When Aaron Donald announced his retirement from the NFL, the Los Angeles Rams faced the task of fortifying their defensive line in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Despite initial speculation that head coach Sean McVay might target an offensive player with the team’s first first-round pick in eight years, the Rams ultimately stood firm, selecting Jared Verse at No. 19 overall. But their draft moves didn’t stop there. They traded up in the second round to secure Verse’s Florida State teammate, Braden Fiske.
Verse and Fiske, renowned for their dominance as defensive linemen in college football last season, now bring their formidable talents and chemistry to Los Angeles. It was a unique opportunity for the Rams to reunite college teammates who had previously excelled together.
In a bid to bolster their defensive line depth, the Rams also invested in Tyler Davis out of Clemson with the 196th overall pick. While Davis may initially play behind Verse and Fiske in 2024, he expressed his admiration for them, having faced them in the same conference:
“They some dogs. They some dogs,” Davis remarked. “I admired them from a distance, played against them. Just to be able to have those teammates, knowing that I’m definitely going to get better.”
Davis eagerly anticipates forging new relationships with his teammates: “I think it’s going to create a lot of new relationships, just with us all going through the same stuff. I can’t wait.”
But Verse and Fiske aren’t the only college teammates reuniting in Los Angeles. Davis also shares a history with Davis Allen from their time together at Clemson. The Rams selected Allen at No. 175 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he showcased promise in an expanded role toward the end of the 2023 season behind Tyler Higbee.
Although the Rams’ revamped defensive line boasts youth, it brims with players eager to make their mark in the NFL. With promising talents like Byron Young and Kobie Turner already in their ranks, this group has the potential to anchor the Rams’ defense for years to come.
Moreover, Braden Fiske’s impressive showing at the NFL Draft Combine prompted the Rams to trade up aggressively to secure him. Their confidence in Fiske was further demonstrated by signing him to a four-year rookie deal with over $7 million guaranteed.
