When a team has virtually no pressing needs, it can be difficult to tell which direction they’re going to go in the NFL draft. That’s the case with the Los Angeles Rams this year. They shored up their weakest position earlier this offseason by adding Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, while also bringing back Kam Curl and Tyler Higbee as free agents.
Entering the draft, wide receiver is viewed as a position they could target early, but we shouldn’t rule out inside linebacker – a spot the Rams have historically deprioritized under Sean McVay and Les Snead.
According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, people around the league believe the Rams could target a linebacker early, likely in the second round. He mentioned Josiah Trotter as a possible option in Round 2; the Rams met with Trotter at the combine.
What we’re hearing about the Rams’ draft: The Rams don’t do top-30 visits or workouts, which makes it harder to discern a draft direction, but sources around the league have pointed at linebacker as an early-round target. With receiver seeming like an obvious pick at No. 13, linebacker is the most likely direction in Round 2, especially if Josiah Trotter (Missouri) is available. — Miller
The Rams signed Nate Landman to a one-year deal last offseason and then extended him with a three-year, $22.5 million deal in November after seeing him shine in the first two months of the season. He struggled after that, but there’s no doubt he’ll still be one of the team’s starting linebackers next season.
The weaker link is at the spot next to him, where Omar Speights played last season. Speights had trouble in coverage and took poor angles at times, which led to some big plays allowed. He was exposed when asked to play in space, so that’s a position the Rams could look to upgrade with more range and athleticism.
Trotter would be a great target, as would others such as Kyle Louis, Jacob Rodriguez and Anthony Hill Jr. It’s a fairly deep position in the draft and as badly as the Rams would love to get their hands on Sonny Styles in Round 1, that’s highly unlikely to happen. There will be other good options in Rounds 2 and 3.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Report: Rams expected to target LB early, likely in 2nd round
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
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