Where Things Stand Now
Bobby Brown III is gone.
They re-signed Larrell Murchison, a rotational guy.
They brought in Poona Ford, a solid but unspectacular veteran run-stuffer.
But even with those additions, the Rams are missing real impact alongside Kobie Turner, who was a breakout rookie and will be a foundational piece moving forward. There’s no Aaron Donald anymore—so the bar for disruptive interior presence just got a lot higher.
📊 Why This Year’s DL Class Matters
The great news? This is one of the deepest and most versatile defensive line classes in recent drafts. You’ve got:
Versatile interior/edge tweeners who can be molded to fit Raheem Morris' (or a successor’s) scheme.
Plug-and-play run defenders who can eat blocks and free up LBs.
Disruptors with elite get-off and twitch.
The Rams have a strong history of mining value from Day 2 and Day 3 picks, and that’s where a lot of this D-line gold can be found.
🧠 The “Bucket” Draft Strategy
That whole “bucket” concept from Jourdan Rodrigue’s piece is fascinating and very on-brand for Les Snead & McVay:
It’s role- and fit-based, not just about overall value.
It lets them prioritize scheme fit, football IQ, character, and development potential over draft buzz.
A player might not be a "1st-rounder" on everyone else's board but could be a perfect Bucket 3 or 4 contributor for LA.
This is how they landed Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner, Byron Young… and how they’ll likely find their next Day 2 D-line gem.
🔍 Final Thoughts
Even if the Rams don’t go D-line at 26, expect them to dip into that group at least once, if not twice during the draft. There’s talent at every tier, and they need depth, rotational energy, and maybe even a new long-term starter to pair with Turner.
If you're interested, I can help you build a shortlist of D-line prospects that would likely fall into the Rams’ Bucket 3–5 range based on traits, athletic profile, and fit. Want to dive into that?
https://tinyurl.com/36rkncw5
