St. Louis Rams: Offseason Needs

Click here for all your NFL Draft Needs – FANSPEAK’S NFL DRAFT PAGE! Remember LIVE Draft Chat on Fanspeak.com during entire NFL Draft weekend!

Draft Picks:

Rd 1, Pick 14 (14)
Rd 2, Pick 15 (47)
Rd 3, Pick 14 (78)
Rd 4, Pick 15 (112)
Rd 5, Pick 14 (145)
Rd 7, Pick 13 (216)
Rd 7, Pick 25 (228)

Needs:

1. Wide Receiver: The Rams desperately need a big play receiver, as they really don’t have a true number 1 or 2 on their roster. Look for St. Louis to nab a receiver in the top two rounds, even if they have to trade up to get him.

2. Right Guard: St. Louis is set at 4 out of their 5 offensive line positions, with RG being the only exception. The Rams need to find an upgrade at guard as they look to get the ground game going and keep Bradford upright.

3. Defensive Tackle: Fred Robbins had a big year last season, unfortunately he is 34 years old and have pretty much nothing else at the tackle spot. Using a 2nd or 3rd rounder on a quality DT would make a lot of sense for St. Louis.

4. OLB: The Rams could use an upgrade at weak-side linebacker and could look to address this position in the middle to late rounds.

5. Free Safety: St. Louis watched O.J. Atogwe leave this offseason, meaning finding a replacement a pretty big priority. The Rams might focus on this in free agency, but it is definitely a need.

6. Strong Safety: James Butler hasn’t worked out as planned for the Rams, meaning that adding a strong safety is almost as big of a need as adding a free safety. The Rams will probably draft a guy late with some starting potential, and hope that he is the long term solution.

7. Running back: Stephen Jackson is starting to show signs of age so adding a change of pace/eventual successor would be a good idea for St. Louis.

8. Defensive End depth: The Rams starting DE’s are pretty good, but James Hall is 34 and could decline quickly, adding a young guy with upside would be a good use of a late round pick.

9. Tight End: The Rams have added a couple young tight ends over the years, but none have really ever produced as they should. Given the number of late round pass catchers at the position, I think the Rams will take one to develop.

Summary:

The Rams are an up-and-coming team, with a good foundation on both offense and defense. I’m guessing they focus on offense early in the draft and add that WR and G that Bradford is lacking. The focus should then go to defense for the rest of the draft with maybe a running back or TE sprinkled in there late.