The Los Angeles Rams are going to be busy on Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft. They had 11 draft picks coming into it with eight of them being in the fifth round or later. In desperate need of some depth because of previous decisions, Los Angeles will have a great opportunity to replenish what has been lost from the roster.
The Rams took an aggressive approach in recent years to building their roster, trading away draft capital for veterans. That has left them with an older, capped-out roster that needs an infusion of youth. It won’t be a single offseason job, but they will get started this year.
Los Angeles has needs all over the roster, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Two of their selections thus far have gone to address the defensive line, with Tennessee defensive end Byron Young and Wake Forest defensive tackle Kobie Turner being selected in Round 3.
In Round 4, the Rams delivered one of the more head-scratching selections of the draft. With the No. 128 overall pick, which was acquired in a trade with the New York Giants, Los Angeles selected Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett.
It was a selection that Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports was not fond of. He gave that pick a grade of C, which was one of the lowest of the round. While Bennett accomplished a lot in college, there are real concerns about how that will translate to the NFL.
“Overachiever in college. Arm talent isn’t brutal and a quality athlete. Had a ridiculously comfy situation at Georgia. Accuracy is solid but was rarely pressured in college and has some ugly under-pressure reps. Older prospect too.”
Bennett will turn 26 during the 2023 season, making him older than most players who have been drafted in the last three years. He is only 10 months younger than Lamar Jackson, who has completed his rookie contract and just signed the largest deal in NFL history.
Evident from this draft, the Georgia team that Stetson Bennett led to back-to-back championships was loaded. They have had a ton of players drafted this year, last year and the same will occur next year. Nothing can be taken away from Bennett when it comes to what he accomplished with the Bulldogs, but this is a head-scratching pick.
Given how many needs the Rams have, selecting a low-ceiling quarterback in the fourth round, when immediate contributors were still available, is an interesting decision, to say the least.
