What are the biggest flags for Rams 1st round targets?

What are the biggest red flags for Rams first round targets?
What are the biggest concerns for some of Rams top choices in the first round?

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Blaine Grisak



When it comes to the NFL Draft, there isn’t such thing as a ‘can’t miss’ prospect. Every prospect has concerns and has bust potential. The problem then becomes balancing the upside with the concerns and if the ceiling outweighs the potential risk Here are five potential draft picks for the Los Angeles Rams and their biggest “red flags”.

EDGE Laiatu Latu - Neck Injury

It should be no secret that the biggest concern with Latu is the neck injury. While there hasn’t been a lot to say that NFL teams are concerned about it, at the same time, it’s hard to say that it also isn’t on the front of their minds with him. Football is a violent sport and a neck injury is no joke. This wasn’t just any neck injury either, but one that doctors recommended that he medically retire from the sport.

On one hand, Latu may be the most talented edge rusher in the class. Greg Cosell said, “Latu is one of the best overall prospects in the 2024 draft class.” However, one hit could still change everything. It’s hard to say if the neck injury won’t become an issue at some point down the line. It’s a risk that teams will need to weigh, but will the talent be worth that risk?

EDGE Chop Robinson - Minimal Sack Production

There’s no doubt that Robinson may have the most upside of any edge rusher in the draft class. His get-off and bend make him an extremely special player. With that said, the sack production simply hasn’t been there. He only had 4.5 sacks this past season and was outperformed by his teammate Adisa Isaac.

It will be interesting to see how teams value that production. Watching the tape, you can see how Robinson affects how offenses operate. He is an absolute force to be reckoned with, but averaged just 30.3 snaps per game last season with the Nittany Lions. Is this a player that can be a top pass rusher on a defense or his he just a rotational player? He’s one of the toughest players to scout this draft process and will give teams a lot to think about.

DL Byron Murphy - Lack of Size/Length

The Rams could absolutely use a player like Murphy on their defensive front. With that said, he doesn’t come without his share of concerns. His lack of size and especially length being one of them. He didn’t register a batted pass or forced fumble in his 39 games at Texas. The Rams have shown that they don’t necessarily care about a player’s size, but there are instances where that lack of size shows on tape.

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Aaron Donald won in the NFL and overcame his lack of size because of his quickness. Murphy has some of that same quickness, but there will still be concerns on whether or not that will translate to the next level. Murphy is without a doubt a first-round talent, but will have some growing to do wherever he gets drafted.

OT Amarius Mims - Not a lot of Experience

When all is said and done, there is a case to be made that Mims could end up as the best offensive lineman in this class. That will happen if Mims hits his ceiling. With that said, the Georgia offensive lineman only has eight career starts. Eight. He’s been good and shown dominance in those eight starts. However, for an offensive lineman that is concerning.

That inexperience has led to some bad habits and he will be a project for any team that drafts him. With the right coaching, he can hit his ceiling. With that said, he may be the biggest projection in the first round. Mims also doesn’t have any experience at left tackle which may be a position that teams ask him to play.

WR Rome Odunze - Doesn’t Create Much Separation

There is a case that Rome Odunze is the best wide receiver in this draft class outside of Marvin Harris Jr. However, he also has some concerns. While he shows flashes of being a good route-runner, he can struggle to create separation. Some of this is quarterback induced as Michael Penix Jr. struggled to lead his receivers and throw them open at times. This led to a lot of contested catch opportunities.

Odunze doesn’t have great change of direction skills which was evident in his average time in the three-cone. He also doesn’t have the same elusiveness as someone like a Brian Thomas Jr. There is something to be said about excelling where Odunze did at Washington, but at the NFL level, he’ll need to be able to create space on his own and there are questions on how effective he can do that.