Three biggest concerns for Los Angeles Rams before draft
What does an NFL team do when its players miss more than 200 combined games with injury? If you’re the Los Angeles Rams, you try again in 2023. But if they don’t improve in the following areas, next season could be just as painful.
1. Pass push
The Rams don't get to the quarterback like they used to. The team had just 38 sacks last season, their lowest total since 2016. Von Miller’s signing with the Bills certainly hurt, but the remaining linemen didn’t help much either. The team is going to need more pressure from the edge. Leonard Floyd led the team with nine sacks last season, but was released prior to free agency. Bobby Wagner had the second-most sacks, but he’s back with the Seahawks now. At the moment, no team spends less on edge-rushers than the Rams do. According to Pro Football Focus’ latest mock draft, the Rams will take LSU edge-rusher B.J. Ojulari with the 36th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The former Tiger had 128 tackles and 16.5 sacks in college and would be a great complement to 31-year-old Aaron Donald.
2. Offensive line
In 2022, the offensive line set an NFL record for injuries. Oday Aboushi, Ty Nsekhe and Matt Skura weren’t on the roster when last season began, but by the end of the year, they were all starting games.
Only two teams allowed more sacks than the Rams last season, and injuries aside, they’ll need to do a better job protecting their 35-year-old quarterback next year.
Brian Allen and Joe Noteboom have underperformed since signing multiyear contracts in 2022, and despite a long history of injuries, Allen remains the team’s only center. According to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, offensive line is one of the weakest positions in the draft, so look for the Rams to target the position early.
3. Cornerback
On the other hand, Zierlein identifies cornerback as the deepest position in the draft. He believes as many as six could go in the first round. But for the seventh straight year, the Rams don’t have a first-round pick. That could be a problem. The team certainly has a need at the position. Jalen Ramsey was traded to the Dolphins, David Long signed with the Raiders and Troy Hill remains unsigned. At the moment, Cobie Durant and Robert Rochell are listed as starters, but together the two have just nine passes defended. Expect the Rams to explore other options like Iowa’s Riley Moss or South Carolina’s Darius Rush in the draft’s later rounds.
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