It’s Got to be an Offense Heavy Draft, Right?

[CGI_Ram]

The Rams exceeded 30 points only once in 2024. It was good enough to get us on the cusp of the NFC Championship, but we need more offensive firepower than that.

It depends on what we do in free agency, but we need more offense one way or another.

 

[HitStick]

Yes. Especially potentially losing Kupp

 

[blackbart]

With Higbey back and some time for the Oline to hopefully get worked out maybe the biggest question is do they value a WR over a CB? RT has to get a look but it doesn’t have to be until round 4 or 5.

I don’t think Kupp is being traded or cut, he’s a Ram for life. Reworking his contract to make it more tenable seems obvious.

Whittington will be ready to make a jump. Atwell might be gone.

Would they go Loveland round 1???

 

[jrry32]

I'd use FA to address the defense and focus more on the offense in the draft. So yes.

 

[OldSchool]

I'd say yes it will be the only thing I could see them spending free agent money on for offense is if they go after a WR like Higgins or Godwin.

 

[RamsFanOH]

Good post. It better be. The rams need a speed WR, a speed TE and a home run RB. Imo.

They have never really had a big play threat at TE. They wanted Bowers so they want one.

 

[Tumak61]

If Jeanty is sitting there at 26 then McVay will be doing back flips and sprinting with the card to the podium

 

[PhillyRam]

Yep, time to get younger on offense while spending FA money on defense to put that unit in the elite category with more veteran leadership.

 

[Merlin]

Definitely tuning up this offense will be a plan. And when we look at what hurt us this season:

Slow start by the OL due to failed attempt to move Avila to Center.

Shit depth at OT. Every time we did not have either Jackson or Havenstein the QB suffered quick pressure.

Shit depth at WR. Losing Kupp and Nacua showed that nobody on this roster could carry the pass game load.

Zero threat from TE. Getting Higs back late felt like a revelation for this offense. They were roughing it this season.

Starting with WR just going off comments it feels like Kupp may move on. But even if he sticks around the offense has been hurt by his loss two seasons in a row. So fresh blood is warranted. Also we may have something in Whittington, but the Rams will probably address slot because he didn't seem able to carry the offense and/or stay healthy himself to be the focus of the pass game. So a slot seems likely.

Also at WR we have the X concern, which has been a position where the Rams have not been able to find a good option in the draft. Now usually that spot is best addressed up high, so their draft position has factored in there. But still they seem better at defining what they need in the slot than at X. I have to think they are on the lookout for this position as well in either FA or the draft.

Then TE we have Higs going into a FA season in 2025, not to mention he's not exactly a dynamic playmaker at TE. So the need to go get a TE in what is an epic TE class makes me think this position is a priority in the draft. Also when you consider that said TE could potentially fill Kupp's role in this offense with the threat over the middle, well, to me it feels doubly important they get one of these dudes from this class.

Lastly with OL my expectation is Alaric is retained, at least in the short term while they try to develop a LT as the swing and maybe future starter. But Havenstein is also getting up there in age. And the Rams have a ton of money tied up in the interior. So it feels here like an OT is in order in the draft for the swing role, and going to assume we have Alaric but if not then his replacement is a FA priority. So breaking it down I'd say...

Needs to be drafted: Slot role (WR or TE source position), Swing OT, DL.
Might fill in FA or draft: X WR, CB.

Picks total: 1, 3, 3, 4, 6, 6, 6.

If they were to address one of those two positions in FA, then they need to fill four roles through round 4. Which in this draft feels doable, given the way they have drafted of late.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Perhaps. But in doing so, I'd be very disappointed if the team reached to fill offensive needs and passed on a potential defensive stud or two capable of making the defense stronger.

 

[Jacobarch]

Any prospects in the senior bowl?

 

[So Ram]

Perhaps. But in doing so, I'd be very disappointed if the team reached to fill offensive needs and passed on a potential defensive stud or two capable of making the defense stronger.

Did you see how OVER THE TOP Sean Mcvay was during the 1st rd of The 2024 Draft ?

Here The Rams get Jared Verse who will probably get the DROY ?? To have him like at least 3 Players before him.

When less F’d with him on the Cinncy was on the Clock ‘
Mcvay saying your such a Dick Les was classic.

HOLY CRAP on Super Bowl bye week. Think & look back at THE RAMS DRAFT CLASS !!

