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theramswire.usatoday.com] ESPN ranks 6 Rams picks among 100 best of 2023 NFL draft
Cameron DaSilva
May 10, 2023 10:06 am PT
Experts have been relatively high on the Rams’ draft class thus far, seeing some good value with many of the picks they made – specifically Steve Avila, Zach Evans and Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, among others.
Count ESPN’s Matt Miller as an expert who likes the Rams’ haul, at least based on his recent post-draft ranking. He ranked the top 100 picks in the draft this year, which isn’t just highlighting the best players, but the best selections made by teams – accounting for positional need and scheme fit.
The Rams landed a whopping six players in Miller’s top 100, which is nearly half of their 14-player class. Avila ranked the highest on the list, coming in at No. 35.
The Rams skipped their early-round selections for many years, trading them away. But keeping No. 36 overall to bolster the offensive line was a nice change of direction. Avila can play guard or center, and the Rams need him to hit the starting lineup as a rookie. This checks off a massive need and achieves good value, forming a great beginning to the Rams’ draft.
Evans, who the Rams drafted 215th overall, was the 60th-best pick in the draft, according to Miller. He was the second-highest-ranked Rams player on the list, followed closely by Davis Allen (No. 63).
Byron Young (No. 74), Hodges-Tomlinson (No. 75) and Puka Nacua (No. 91) all made Miller’s rankings, as well. Miller called Hodges-Tomlinson “one of the best value picks on Day 3,” writing the following about the Jim Thorpe Award winner.
One of the best value picks on Day 3, Hodges-Tomlinson will bring his quickness and confidence to a secondary undergoing a renovation. Projected as a nickel defender in the pros, the sixth-rounder has the talent and ball skills to push 2022 fourth-rounder Cobie Durant for a starting job.
Obviously, it’s fun to look at the value the Rams got with each pick based on pre-draft rankings, but if the players themselves don’t pan out and become future starters within the next four years, those rankings won’t mean anything.
