Los Angeles Rams 2023 Draft Central

Year

Rams Selections

DRAFT TRACKER

Round 2 • Pick 5 (36) • G Steve Avila

Round 3 • Pick 14 (77) • EDGE Byron Young

Round 3 • Pick 26 (89) • DT Kobie Turner

Round 4 • Pick 26 (128) • QB Stetson Bennett

Round 5 • Pick 26 (161) • EDGE Nick Hampton

Round 5 • Pick 39 (174) • OT Warren McClendon Jr.

Round 5 • Pick 40 (175) • TE Davis Allen

Round 5 • Pick 42 (177) • WR Puka Nacua

Round 6 • Pick 5 (182) • CB Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson

Round 6 • Pick 12 (189) • EDGE Ochaun Mathis

Round 6 • Pick 38 (215) • RB Zach Evans

Round 7 • Pick 6 (223) • P Ethan Evans

Round 7 • Pick 17 (234) • SAF Jason Taylor II

Round 7 • Pick 42 (259) • DE Desjuan Johnson

FULL DRAFT TRACKER

Pick 5 (36)

Steve Avila

G TCU

Avila (pronounced Ah-VEE-la) was a four-star recruit from South Grand Prairie High School in Arlington, Texas, just a 30-minute drive from TCU in Fort Worth. He played in 11 games as a redshirt freshman in 2019 before earning honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades for his play as a sophomore in nine starts (six at center, two at right tackle, one at right guard). Avila was a second-team all-conference pick in 2021, starting 11 games at center. He moved to left guard in 2022 with the addition of SMU transfer Alan Ali and garnered second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team all-Big 12 honors as a 15-game starter for the playoff-bound Horned Frogs. He didn't allow a single sack in 515 pass-blocking snaps in his final season at TCU. -- by Chad Reuter

Pick 14 (77)

Byron Young

EDGE Tennessee

From Patriots through Dolphins

Pick 26 (89)

Kobie Turner

DT Wake Forest

6-2 288 LBS

From Giants

The second-team All-Virginia pick as a senior at Centreville High School redshirted as a walk-on at Richmond in 2017 and then played in all 11 games as a reserve the following year (14 tackles, 2.5 for loss with 1.5 sacks). Turner earned starts in all 12 games in 2019, garnering third-team All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) accolades by leading the team with 14.5 tackles for loss (71 total tackles, seven sacks). He was named a second-team FCS All-American by The Associated Press after starting all four of the team's contests in the spring 2021 season (19 tackles, tied for team high with six tackles for loss including 3.5 sacks). Turner was a first-team All-CAA selection in 2021 after posting 54 tackles, 10.5 for loss with four sacks and two forced fumbles in 11 starts. He transferred to Wake Forest for his final year and played well, garnering third-team All-ACC honors despite not starting any of his 13 appearances (38 tackles, 10 for loss with two sacks, two pass breakups, team-high three forced fumbles). -- by Chad Reuter

Pick 26 (128)

Stetson Bennett

QB Georgia

From Giants

Bennett comes from a football family, with his grandfather, Buddy, playing quarterback for South Carolina and coaching for several schools. His father, Stetson III, took snaps at Georgia Southern before deciding to transfer to Georgia for pharmacy school. Stetson IV signed with Georgia as a walk-on in 2017. With Jake Fromm and Justin Fields on the roster in 2018, however, Bennett transferred to Jones College (1,840 yards, 16 TDs in 12 games). He nearly signed with the University of Louisiana before Georgia reached out to see if he would return for 2019, with Fields transferring to Ohio State. Bennett went back to Athens as a reserve that season (20-27-74.1%, 260 yards, two TDs, one INT passing; 4-12-3.0, one TD rushing in five games). Fromm moved on to the NFL, and Bennett got a chance to start five games in 2020 (86-155-55.5%, 1,179 yards, eight TDs, six INTs passing; 24-54-2.3, two TDs rushing), splitting time with USC transfer J.T. Daniels. Bennett began the 2021 season coming off the bench, but an injury to Daniels put him in the lineup. He started 12 of 14 games played on the year (185-287-64.5%, 2,862 yards, 29 TDs, seven INTs passing; 56-259-4.6, one TD rushing), leading the team to a national title by earning Offensive MVP honors in both playoff games. Bennett was the Offensive MVP of both Georgia's playoff games in 2022, as well, leading the Bulldogs to a second straight title. He started all 15 games (310-454-68.3%, 4,127 yards, 27 TDs, seven INTs passing; 57-205-3.6, 10 rushing TDs) to garner second-team All-SEC honors. He was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and won the Burlsworth Trophy as the nation's top player who began his career as a walk-on. Bennett ranked sixth in the nation in passing yards, sixth in passing yards per attempt (9.1), seventh with 4,332 yards of total offense and 10th in completion percentage. Bennett was arrested early on Jan. 29 in Texas for public intoxication. Bennett discussed the incident at the NFL Scouting Combine, calling it "a mistake that everybody's aware of." -- by Chad Reuter

