And those 1500 snaps do not have to be in the first two picks only. That's the entire point. It's a question of what the Rams feel is the best way to do it. What a lot are doing and saying is the first round doesn't have to be a DT it doesn't even have to be an edge. It doesn't even have to be a draft pick there are still veterans out there to sign.
It's pretty easy 1st round LT
2nd round Edge
3rd round DT and WR
5th round ILB DT CB/S
We can replace those 1500 snaps whenever we want to. We can also upgrade all of Jackson, Hoecht and Robinson's snaps in the process. I don't get this single minded focus that we have to do it in the first round.
I never said what position they should take in the first round, either way.
The question was what is the most glaring area of NEED going into the draft.
It's not close.. they need two starting-level DTs.
As for WANTS??? I want any player they pick to be a difference-maker.
But... saying they're GOING to draft a difference maker.. anywhere.. at 19? Is a hope. Look at the Edge players drafted there or later in the first last year.. and you see how hoping you'd get a difference maker leads teams to overdraft guys, imo... or, at the very least.. you get to see how unlikely it is to get a first-year impact guy there at that draft spot.
The Rams waited and found a solid first-year pass-rush edge in the 3rd. Unusual and fortunate, for sure.
They also found Kobie Turner by being patient.
I've been one of the most consistent "they need an edge" guys since last season.. and they still need an edge!!!
But they just lost Aaron Donald and Jonah Williams.
Williams is, obviously, much easier to replace... but they absolutely NEED two starters on the DL. They don't have any.
They're not moving Hoecht into Williams spot... although it seems likely he'll be moved inside some on obvious pass rush downs.
What I'm saying is that I'm answering the actual question posed.
If we talk about wants and hopes, I think that's a different thing.
Absolutely the bolded and have said that many times about a handful of roster spots. People see somebody being adequate and defend the player. Hoecht, Rozenboom, Trammell, Skow etc etc etc. They see a guy come in do ok look at his draft status and defend the player. We should absolutely upgrade people like them. Jackson is no exception, he had a good year but we can get better there 100%.
But the same kind of bias exists going the other way.
People see that Alaric Jackson was a UDFA and assume he's a limited talent rather than look, objectively, at his performance last year.
He gave up three penalties and one sack all season, using PFF's stuff.. and graded out in the middle of the pack in their metrics.
He outperformed guys like Donovan Smith.. Charles Cross and numerous others.
I'm not saying *don't* draft a badass LT prospect if he's there at 19... I'm saying that I think there's a bias *against* Jackson.
