‘CALEB-FORNIA!’ Rams Draft USC QB No. 1 Overall in 2024 Mock Draft
A new NFL Mock Draft suggests that the 2023 season will be an ugly one for the Los Angeles Rams. It also predicts that said campaign will put Los Angeles in position to land a potential generational talent in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Is the NFL ready for ‘Caleb-Fornia’?
Dalton Miller of Pro Football Network recently unveiled his latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft, projecting that the Rams will have the No. 1 overall pick, which they'll use to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams:
"They find themselves in a similar situation heading into 2024 after absolutely annihilating their roster this offseason. They’re in the midst of a rebuild, and what could keep coach Sean McVay’s juices flowing like a rookie QB with unbelievable natural tools?"
Pro Football Focus recently ranked the Rams secondary and linebacker units as the worst in the NFL, so even with future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald anchoring the defensive line, the defense in Los Angeles is probably bad enough to finish with the worst record in the sport.
On paper, while the offense is top-heavy, you do wonder if there's too much talent there for McVay not to win at least five or six games. But if quarterback Matthew Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp struggle to stay healthy for the second consecutive season, we might change our tune on that one.
If the Rams did wind up picking first overall, it would be the first time they've had the top selection since picking quarterback Jared Goff No. 1 in 2016. In between those two drafts, general manager Les Snead -- he of the "F them picks" strategy -- hasn't had a single first-round selection.
Given that McVay has weighed walking away from coaching the last two offseasons, you're left to wonder if a disastrous 2023 would be enough to finally force him to step down. But Keith Sanchez of The Draft Network categorized Williams as a future All-Pro with "rare" talent in his scouting report. The chance to coach the most-touted quarterback prospect since Trevor Lawrence might be too sweet for McVay to walk away from.
It's also worth noting that between their own selection and the first-round pick they acquired from the Houston Texans, the Arizona Cardinals could have two picks in the top five in 2023. It would be quite the turn of events if the NFC West-rival Rams leapfrog the Cardinals and take Williams.
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