The Los Angeles Rams are one of the deepest teams in the NFL from top to bottom, losing very few assets from their Super Bowl roster last season. After addressing several needs on Day 2 – including safety, cornerback and offensive line – they don’t have many glaring holes to fill.
Here are their biggest needs entering Day 3 where they have four total picks, three of which come in Round 5.
Nose tackle
The Rams are all but moving on from Ndamukong Suh, who’s still a free agent. As a result, there’s a big void at nose tackle, one they’d probably like to fill at some point today. The top nose tackles in the draft are long gone, but the Rams can still find a potential starter at this point.
They need a big-bodied defender who can plug running lanes and stop the run. He doesn’t necessarily have to be a great pass rusher, but Los Angeles needs to improve its run defense and that starts up the middle.
Potential targets: Renell Wren, Daylon Mack, Armon Watts
Edge rusher
For the second year in a row, the outside pass rush is at least a minor concern for the Rams. Dante Fowler Jr. and Clay Matthews will be the primary outside linebackers, most likely, but Matthews’ versatility will likely lead to him playing inside, too. Samson Ebukam is too inconsistent to be considered a reliable starter, and who knows what the Rams have in Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.
It’s not an issue of quantity, just quality. They won’t find a surefire Day 1 starter this late in the draft, but there are players available who can join the rotation and compete with Matthews, Ebukam and Okoronkwo.
Potential targets: Christian Miller, D’Andre Walker, Malik Reed
Inside linebacker
Mark Barron was cut and landed with the Steelers, opening up a void next to Cory Littleton. Micah Kiser, the team’s fifth-round pick last year, is penciled in as the starter right now, but the Rams could use some help at that spot. Whether it’s simply competition for Kiser or depth behind him, it can’t hurt to add an inside linebacker.
Ideally, it’ll be a thumper like Kiser rather than a Will linebacker like Cory Littleton. This wasn’t an especially talented class at linebacker, but that has left several sleeper prospects still on the board in Day 3.
Potential targets: Mack Wilson, Blake Cashman, Vosean Joseph, Ben Burr-Kirven, David Long
Defensive end
Michael Brockers is the top defensive end on the roster right now and was all of last season, but that could change in 2019. Les Snead has already said Brockers could move to nose tackle next season, it just depends whether the Rams take a tackle or end in the draft.
It might be tough to find someone better than Brockers this late, but Brockers isn’t a particularly great fit at defensive end. The Rams can probably come away with someone who offers more as a pass rusher, but it’ll be difficult to upgrade Brockers’ run defense.
Potential targets: Charles Omenihu, Kingsley Keke, Joe Jackson, Anthony Nelson, John Cominsky
Center
Bobby Evans can play any position but center on the offensive line, and there’s a chance the Rams will want to add some competition inside for Brian Allen. It’s hardly a pressing need or one the Rams must address, but Allen isn’t a lock to be the starter next season.
There aren’t many prospects available at this point who will be upgrades over Allen – especially after he got to sit behind John Sullivan last season – but the Rams don’t have a backup right now besides Austin Blythe, who’s set to start at right guard.
Potential targets: Javon Patterson, Lamont Gaillard
Tight end/Wide receiver
We’ll group these two positions together because neither are positions the Rams have to address, but there’s a chance they’ll look at prospects at each spot on Day 3. If Tyler Higbee is traded, they will certainly look to replace him with a rookie behind Gerald Everett.
And as for wide receivers, Snead said the Rams could look for bigger targets who can be weapons in the red zone. They’re obviously stacked at the position with Brandin Cooks and Co. atop the depth chart, but they don’t have much size or height.
Potential targets: WR Hakeem Butler, WR Kelvin Harmon, TE Foster Moreau, TE Isaac Nauta
