Rams' 2024 draft class named No. 1 in NFL by PFF

[ASFN Admin]

The Los Angeles Rams have hit on a lot of rookies in recent draft classes.

From Kyren Williams and Quentin Lake in 2022 to the 2023 class of Puka Nacua, Steve Avila, Byron Young and Kobie Turner, the Rams capitalized on late-round picks despite not having many early-round selections.

That changed in 2024, though, with the Rams' first first-rounder since 2016. And, oddly enough, this class ended up being one of the best in the NFL this past season.

Pro Football Focus' Bradley Locker ranked all 32 rookie classes from 2024 and picked the Rams as the best of the NFL this past season. The reasons were simple: The group, led by Verse, played the most combined snaps of any other class (7,649) and had the deepest collection of contributors.

"Jared Verse, the Rams’ first first-round pick in eight years paid off right away, slotting sixth in PFF overall grade among qualified edge rushers en route to winning Defensive Rookie of the Year," Locker wrote. "Beyond Verse, Los Angeles set a strong defensive foundation with Braden Fiske (59 pressures), Kam Kinchens (73.7 PFF coverage grade) and Omar Speights (77.6 PFF run-defense grade), all of whom project to start again in 2025. Offensively, Jordan Whittington (78.9 PFF receiving grade) and Beaux Limmer (1,040 snaps) offered supplementary contributions."

This is a testament to the Rams' scouting department, which took a big hit this offseason with the departure the team's director of scouting, James Gladstone. Nevertheless, the Rams still have some high-profile picks at Nos. 26, 90 and 101 that they can use to add at key positions or find their quarterback of the future in a post-Matthew Stafford world.

Either way, though, the Rams have one of the best young cores in the league thanks to years of good scouting and drafting by the team's front office.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' 2024 draft class named No. 1 in NFL by PFF

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