NFL Draft Grades: Rams Receive Strong Marks for 2023 Class

The Los Angeles Rams are viewed nationally as having nailed the 2023 NFL Draft.
In this story:

The Los Angeles Rams didn't have a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but this was hardly an "F them picks" cycle for Les Snead and Sean McVay

Offensive guard Steve Avila was selected by the Rams out of TCU with the 36th overall pick, the first of 14 selections for the retooling Rams in this year's NFL Draft. Here's a look at the letter grades the Rams have received for a large class of players. 

Chad Reuter of NFL Media: A-

While Reuter notes that Matthew Stafford was essentially the first-round pick for the Rams in 2023, he wonders if former Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett -- selected in the fourth round -- could eventually be his successor. Bennett, of course, is already 25, so is his selection indicative of the fact that the Rams think 2023 could be Stafford's final season?

Nate Davis of USA Today: B

Davis notes that Avila is capable of being "a plug-and-play" starter, crucial in protecting Stafford in 2023 and perhaps Bennett after that. 

Pro Football Focus Staff: A-

PFF called third-round pick Kobie Turner "one of the most underrated players in the class." Turner is already 24, having played for both Richmond and Wake Forest collegiately. In his lone season at Wake Forest, Turner recorded 38 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles. 

Eric D. Williams of FOX Sports: B

Williams believes that third-round pick Byron Young "should help replace the production left vacant by the departure of Leonard Floyd." In two seasons at Tennessee, Floyd had 23.5 tackles for a loss. 

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Rams? Click Here.

Want to join in on the discussion? Click here to become a member of the Ram Digest message board community today!

Follow Ram Digest on Twitter and Facebook.

Want even more L.A. Rams news? Check out the SI.com team page here.


Published
Tim Kelly
TIM KELLY

Tim Kelly is a contributor to SI's NFL team sites. Additionally, Kelly covers the Philadelphia Phillies as the Editorial Director for PhilliesNation.com. Previously, Kelly has been a producer at SportsRadio 94 WIP and a content producer for Audacy Sports, with written content syndicated to WIP, WFAN, WEEI and some of the biggest sports radio stations in the country. Kelly also has contributed to Bleacher Report, Just Baseball, Sports Talk Philly and Section 215, FanSided's Philadelphia affiliate. Kelly is a 2018 graduate of Bloomsburg University, with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in political science.