Pick 26 (161)

Nick Hampton

EDGE Appalachian State

From Cowboys through Texans

Hampton was an all-region pick at Westside High School in South Carolina before redshirting with the Mountaineers in 2018 (two tackles in three games played as a reserve). He played in all 14 games in 2019, racking up 6.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 24 tackles, two forced fumbles in one start. Hampton started six on 10 games played in 2020 (42 tackles, 6.5 for loss with three sacks) before bursting onto the national scene as a junior in 2021, garnering third-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors (69 tackles, 17.5 for loss with 11 sacks, two pass breakups in 14 starts). He led the team with 9.5 tackles for loss and registered seven sacks, 39 tackles and three forced fumbles in nine starts in 2022. He earned first-team all-league notice despite missing three games due to injury. -- by Chad Reuter

Pick 39 (174)

Warren McClendon Jr.

OT Georgia

Compensatory Selection - From Raiders through Texans

McClendon's uncle, Willie, set the Georgia rushing record in 1978 (1,312 yards) before Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker came along to break it. Willie also backed up Walter Payton with the Chicago Bears for four years. Warren's cousin, Bryan, was a receiver at Georgia and interim coach between the departure of Mark Richt and hiring of Kirby Smart. McClendon played both tackle spots and center at Brunswick High School in Georgia, earning first-team all-state honors as a senior. The four-star recruit redshirted in 2019, playing in four games as a reserve, and then started nine of 10 appearances at right tackle in 2020. He started all 15 games for the national champions in 2021 and then earned first-team All-SEC accolades in 2022 as the repeat champs' starter at right tackle in 13 of 14 appearances. McClendon was injured in the January 15 car wreck that claimed the lives of Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and Georgia recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy. McClendon, a passenger in the fatal car crash, required stitches to the head. -- by Chad Reuter

Pick 40 (175)

Davis Allen

TE Clemson

Compensatory Selection - From Buccaneers

Allen grew up in Georgia, where his father, John, played football for the Bulldogs. The Region 6-AAA Defensive Player of the Year signed with Clemson, and played in 15 games as a true freshman for the Tigers (5-53-10.6, one start). He caught four touchdown passes off the bench in 2020 (16-247-15.4 in 12 games) before starting 10 of 13 games played (28-208-7.4, three TDs) his junior year. Allen had his best season in 2022, grabbing 39 passes for 443 yards (11.4) and five touchdowns in 14 starts to garner third-team All-ACC accolades. -- by Chad Reuter

Pick 42 (177)

Puka Nacua

WR BYU

Compensatory Selection

Nacua was the Utah Gatorade Player of the Year and the state's Mr. Football as a senior at Orem High School (103-2,336, 26 TDs receiving -- all state records). He signed with Washington for 2019. He played in eight games with three starts as a true freshman (7-168-24.0, two TDs) but missed the end of the year with a broken foot. After playing in three games as a reserve for the Huskies in 2020 (9-151-16.8, one TD), Nacua returned to Provo to play for BYU. He led the Cougars with 43 receptions for 805 receiving yards (18.7) and tied for the team lead with six receiving TDs in 2021, starting seven of 12 games played. Nacua led BYU in receiving again in 2022 (48-625-13.0, five TDs in nine games, seven starts) and was a threat as a rusher (25-209-8.4, five TDs) despite missing time with lingering injuries. Puka is the younger brother of former BYU players Isaiah, Samson and Kai Nacua. -- by Chad Reuter

Pick 5 (182)

Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson

CB TCU

Hodges-Tomlinson is the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson. Hodges-Tomlinson was a first-team all-district pick from Midway High School in Waco. He played in all 12 games for the Horned Frogs as a true freshman in 2019, starting once (eight tackles, one pass breakup). He garnered second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2020, posting 13 pass breakups in 10 starts (also recording 26 tackles). He was a first-team all-conference selection again in 2021 after leading the team with seven pass breakups and tying for the team lead with two interceptions (41 tackles, two forced fumbles in 12 starts). Hodges-Tomlinson won the 2022 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back, also picking up first-team Associated Press All-American and first-team all-conference recognition by recording 18 passes defensed (team-high three INTs, 15 pass breakups). He also posted 50 tackles, two for loss, in 15 starts. -- by Chad Reuter

Pick 12 (189)

