Rams Scouting Combine Rundown: Standout Players They Met

March 24, 2025 Gary Boutwell Rams News 0

Rams Scouting Combine Rundown: Standout Players They Met
Rams Scouting Combine Rundown: Standout Players They Met

Rams Scouting Combine Rundown: Tipping their hand, or throwing smokescreens?

The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, held from February 24 to March 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, provided NFL teams, including the Los Angeles Rams, with a critical opportunity to evaluate the incoming draft class. For the Rams, a team known for strategic roster-building under General Manager Les Snead and Head Coach Sean McVay, the Combine served as a platform to meet with top prospects, assess their fit within the team’s system, and plan for the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, set for April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. While the full list of Rams’ meetings isn’t publicly disclosed in exhaustive detail, reports (mostly from players) allow us to explore their interactions with several standout players. Below is a detailed breakdown of these prospects and why the Rams might have prioritized them.

Team Context and Needs

Entering the 2025 offseason, the Rams are coming off a 2024 season where they showcased resilience and offensive firepower, led by quarterback Matthew Stafford and a dynamic young defensive core. The Rams are likely focusing on bolstering their offense—particularly at tight end and perhaps a quarterback—while reinforcing a defense that needs depth at linebacker, secondary, and along the offensive line to protect their signal-caller. The combine meetings reflect these priorities, blending immediate contributors with long-term developmental prospects.

Offensive Prospects

Tight Ends

The Rams have historically valued versatile tight ends in McVay’s scheme, and the 2025 class is loaded with talent at the position.

  • Tyler Warren (Penn State)
    Warren, a 6’6”, 260-pound tight end, emerged as a standout at the Combine with his blend of size, athleticism, and receiving prowess. His college tape shows a player capable of lining up in-line, in the slot, or even as an H-back, making him a perfect fit for McVay’s creative offense. At the combine, Warren impressed with his fluidity in drills and hands, areas the Rams likely probed during their meeting. With current tight end Colby Parkinson offering solid but unspectacular production, Warren could be a Day 1 target to upgrade the position.
  • Colston Loveland (Michigan)
    Widely regarded as a potential first-round pick, Loveland’s 6’5”, 245-pound frame and smooth route-running make him a tantalizing prospect. His Combine performance highlighted his speed (rumored sub-4.6 40-yard dash) and ability to separate from defenders. The Rams, who met with him, likely saw a player who could stretch the field and complement their passing attack alongside Puka Nacua and Kupp, offering a long-term solution at tight end.
  • Mason Taylor (LSU)
    Taylor, son of NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, brings a polished skill set at 6’5”, 255 pounds. His combine showing emphasized his blocking ability and reliable hands, traits that align with the Rams’ need for a two-way tight end. While not as explosive as Warren or Loveland, his meeting with the Rams suggests interest in a player who could develop into a starter behind Parkinson.
  • Gunner Helm (Texas)
    Helm’s 6’5”, 250-pound build and breakout 2024 season at Texas made him a Combine riser. His agility and contested-catch ability stood out in drills, and the Rams’ meeting likely focused on his potential as a red-zone weapon. As a mid-round prospect, Helm could be a cost-effective addition to deepen the tight end room.

Quarterbacks

With Stafford turning 37 in 2025, the Rams are in the market for a successor or developmental backup. Most analysts agree that this QB class is rather weak. The Rams have met with:

  • Quinn Ewers (Texas)
    Ewers, a 6’2”, 210-pound quarterback, showcased his arm strength and poise at the Combine. His throwing session displayed accuracy on intermediate routes, though his deep ball consistency drew scrutiny. The Rams’ meeting with Ewers likely centered on his decision-making and fit as a potential apprentice to Stafford, possibly as a second-round target.
  • Jalen Milroe (Alabama)
    Milroe’s athleticism (rumored 4.4 40-yard dash) and powerful arm made him a Combine standout, though his small hand size (8 ¾ inches) raised questions. The Rams, who met with him, might see Milroe as a high-upside project. His dual-threat ability could add a new dimension to McVay’s offense, though his raw mechanics suggest a multi-year development plan.

Wide Receivers

The Rams’ passing attack thrives with dynamic playmakers, and several receivers caught their eye.