This is what WINS SUPERBOWLS

IMO - Les Snead & his Scouts won The 2024 SuperBowl in April !!

BEST RAMS DRAFT CLASS EVER !!!
2023 was a nice place to start that Blueprint for 2026 !!

 

[Mojo Ram]

I'd use FA to address the defense and focus more on the offense in the draft. So yes.

This is how I’d approach it as well, generally speaking.

 

[WestCoastRam]

A non exhaustive look at the last few playoffs seems to show a habit of teams having really good offenses with passable Ds making it and going far with a few exceptions being really good Ds with a stud on offense that can carry it (Mahomes last two years, Saquan this year).

Generally speaking (and so much is general since we don't know what truly will be available in FA and how draft is shaking out yet), I want the Rams to focus on one side of the ball with their (attempts at bat) with FA and draft.

Stafford may have been that difference maker like Mahomes or Saquan a year ago but I don't think that's the case going forward so without that stud guy on offense, all things being equal, I'd like to buttress that side and have a passable D (maybe some resources spent at corner).

But the Rams have been pretty good at being flexible when circumstances dictate team building so by no means is the above the answer nor should it be necessarily. Only time this offseason will tell.

 

[I like Rams]

Aside from Linebacker, which I would use free agency to obtain a vet at that position, almost every need in the draft I see is offense.

 

[snackdaddy]

Address the secondary in free agency. They need a quality cover corner or two. Maybe a bigger DT to help with run defense. Higgins would be a great addition but I just don't see them spending the kind of money it will take to land him.

We have a day one pick and two late day 2 picks. Our pick at 90 and the second comp pick for Raheem. None in the second round. Draft our next WR2 in round one. Or if there is a potential playmaking tight end. If there is a thumper type ILB on day 2 I'd be fine with that.

According to the trade calculator the 26th pick is worth mid second and mid 3rd round picks. I don't know if other teams value it the same. But trading down for a mid second and another 3rd round pick might be worth it. Especially if there is quality WR2 still available in the second round.

 

[fanotodd]

Under 20 points in more than a third of the regular season games?
Unacceptable for a McVay offense.

Yes, the OL was banged up for a while and it took over half of the season to get what would be our best 5 out there, but there were other issues.

Mostly, it was a lack of weapons and speed. Kupp missed time and lost a gear. Atwell was our only speedster but was rarely used unless Kupp and Nacua were out. He won’t be coming back in ‘25. Why would he want to?

The absence of Higbee opened the door for someone to step up. Instead, it showed a bottom tier group. I can’t believe the Rams had to throw the ball to Hunter Long. Parkinson wasn’t used much and certainly failed to justify his price tag. He was supposed to be AT LEAST a guy who was used primarily as a blocker in Seattle, but his blocking wasn’t all that. I’ve been pulling for Davis Allen, but he lacked consistency. I’m not sure he understood the nuances of route running and he missed enough blocks to warrant concern.
He’ll be entering his 3rd camp this summer and I would like to hear some positive buzz around him. As banged up and near the end of his career as Higby was supposed to be, he transformed the position instantly upon his return. That did not bode well for the three fill-ins.

Whether it’s by FA or draft (preferred), the Rams are in need of a speedy WR big enough to play on the outside and a TE to open up the offense.

As for the OL, AJ has to be re-signed or it opens up a problem not easily solved. A Tackle would still be needed to be the swing Tackle with starting potential to develop.

So that’s 3 positions the Rams need to address and we haven’t even looked at a possible successor to Stafford or a possible upgrade over KW/BC at RB.

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

I'd use FA to address the defense and focus more on the offense in the draft. So yes.

jrry, what is your reasoning for using FA for defense and drafting for offense and not the other way around?

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

The Rams exceeded 30 points only once in 2024. It was good enough to get us on the cusp of the NFC Championship, but we need more offensive firepower than that.

It depends on what we do in free agency, but we need more offense one way or another.

View attachment 69669

I think it’s most likely that they go offense early

 

[CGI_Ram]

Parkinson wasn’t used much and certainly failed to justify his price tag. He was supposed to be AT LEAST a guy who was used primarily as a blocker in Seattle, but his blocking wasn’t all that.

I’d like to see Parkinson shed 15lbs. If he’s truly 265 he might pick up some suddenness losing a little weight. He showed athleticism but played slowish.