One year after coming away with one of the best draft classes in franchise history, the Los Angeles Rams added another outstanding collection of rookies in 2024. It started with Jared Verse at No. 19 overall, followed by Braden Fiske in the second, Blake Corum and Kamren Kinchens in the third, and Tyler Davis, Jordan Whittington and Beaux Limmer in the sixth.
Verse was obviously the headliner of the group, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024 and earning Pro Bowl selections in his first two seasons, but if the NFL were to re-do the draft that year, there’s no chance he would’ve lasted until No. 19 overall.
CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles re-drafted the first round of the 2024 draft and in it, the Rams and Cardinals swap picks: Arizona takes Jared Verse at No. 4 and the Rams land Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 19.
Verse was a home-run pick by the Rams, but getting the first wide receiver drafted at No. 19 would be a nice consolation prize – even as disappointing as Harrison has been in his first two years.
Harrison’s hypothetical fall ends here after several teams with multiple standout wide receivers pass on him. Could you imagine Puka Nacua and Harrison on the same team? Yes, it might seem like an embarrassment of riches, but Sean McVay would be over the moon. Plus, there wasn’t a ton behind Nacua on this wide receiver depth chart. Cooper Kupp was on his last legs in Los Angeles after two straight injured seasons.
Adding Harrison to a wide receiver group that already featured Nacua and Kupp would’ve been dangerous, giving the Rams a true X-receiver on the outside. However, drafting Harrison may have precluded Los Angeles from signing Davante Adams the following year.
Not to mention, without Verse, there’s no way the Rams would’ve been able to trade for Myles Garrett. He was the centerpiece of that trade with the Browns, showing just how valuable he was to the Rams.
Drafting Verse worked out for the Rams but the Cardinals probably have some minor regrets over taking Harrison when they did.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams lose Jared Verse, land top wide receiver in 2024 re-draft
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire | USA TODAY Network
