rams did not waste an opportunity to add another potential contributor to a defensive line group that lost Greg Gaines and A’Shawn Robinson. Several late-round picks in the last few drafts demonstrated late last season that they could play as rotational players.

Things you love to see: Matthew Stafford back at it. pic.twitter.com/cxoazhHjnx

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) May 1, 2023