  • Matthew Golden (Texas)
    Golden, a 6’0”, 195-pound speedster. The Rams likely met with Golden to assess his speed (sub-4.4 40) and ability to stretch the field. His combine performance underscored his potential as a deep threat, making him a Day 3 option to complement Nacua and Kupp.
  • Tory Horton (Colorado State)
    Horton’s 6’3”, 190-pound frame and smooth route-running impressed at the combine. The Rams’ meeting likely explored his fit as a possession receiver who could step into a larger role as Kupp ages, offering value in the mid-rounds.
  • Tez Johnson (Oregon)
    Despite a lighter frame (5’10”, 154 pounds), Johnson’s elite quickness (6.65-second 3-cone drill) shone at the combine. The Rams, valuing slot receivers, likely saw him as a potential gadget player in McVay’s system, though his size might limit him to a late-round pick or UDFA.

Running Backs

  • Cam Skattebo (Arizona State)
    Skattebo’s 5’11”, 225-pound build and 39.5-inch vertical jump turned heads. His versatility—1,711 rushing yards and 605 receiving yards in 2024—makes him a fit for the Rams’ backfield behind Kyren Williams. Their meeting likely focused on his informal chat with teams like the Buccaneers, suggesting broad interest, but his fit as a power back intrigued the Rams.

Offensive Linemen

Protecting Stafford remains a priority, and the Rams scouted several blockers.

  • Kelvin Banks (Texas)
    Banks, a 6’4”, 320-pound tackle, impressed with his anchor in pass protection. The Rams’ meeting likely assessed his readiness to start at left tackle, potentially as a first-round pick to solidify the line.
  • Torricelli Simpkins (NC State)
    Simpkins, a 6’5”, 305-pound guard/center, offers versatility. His combine strength drills stood out, and the Rams likely saw him as a Day 2 option to bolster depth.
  • Jared Wilson (Georgia)
    Wilson’s 6’3”, 310-pound frame and zone-blocking prowess fit McVay’s scheme. The Rams’ meeting explored his potential as a mid-round interior lineman.

Defensive Prospects

Linebackers

Omar Speights has provided solid, but unspectacular play in the middle, and the signing of Nate Landman has added some beef and experience to the linebacker group. Upgrading the linebacker position is a clear need for the Rams.

  • Danny Stutsman (Oklahoma)
    Stutsman’s 6’4”, 240-pound frame and 7.1 RAS score highlighted his athleticism. The Rams likely met with him to gauge his instincts and fit as a three-down linebacker, possibly in Round 3 if he falls that far.
  • Carson Bruener (Washington)
    Bruener’s tackling prowess and coverage skills shone at the combine. The Rams’ meeting suggests interest in a late-round pick to develop behind Speights.

Defensive Backs

The secondary needs playmakers after re-signing Ahkello Witherspoon, this is another area that could use some upgrades. J

  • Jonas Sanker (Virginia)
    Sanker’s 6’2”, 210-pound size and range made him a Combine standout. The Rams likely saw him as a versatile safety to pair with Kamren Curl, targeting him in Round 3.
  • Malaki Starks (Georgia)
    Starks, a 6’1”, 205-pound safety, dazzled with his ball skills. The Rams’ meeting likely focused on his potential as a first-round free safety to anchor the back end.
  • Zy Alexander (LSU)
    Alexander’s 6’2”, 190-pound frame and speed (sub-4.4 40) impressed. The Rams, needing corner depth, likely eyed him as a mid-round pick.
  • Dorian Strong (Virginia Tech)
    Strong’s 6’0”, 185-pound build and man-coverage ability fit the Rams’ scheme. Their meeting suggests interest in a Day 3 corner to develop.
  • Justin Barron (Texas)
    Barron’s versatility as a safety/nickel hybrid intrigued the Rams. His Combine agility drills stood out, making him a late-round prospect.

Conclusion

The Rams’ 2025 Combine meetings reflect a balanced approach: addressing immediate needs at tight end, offensive line, and the secondary while planning for the future at quarterback and wide receiver. Prospects like Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland, and Kelvin Banks could be early targets, while Jalen Milroe, Cam Skattebo, and Malaki Starks offer high-upside potential. As the draft nears, these interactions will shape the Rams’ strategy to sustain their contention window in the NFC West.

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About Gary Boutwell 166 Articles
Gary Boutwell is the proud owner and founder of The Rams Forum and, The Rams News, two thriving online communities dedicated to NFL enthusiasts. A lifelong football fan with a particular affinity for the Los Angeles Rams, Gary has turned his passion for the game into a platform where fans can connect, debate, and share their love for the sport. Now retired after a distinguished career in information technology (IT), Gary spends his days writing about the NFL, offering insights, analysis, and commentary that reflect his deep knowledge and enthusiasm for the league.

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