The 2022 season was a complete disaster for the Los Angeles Rams. They finished with the worst record ever for a defending Super Bowl champion, losing 12 of 17 games.
Injuries were a major factor for the Rams’ struggles. The losses also continued to mount during the offseason, as CB Jalen Ramsey was sent to Miami, MLB Bobby Wagner returned to Seattle, and OLB Leonard Floyd was released due to salary cap issues.
Los Angeles went into the 2023 NFL Draft needing to patch up multiple areas. While the Rams did not have a first-round pick due to the Matthew Stafford trade, they did have 14 picks overall.
Major problem areas were addressed right away. The first two picks focused on the offensive line and pass rush, and those initial selections were backed up by depth edge and offensive line picks later.
TCU guard Steve Avila can be an instant and solid starter. Tennessee edge rusher Byron Young could prove to be a viable replacement for Floyd, and the fourth-round pick of Georgia QB Stetson Bennett will certainly stir some intrigue.
Rams NFL Draft Picks 2023
- Round 2, Pick 36 Overall: Steve Avila, G, TCU
- Round 3, Pick 77 Overall (From NE via MIA): Byron Young, EDGE, Tennessee
- Round 3, Pick 89 (From NYG): Kobie Turner, DT, Wake Forest
- Round 4, Pick 128 (From NYG): Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia
- Round 5, Pick 161 Overall (From DAL via HOU): Nick Hampton, EDGE, Appalachian State
- Round 5, Pick 174 (From LV via HOU): Warren McClendon Jr., OT, Georgia
- Round 5, Pick 175 (From TB): Davis Allen, TE, Clemson
- Round 5, Pick 177: Puka Nacua, WR, BYU
- Round 6, Pick 182: Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU
- Round 6, Pick 189 (From TEN): Ochaun Mathis, EDGE, Nebraska
- Round 6, Pick 215 (From WAS via BUF): Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss
- Round 7, Pick 223: Ethan Evans, P, Wingate
- Round 7, Pick 234 (From PIT): Jason Taylor II, S, Oklahoma State
- Round 7, Pick 259 (From HOU): Desjuan Johnson, EDGE, Toledo
Rams NFL Futures Odds
Now that the NFL Draft is complete, get ready for the 2023-24 NFL season with the latest Rams odds and futures betting markets.
Rams Draft Grade 2023
Rams NFL Draft Grade: C+
The Game Day’s Frank Ammirante gave the Rams a C+ as he penalized Los Angeles for not having a first-round pick. The Rams moved too early to take Bennett, but they might have found an RB gem in their sixth-round selection of Evans.
Click to see our full report card of 2023 NFL Draft Grades.
Note: The following information was written prior to the 2023 NFL Draft.
Rams Draft Team Needs 2023
1. Edge Rusher
The Rams are very thin in this area after releasing Floyd and edge rusher may be the first order of business to attend to in the 2023 draft. Michael Hoecht is a converted defensive tackle who played well late last season, but he is otherwise unproven.
Last season, Los Angeles ranked 19th in the NFL with 38 sacks. Donald playing in 11 games obviously led to that disappointing total, but the loss of Floyd created another significant need for a pass rusher.
Floyd had nine sacks last season and he had nine-plus in each of the last three seasons. The Rams should certainly have eyes on an edge rusher with one of their earliest selections.
2. Cornerback
Trading Ramsey creates youthful competition at this position, and another player may be added to the mix in the draft. Derion Kendrick and Robert Rochell are the projected starters for now.
Kendrick was a sixth-round pick as a rookie last year, and he started six games, so he is still evolving and may get targeted often by opposing passers. Rochell started five games as a rookie but none last season.
Cobie Durant, another rookie last season, may push for significant playing time, but a quality rookie can surely contend with the returnees.
3. Offensive Line
This was a major area of concern last season as the unit was in a constant state of flux. Injuries played a major role in the issues, but the offensive line simply needs better overall depth.
According to Sharp Football Analysis, the most frequent offensive line combination for the Rams played together just 10.9 percent of the time in 2022. That was the lowest rate in the NFL for a most-used offensive line combination.
Left tackle became a weakened spot after the retirement of Andrew Whitworth. There is no real stability at either guard spot heading into the 2023 season.
Rams May Also Consider Drafting: Tight End, Safety, Running Back
Rams NFL Draft Round 2 Mock 2023
- Round 2, Pick 36 Overall: Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
As of April 13, our own Anthony Cervino is predicting that with their first selection in the third round, the Rams will pick this potentially explosive pass rusher to fill the void created by the Floyd release. Read our full NFL Mock Draft.
Rams NFL Draft Pick History
Rams NFL Draft Picks 2022
- Round 3, Pick 40 (104th Overall): Logan Bruss, G, Wisconsin
- Round 4, Pick 37 (142nd Overall): Decobie Durant, CB, South Carolina State
- Round 5, Pick 21 (164th Overall): Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame
- Round 6, Pick 33 (211th Overall): Quentin Lake, S, UCLA
- Round 6, Pick 34 (212th Overall): Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia
- Round 7, Pick 14 (235th Overall): Daniel Hardy, DE, Montana State
- Round 7, Pick 32 (253rd Overall): Russ Yeast, S, Kansas State
- Round 7, Pick 40 (261st Overall): AJ Arcuri, OT, Michigan State