Ochaun Mathis

EDGE Nebraska

From Titans

Mathis matriculated from Manor High School in Texas to TCU for the 2018 season, redshirting his first year on campus while playing in four games as a reserve (four tackles). He started all 12 games as a sophomore (40 tackles, nine for loss with 2.5 sacks) and then garnered second-team All-Big 12 accolades in 2020 by tying for fifth in the FBS with nine sacks in 10 starts (among 14 tackles for loss and 46 total stops). Mathis was a second-team pick in 2021, as well, posting seven tackles for loss and tying for the team lead with four sacks among his 45 total stops. He also broke up three passes in 12 starts. He transferred to Nebraska for 2022 with long-time head coach Gary Patterson no longer at TCU, starting twice in 12 appearances (50 tackles, five for loss with 3.5 sacks, two pass breakups). -- by Chad Reuter

Pick 38 (215)

Zach Evans

RB Mississippi

Compensatory Selection - From Commanders through Bills

Evans was the first five-star recruit to sign with TCU. He was a top-20 overall prospect who led North Shore High School in Houston to back-to-back state titles, rushing for nearly 5,000 yards and 76 touchdowns during his career. In his first season at TCU in 2020, Evans played the final nine games, making starts in each of the final three contests (54-415-7.7, four TDs rushing; 8-76-9.5 receiving). Despite missing six games with a toe injury in 2021, he led the Horned Frogs with 648 rushing yards (92 carries, 7.0 per, five scores rushing; 10-130-13.0, one TD receiving). He played in 12 games with eight starts for Ole Miss in 2022, missing time with a hip injury and a concussion, yet he still racked up 936 rushing yards (144 carries), tied for 10th in the FBS with 6.5 yards per carry, rushed for nine touchdowns and caught 12 passes for 119 (9.9 per) and a score. -- by Chad Reuter

Pick 6 (223)

Ethan Evans

P Wingate

6-4 235 LBS

Evans stayed in North Carolina for college, going from North Surry High School to Wingate in 2019. He started all four years for the Bulldogs, increasing his gross average each season, going from 40.3 (56-2,257, 14 fair catches, 23 inside the 20-yard line, two touchbacks) to 42.2 (17-717, five fair catches, five inside the 20, one touchback in the shortened 2020 season) to 42.5 (42-1,785, nine fair catches, 25 inside the 20, five touchbacks in 2021). Evans' boots traveled an average of 45.7 yards his senior year (77-3,518, 19 fair catches, 39 inside the 20, 13 touchbacks), garnering him first-team Associated Press Division II All-American and All-South Athletic Conference honors. Evans had three kicks blocked during his career (one each in 2019, 2020 and 2022) and was the team's kickoff specialist all four seasons (127 touchbacks on 221 kicks, 57.5%). -- by Chad Reuter

Pick 17 (234)

Jason Taylor II

SAF Oklahoma State

From Steelers

According to The Oklahoman, Jason II committed to the Cowboys in part to honor his late father, Jason Taylor, who was shot and killed when Jason II was 8 years old; the former Langston University defensive lineman was an Oklahoma State fan. After being named the state's Class 5A Player of the Year as a senior at Carl Albert High School, Taylor played in three games (no statistics) in his redshirt season. He appeared in 13 games as a reserve in 2019 (16 tackles) and in 11 games off the bench in 2020 (12 tackles). Taylor started the final 13 games of the 2021 season, playing in all 14, to garner honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference honors (48 tackles, 6.5 for loss with 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, four pass breakups; he also blocked a field goal that preserved a win over Boise State). Taylor starred for the Cowboys as a senior, receiving first-team all-conference recognition and leading the team with 99 tackles (3.5 for loss) and six interceptions, breaking up seven other passes in 13 starts. He ranked fourth in the FBS with 80 solo tackles. -- by Chad Reuter

Pick 42 (259)

Desjuan Johnson

DE Toledo

6-2 285 LBS

Compensatory Selection - From Texans

Johnson was a three-star recruit out of East English Village Prep when signing with Toledo for 2018. He played in 11 games that fall as a true freshman (17 tackles, three for loss with one sack) and then suited up for 12 games off the bench in 2019 (32 tackles, seven for loss with one sack). Johnson was a second-team All-MAC selection in 2020, when he led the Golden Rockets with eight tackles for loss (three sacks) among 27 stops in six starts, and 2021 (70 tackles, 12.5 for loss with 4.5 sacks, team-high two forced fumbles). He was a first-team All-MAC pick in 2022, topping the Golden Rockets with 16.5 tackles for loss (with 5.5 sacks among 65 stops) in 14 starts. -- by Chad Reuter

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