Rams Welcomes $900 Million Popular Michigan o-lineman For 2024 Season…

Michigan’s Karsen Barnhart is not expected to go early in the 2024 NFL Draft, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t be a steal for the Los Angeles Rams if they pick him given how well Les Snead’s day two and three picks did last year. While some have pondered if Michigan could set the record for a school having the most players drafted in one year, Barnhart is not going to get the same attention as J.J. McCarthy but he’s just as important to setting that record.

The Rams are interested enough in the versatile Barnhart to have held a private meeting with him on Thursday, one day before Michigan’s highly anticipated pro day in Ann Arbor.

Ranked as basically a 7th round/priority free agent, Barnhart sure is popular for someone who isn’t projected to go early in the draft. He has met with the Rams, Ravens so far and will meet with the Seahawks, Giants, and Lions next, according to Justin Melo for The Draft Network.

Barnhart ranked 15th among guards in athleticism score at the combine, but it his versatility to have started at four offensive line positions at one of the top programs in the country that is perhaps his most outstanding trait. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com expressed some concern that Barnhart is not twitchy enough to excel at guard, his projected NFL position:After playing multiple positions at Michigan, Barnhart is likely an interior line prospect as a pro. He has decent size and length as a guard, but he doesn’t play with enough pop into contact. He’s missing twitchy, sudden hands to snap into pass rushers and run defenders for early leads in the rep. Barnhart is an adequate technician on double-teams and single blocks but rarely uproots and dumps opponents at the point of attack. He’s an athletic pull-blocker but fails to excite enough in any phase.

The Rams have plenty of sixth round picks, maybe that is where they project Barnhart to be available. Then if they get him in the building, perhaps offensive line coach Ryan Wendell can do the rest.

Pass Rush Needed: How Rams free agent signings set up the draft

For the most part, the Los Angeles Rams have wrapped up free agency. There may be another small signing or two, but focus will now shift towards the NFL Draft. The Rams did manage to fill some needs in free agency and supplement the roster. However, there are plenty of needs that they will still need to address in the draft, primarily at pass rusher. Here’s how the Rams’ needs stack up.

The Rams still very much need an edge rusher. While Byron Young showed some promised as a rookie, the defense still needs some help on the other side. Michael Hoecht was brought back, but he’s better suited as a situational player on early downs or back on the defensive line as a 5T. At the end of the day, the Rams need a player who can get to the quarterback and without Aaron Donald, that is a glaring hole on defense.

This will be the Rams’ top needed heading into the draft. They missed out on some of the top names in free agency and not only need a future at the position, but need a guy that they can rely on to consistently get to the quarterback. It didn’t seem as if there was much interest from the top tier players from the front office in free agency. It’s possible that the Rams have their eye on somebody in the draft.

While the Rams did sign Darious Williams, they still need to add at the cornerback position. Bringing in a rookie that can compete for a starting job will be crucial. That player also needs to bring some size which is something that the Rams lack on the outside in the secondary.

As it stands, Derion Kendrick would be the starting outside cornerback opposite of Williams. That wouldn’t bode a lot of confidence in that group if those were the two names starting in Week 1. There were reports that the Rams were also interested in Tre White. It’s possible that the Rams are simply looking to put a band-aid on the position until next year given other needs. However, at some point, the front office will need to find someone to play opposite of Williams.

The Rams do need to add to the defensive line in the draft. That player may not need to come in the first-round, but they do need to add some depth and players that can provide gap discipline while owning the trenches. The Rams had invested in the trenches on the offensive side of the ball. They need to do the same on defense.