By all accounts, the Los Angeles Rams ended up as a winner on Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft, landing one of the best edge rusher prospects in Jared Verse with the 19th selection.
While Les Snead and Sean McVay will now spend the next few weeks hyping up Verse as one of the top prospects on their draft board, there was reportedly another player the Rams had ranked higher, and they were even willing to trade up for him.
Los Angeles Rams Tried Trading Up For Brock Bowers
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Rams were making frequent calls about trading up from the 19th pick during the first round, but those calls ceased once the Las Vegas Raiders selected Brock Bowers 13th.
This doesn’t come as a surprise, considering several reports were linking the Rams to a potential trade up leading into Thursday night’s draft event. While McVay didn’t get the offensive weapon he coveted, Verse’s arrival helps first-year defensive coordinator Chris Shula make up for the Rams’ pass-rushing void following Aaron Donald’s retirement.
Rapoport notes that the Rams weren’t the only ones who had their eyes on Bowers, as the Indianapolis Colts were also discussing a move up before giving up after pick No. 13. The Colts also ended up taking an edge rusher, settling on UCLA’s Laiatu Latu at 15, another player the Rams may have been targeting at No. 19.
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