2024 NFL Mock Draft: Los Angeles Rams Take Star Cornerback

In a new 2024 NFL Mock Draft, the Los Angeles Rams use major resources to improve their secondary.

The Los Angeles Rams have perhaps been more competitive than expected in 2023, but coach Sean McVay's squad is 3-5, and even if they haven't given up on contending this season, it's hard not to begin to look ahead to the offseason. 

To that end, Bleacher Report recently unveiled a new 2024 NFL Mock Draft, and they have the Rams using the No. 10 overall pick to select Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. 

McKinstry was a five-star recruit out of Pinson Valley High School, where he won the 2021 USA Today High School Defensive Player of the Year Award. McKinstry was named First-Team All-Sec in 2022 at Alabama and has 81 total tackles, four tackles for a loss and two interceptions in 36 career games for the Crimson Tide. 

Kool-Aid McKinstry could be a potential target for the Los Angeles Rams in the 2024 NFL Draft.  / USA Today

He would seem to be an ideal successor to three-time All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, whom the Rams traded to the Miami Dolphins this past offseason. 

In case you haven't heard, the Rams are slated to have a first-round pick for the first time since 2016 in the 2024 NFL Draft. This will mark the first time since McVay has been coach that the Rams will have a first-round pick, and general manager Les Snead hasn't had an opportunity to pick in the opening round since selecting quarterback Jared Goff. So it's been a while. 

Whether it's McKinstry or someone else, the Rams don't feel especially far away from being able to contend. The veteran trio of quarterback Matthew Stafford, receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive tackle Aaron Donald have all be productive when on the field in 2023. 

Receiver Puka Nacua and running back Kyren Williams look like they could become core pieces for Los Angeles. With a strong 2024 NFL Draft class, the Rams could return to being one of the NFC's elite teams. Perhaps McKinstry could headline that class.