SAD NEWS: The head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, Sean McVay, has been in a state of profound sadness and silence for over 50 minutes. This follows the confirmation of his wife being involved in an accident resulting in the dislocation of her right leg.

The Los Angeles Rams currently have Tanner Brown listed as the place kicker on their roster, a role he also held last season until the Rams opted for Brett Maher. However, Maher’s tenure as the kicker was short-lived, lasting until October 24th. After Maher, the Rams turned to Lucas Havrisik briefly before bringing Maher back for Week 18 and the Wild Card game. This kicker carousel is reminiscent of previous seasons’ situations, such as the Sam Sloman–Kai Forbath–Matt Gay saga of 2020 and the Sam Ficken–Cairo Santos confusion of 2018.

With Tanner Brown’s return, there’s speculation about whether the Rams’ front office is leading them into another frustrating cycle of changing kickers. However, there’s a glimmer of hope in the NFL’s latest mock draft, where Draft Analyst Chad Reuter predicts the Rams selecting Alabama kicker Will Reichard in the fifth round with the 155th pick.

Will Reichard, known for his tenure with the Crimson Tide, concluded his final season as the NCAA’s career points leader. His impressive accuracy and reliability, demonstrated by his flawless PAT record and consistent field goal performance, make him an attractive prospect.

Reichard’s statistics, including his proficiency within various yardage ranges and his performance in pressure situations like the College Football Playoffs, underscore his potential as a reliable kicker for the Rams or any team in need.

While the Rams have historically been hesitant to invest heavily in kickers and have rarely drafted them, the importance of this position in close games suggests that a proactive approach, such as drafting a kicker like Reichard, could be beneficial for the team’s success.