There’s big shoes to fill and then there’s the ones Tyler Davis is hoping to for the Los Angeles Rams.

After the retirement of future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the Rams went after the defensive line in the 2024 NFL Draft. Davis joined Florida State products Jared Verse and Braden Fiske as the new era up front in Los Angeles begins.

While Fiske is more of a pass-rushing tackle, Davis is a true nose with a knack for the run game.  He was rated the fourth best run defender since 2022 by Pro Football Focus and his 300-pound size will allow him to transition that efficiency to the NFL.

Replacing a player like Donald is a near-impossible feat, and it’s why the Rams are doing it by committee. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney had a comparison to make for Davis, and Los Angeles would be ecstatic if he reached the mark.

“He is the consummate ‘team guy’ and eventually he will be a captain. He is a player I would put in the same mold as Grady Jarrett. He is probably a guy that got downgraded because he doesn’t have some of the measurables from a size standpoint, but when he gets on the field, he will quickly separate from the others,” Swinney said.

Jarrett became an All-Pro defensive lineman for the Atlanta Falcons, so those are some more big shoes to fill. Davis has all the intangibles to become an elite defensive tackle in the NFL, and it could end up being a steal for the Rams on Day 3.