The NFL Draft is here and it starts tonight! In order to try to get you geared up I wanted today’s Random Ramsdom to ask a very important question. Is this the most exciting draft of the Sean McVay Era? If last year’s draft was the most important, and that argument can absolutely be made, then is this draft the most exciting? LA still has their first round pick, they are coming off of a winning season, and a thrilling playoff loss. Has there been a draft to be more excited about as a Rams fan since McVay has been at the helm?

I think it’s a fair question. Question two: Do you know the first player ever drafted in the Sean McVay era? No hints, but you probably know the answer. Feel free to comment below! Let’s get drafting! Spoiler: The answer is Gerald Everett. Correct me if I am wrong! Thanks for checking out Turfshowtime! Maybe Les Snead is reading this one.

No First-Round Draft Pick? No Problem for the Rams. (insidehook)

“Twenty years ago today, the Chargers selected Eli Manning with the first pick in the 2004 NFL draft and then traded him to the Giants for No. 4 overall pick Philip Rivers after Manning threatened to sit out the season. “It was my decision,” Manning revealed in 2021, shedding light on what went down. “I was just worried about the Chargers organization at the time. Manning’s call or not, it was a move that worked out, generally, for both teams — Manning went on to win two Super Bowls with the Giants, while Rivers put together a (likely) Hall-of-Fame career and kept the Chargers in contention year after year before leaving the franchise as LA made the pivot to Justin Herbert at QB 1.

The season after the Chargers brought Herbert to the Golden State, LA’s other team made a blockbuster trade that involved a pair of first-round quarterbacks changing teams when the Rams shipped former No. 1 pick Jared Goff and a package of picks to the Detroit Lions in exchange for former No.1 quarterback Matthew Stafford. Much like the Rivers-Manning swap, the move has largely worked out for both teams, as the Rams won the Super Bowl three seasons ago and the Lions were a game short of reaching the big game this year (and probably should have made it.)”

19 players most likely to be available for Rams at No. 19, according to ESPN analytics (ramswire)

“Barring a trade, the Los Angeles Rams will have a chance to draft one of their top 20 players in the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night. Sitting at No. 19 overall in Round 1, the Rams are in a great position to land an impact player in the first round of the draft.

They’re working through various scenarios to determine who might be available at No. 19 overall, but it’s difficult to project who might still be on the board when Les Snead and Sean McVay have to make their pick.

ESPN used various mock drafts and player rankings to build its Draft Day Predictor, which projects 19 players’ chances of being available for the Rams at No. 19. Here are the 19 players with the best chance to be on the board for Los Angeles.”

Ramsdom Fandom: My ideal Rams 5round Mock draft (By WesCoastRams  @WesA49509134655 on Apr 22, 2024)

“19. Brock Bowers TE Georgia; An elite prospect that will push the Rams’ pass game to another level.

52. Marshawn Kneeland Edge Western Michigan; A strong, disruptive, explosive player.. He reminds me of Hoecht.. and with the loss of AD, dynamic players that can play on the line or on the edge may be more of a benefit..

83. Tvondre Sweat DL Texas; A huge body with the production, and athleticism to make every team regret not taking him.

99. Brendan Rice WR USC; A big play prospect that possesses a lot of the same skills that his dad did..

154. Tykee Smith S Georgia; A safety that can bring the tackling intensity that the Rams’ defense has been lacking.

155. Tyrone Tracy RB Purdue; An all around back that has good vision, hands & return ability.”

It’s draft day so let’s add another fan post! I kinda hope LA can draft this player discussed below…

Audric Estime draft profile (By Ferragamo15 on Apr 22, 2024)

“In 2000, the Rams drafted Trung Canidate from Arizona at the bottom of the 1st round. His final season in college, Canidate had 1,855 scrimmage yards in 12 games on a 6-6 team, including 1,602 rushing yards with a 6.3 ypc average. The previous season he averaged 7.3 yards per carry. At his Pro Day, Canidate was timed at 4.28 and 4.26 seconds in the 40. His elite speed was supposed to add another big play weapon to the GSOT “track team” offense, ideal to play inside a dome on a fast surface.

Marshall Faulk was league MVP in 2000 and Canidate as a rookie hardly played sitting behind him. The following season, Canidate in his debut start had 195 rushing yards. A couple weeks later, the Rams obliterated the hapless Carolina Panthers, with Faulk exploding for 183 rushing yards and Canidate adding 145 rushing yards, making up for 3 INTs by Kurt Warner and his sprained thumb. Those 2 games were the highlights of an otherwise unremarkable tenure with the Rams and Canidate was traded away after 3 seasons. He started 10 games for Steve Spurrier’s Washington team in 2003 but had a high ankle sprain. He was released the following summer and that was the end of his NFL career. The good news for the Rams is Canidate not working out led to the team drafting grabbing Steven Jackson after his unexpected draft day slide in 2004.

My NFL comp for Notre Dame running back Audric Estime also was in the 2000 draft. Where was he drafted (if at all) and how did he perform in the pros? Was he better or worse than Canidate?

Background

Name: Audric Estime. Turns 21 years old in September of 2024.”