Los Angeles Rams to Rebuild Defensive Line in 2024 NFL Mock Draft?
The Los Angeles Rams have a defensive line that needs fixing after the retirement of future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Donald.
As the 2024 NFL Draft nears, Chad Reuter of NFL.com tabbed Florida State’s Jared Verse and Ohio State’s Michael Hall Jr. as the “ideal top two picks” for the Rams through rouns one and two.
“Verse would be such a bargain for the Rams at No. 19,” Reuter wrote. “His heavy hands and relentless passion for attacking ball-carriers would instantly improve the team's pass rush without sacrificing strength against the run. Aaron Donald's retirement means the Rams will be looking for an active interior player to pair with second-year DT Kobie Turner. Hall is exactly that: a disruptive force in the middle of the defense who is a problem for opposing offensive linemen.”
Verse was a key member of Florida State’s disruptive defense. He helped anchor a unit that would’ve made an appearance in the College Football Playoff if not for quarterback Jordan Travis’ leg injury against North Alabama. Verse had 41 tackles, nine sacks, and a forced fumble with a recovery last season. In 2022, he had 47 tackles and another nine sacks.
Hall Jr.'s product flourished in the Big Ten, which is enriched with high-level play at the line of scrimmage.
Hall saw his sack totals take a step backward but Ohio State’s defensive line and secondary combined to produce one of the best pass defenses in the nation last season. He had 24 tackles (nine solo) and 1.5 sacks. He had 4.5 sacks in 2022.