Replacing Aaron Donald won't be easy. 

However, the Los Angeles Rams will have an opportunity to do so in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

The Athletic mock draft, posted on Thursday, has the Rams using pick No. 19 to draft a player who has the character traits that can add Donald-like performance to the defensive line almost instantly. 

The Athletic has the Rams drafting edge Laiatu Latu out of UCLA. 

From The Athletic: 

"Replacing the great Aaron Donald is impossible, but to get a player of Latu’s ability and character at this point in the first round should be a big win for Sean McVay’s defense. The 6-5, 259-pound former rugby standout won the Lombardi Award in 2023, which honors college football’s top lineman, after he led the FBS with 21.5 TFLs and had 13 sacks, 49 tackles with two interceptions and two forced fumbles for the Pac-12’s top defense. Latu began his career at Washington in 2019, where he was part of a fantastic recruiting class that also included Rams star receiver Puka Nacua. But then the prized D-lineman suffered a neck injury and his career was derailed for two seasons. Washington doctors would not clear him to play. Eventually, doctors at UCLA and one of the country’s foremost spine surgeons did clear him, and he emerged as a dominant player. Latu tested well at the combine, running a 4.64 40 with a 1.62 10-yard split. His film — and the feedback from his coaches — is even more impressive."

Latu may not be a copy-and-paste replacement for Donald, but all the signs point toward him being a productive player at the NFL level, quickly. 

In A to Z Sports' March mock draft, our draft experts tabbed the Rams as opting for a cornerback in the first round. 

With the draft inching closer, it is only a matter of time until all the speculation becomes a reality. 

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