The Los Angeles Rams prioritized the defensive line early in the 2024 NFL Draft. The team selected two former Florida State Seminoles in the first two rounds: pass rusher Jared Verse in the first and defensive tackle Braden Fiske in the second.
With the Rams losing Aaron Donald to retirement this offseason, strengthening the defensive line was a must, and Fiske will be one of many depended on to accomplish the impossible: assist replace the void left by the all-time great.
The Rams traded up in the second round to acquire Fiske, and the team has already signed him to a four-year contract worth $9.4 million, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network:
Fiske has the chance to make an immediate impact on a Rams line that features some talented young players. Fiske was a second-team All-ACC pick last year in his one season at Florida State, finishing with 43 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, and six sacks. Prior to that, he was a standout at Western Michigan, where he recorded 148 total tackles and 27 tackles for loss over four seasons.
The Rams now have an incredibly promising line, with Fiske and his college friend Verse joining last year’s rookies Kobie Turner and Byron Young, as well as Bobby Brown and Michael Hoecht. Fiske is an excellent athlete who thrives on getting into the backfield and making plays, making him an ideal acquisition with the potential to be another impact player selected by the Rams in the draft.
Les Snead discusses why the Rams moved up to draft Braden Fiske.
The Rams are notorious for being incredibly proactive with their draft decisions, willing to make whatever moves are required to obtain who they want, and Fiske was no exception. Les Snead and the front office gave away next year’s second-round pick to move up and take the Florida State product, and Snead explains why.
The general manager stated that the team targeted a set of players in the first round, and that if they added a pass rusher, such as Jared Verse, they intended to be aggressive in acquiring a defensive tackle in the second round, with Fiske being the major goal.
However, by all accounts, Snead and the Rams had decided on Fiske as their second-round pick and were willing to go to any length to get him.
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