Look, everyone loves a good "I told you so." But if we’re being honest, nobody—and I mean absolutely nobody—saw the rams 2023 draft picks becoming the absolute league-altering force they turned out to be.
Usually, when a team doesn't have a first-round pick for what feels like a decade, you expect them to just tread water. You figure they'll grab a few rotational guys, maybe a special teams ace, and call it a day. Instead, Les Snead and Sean McVay went into the lab and emerged with arguably the most impactful rookie class of the modern era. We're talking about a group that didn't just "contribute"; they fundamentally rebuilt the floor of a franchise that people thought was heading for a messy divorce and a long rebuild.
The narrative back in April 2023 was that the Rams were "paying the bill" for their Super Bowl run. The experts were wrong.
The Puka Nacua Sensation: Why We Missed It
Let’s start with the obvious. Puka Nacua.
If you say you knew a fifth-round receiver out of BYU was going to shatter every rookie receiving record in the book, you're probably lying to yourself. He was the 177th pick. That’s "hope he makes the practice squad" territory. Yet, by the end of his rookie year, he had 105 catches and 1,486 yards.
Why did he slide? Mostly because of medical red flags and a 40-yard dash time that didn't jump off the page. But the Rams saw something else. They saw a guy who played with a physical violence that receivers aren't supposed to have. He blocked like a tight end and ran routes with the precision of a ten-year vet. Honestly, it changed how teams look at "slow" receivers. Now, everyone is looking for the next Puka—a guy with a "high floor" and elite processing over raw track speed.
Rebuilding the Trenches Without First-Rounders
The real magic of the rams 2023 draft picks wasn't just on the perimeter. It was in the mud.
Steve Avila was the first name called for the Rams that year at pick 36. People wondered if taking a guard that high was a waste. It wasn't. Avila played every single snap of his rookie season. He was a 330-pound brick wall that gave Matthew Stafford the one thing an aging quarterback needs: a clean pocket.
Then you have the defensive side. Losing Aaron Donald to retirement in 2024 could have been a death knell. But the 2023 class provided the bridge.
- Kobie Turner (Round 3, Pick 89): "The Conductor" didn't just play well; he tied Aaron Donald’s rookie sack record with 9.0.
- Byron Young (Round 3, Pick 77): A guy who was literally working at a Dollar General a few years prior ended up leading all rookie edge rushers in sacks (8.0) and pressures for a huge chunk of the season.
It’s wild when you think about it. Most teams are lucky to get one starter out of a draft without a first-round pick. The Rams got four high-level starters in the first three rounds alone.
The Misses and the Question Marks
Look, it wasn't all roses. We have to be fair.
Stetson Bennett, the fourth-round pick from Georgia, had a really weird journey. He missed his entire rookie year for personal reasons and left everyone wondering if the pick was a total bust. He eventually made it back to the grass, but when you spend a fourth-rounder on a backup QB, you usually want a bit more stability than what we saw early on.
Then there’s the depth guys. Tre Tomlinson and Zach Evans haven’t exactly set the world on fire. But that's the thing about the NFL—if you hit on the top four guys like the Rams did, the rest is just gravy.
Why the 2023 Class Matters Right Now
As we move through 2026, the ripple effects are everywhere. Because these guys are on cheap rookie contracts, the Rams were able to go out and snag veterans like Davante Adams and rebuild the secondary in free agency.
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The rams 2023 draft picks proved that the "Stars and Scrubs" philosophy was actually sustainable if you could actually draft. It turns out, Les Snead wasn't just throwing darts at a board; he was looking for specific archetypes—older players with high football IQ and a chip on their shoulder.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're looking at how the Rams are building for the future, keep these three things in mind:
1. Value the "Safe" Picks
Steve Avila wasn't a sexy pick, but his 100% snap count proved that availability is the best ability. When evaluating future Rams drafts, look for the high-floor interior players.
2. Watch the "Transfer" Players
The Rams have a clear type: guys who started small and moved up to big programs (like Kobie Turner and Byron Young). These players usually have the mental toughness McVay craves.
3. Trust the Production over the Projections
Puka Nacua’s college stats were elite when he was healthy. The Rams stopped overthinking the 40-time and started looking at the actual football tape.
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The 2023 draft wasn't just a lucky break. It was a masterclass in scouting for a specific system. It’s why the Rams didn't fall off a cliff after their Super Bowl window "closed." Instead, they just opened a new one.
To stay ahead of the curve on the Rams roster, you should monitor the snap counts of the 2023 class heading into their contract extension years. These are the players who will dictate the team's salary cap flexibility through 2027. Keep an eye on Byron Young’s sack-to-pressure ratio, as it’s the best indicator of his long-term value as a primary edge rusher.