As things stand today what do you feel the Rams biggest needs are in free agency and the draft?

[André]

With Stafford and Alaric locked up, Jonah gone, and assumptions of trading/releasing Kupp, Kendrick and Parkinson, we now need the lucky 13:

Backup QB
Speedy RB threat
WR2, WR3, WR5
TE 1/2
Swing T
IOL Depth
DE/Edge to replace Hoecht
NT to replace BBIII
MLB1
CB1
Safety depth

Knowing that we 'only' have eight draft choices (for now) and really only three or four that have a chance of being starting-caliber players off the bat (best case), we are going to be looking pretty hard to pick up some free agents this year if we want to be able to have enough depth to truly complete.

The first few draft picks likely should be (not in this order, necessarily) WR, TE, CB, LB.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I find it interesting that no one thinks the Center position can be improved. I understand the success of the offense the O-line was great with Limmer filling in. I just don't know if he can improve enough from 1st to 2nd year to provide consistent protection for Stafford. He is also on the lighter side (308 lbs) to provide a great Base against Bull rushers.
His PFF grade for Pass blocking was down close to 40 ..... that's almost the cellar

I agree. Limmer gets overrated on this board.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

With Stafford and Alaric locked up, Jonah gone, and assumptions of trading/releasing Kupp, Kendrick and Parkinson, we now need the lucky 13:

Backup QB
Speedy RB threat
WR2, WR3, WR5
TE 1/2
Swing T
IOL Depth
DE/Edge to replace Hoecht
NT to replace BBIII
MLB1
CB1
Safety depth

Knowing that we 'only' have eight draft choices (for now) and really only three or four that have a chance of being starting-caliber players off the bat (best case), we are going to be looking pretty hard to pick up some free agents this year if we want to be able to have enough depth to truly complete.

The first few draft picks likely should be (not in this order, necessarily) WR, TE, CB, LB.

They have decent interior Oline depth. Dedich played well as a back up and so did McMahon at center. Leveston was injured. So maybe they have their LT backup too.

They still have Tyler Johnson and Whittington at receiver so receiver 3 and 5 are likely filled. Safety depth is not a problem. Tyler Davis was drafted last year as the Nose Tackle.

Your list is a bit longer than it needs to be.

 

[André]

Cheers.

A couple things to explain my thoughts ...

Tyler Johnson is a free agent, and I see Whittington as WR4, so that is why I went that way at wideout.

With JJIII gone, I think they still need some depth there ... I don't have faith in Tanner Ingle coming in to help them.

Tyler Davis is a great rotational player, but I don't want to count on him as the man in the middle.

All just my opinions of course.

 

[Londoner]

Cheers.

A couple things to explain my thoughts ...

Tyler Johnson is a free agent, and I see Whittington as WR4, so that is why I went that way at wideout.

With JJIII gone, I think they still need some depth there ... I don't have faith in Tanner Ingle coming in to help them.

Tyler Davis is a great rotational player, but I don't want to count on him as the man in the middle.

All just my opinions of course.

Do you really think Hoecht will go?

He's solid, if unspectacular, knows the system and would be cheap.

I would hope the Rams do their best to keep him: every roster needs its solid journeymen.

 

[André]

Do you really think Hoecht will go?

He's solid, if unspectacular, knows the system and would be cheap.

I would hope the Rams do their best to keep him: every roster needs its solid journeymen.

I hope you are right - I'd love to keep him. But I think he might be able to make a decent chunk of change as a free agent, and he's got to look after his future.

 

[Allen2McVay]

...
Every roster needs its solid journeymen.

Same with a football forum. ROD's version would be @Loyal.

 

[Londoner]

Same with a football forum. ROD's version would be @Loyal.

Nah: he isn't particularly solid.

This has been corroborated by Mrs Loyal, by the way.

 

[KA210927]

I could see them adding a big DT early in the draft to solidify the DL... plus WR/TE/CB/LB (1-2 of these they hopefully fill with a solid FA before the draft)

 

[Ballhawk]

I agree with the others that say O line. The IOL cost us the chance to go to the NFC championship game last season.

 

[Flatlyner]

I agree with the others that say O line. The IOL cost us the chance to go to the NFC championship game last season.

I'd be shocked if those same 2 guys were not starting week 1. One was a rookie who hopefully has learned from it.

 

[Ballhawk]

I'd be shocked if those same 2 guys were not starting week 1. One was a rookie who hopefully has learned from it.

Even with the same starters coming back they are too thin at O line.

 

[AZRams]

I agree. Limmer gets overrated on this board.

Well, he did play pretty damn well for a 6th-round rookie.

 

[WestCoastRam]

The more I think about it, the more likely it's probably worth throwing money at some of our guys still. If we can sign BB and Hoecht - even with the depth in this draft - it will be a good thing.

With a draft with so few 1st rounders and even grades across the board high up, gonna be very hard for us to trade back for more draft capital and find a buyer. Better to sign some of our guys in FA and let the draft come to us, possibly with no trades (at least in the 1st).

 

[dang]

Keep in mind some BPA will be in the mix strategy for the Rams draft. In the vein of Aaron Donald and Todd Gurley.

 

[Ramstien]

Of course, the adage is best player available at a position of need.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Keep in mind some BPA will be in the mix strategy for the Rams draft. In the vein of Aaron Donald and Todd Gurley.

I don't think anything's off the table for sure, including running back high (though seems quite unlikely).

Rams also have a habit of shotgunning a position of need and taking multiple shots in one draft there (corner, oline, dline, WR). I'd argue it's the one thing they consistently do draftwise in the McSnead era.

I would not be shocked if they shotgun pass catcher this draft with at least three picks across all the rounds ala 2021 (though that didn't really work out).

 

[Ramstien]

Some of this is going to get taken care of in free agency, I'm thinking WR and MLBer. Of course, I could see them using the draft for another WR or two and definitely a TE.

 

[OldSchool]

We also now need an iol with center and guard flexibility

 

[Mojo Ram]

Of course, the adage is best player available at a position of need.

Yes indeed, but I’ll keep banging the drum on upgrading this skill group on offense. It’s a fairly efficient offense, but slow and plodding getting down the field.

This reminds me of how I felt going into the ‘21 draft. Hopefully we fare much better this time.