Comments from Rams brass suggest that LA’s focus is offense with their first-round pick

This will be head coach Sean McVay’s first chance at taking a first-round pick since joining the Rams in 2017

The Los Angeles Rams are currently slated to be selecting 19th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday night. It will be the Rams first opening round selection since 2016, and the first ever of head coach Sean McVay’s seven-year career with the team. While the Rams were hit with a huge loss on the defensive line with the retirement of Aaron Donald, comments by general manager Les Snead and McVay seem to suggest that the Rams will still be looking on the offensive side of the ball with their first pick.

While McVay was a bit inconspicuous when asked about which way the Rams may be leaning, saying, “Yeah, I get excited about offensive players, but I get excited about defensive players too”

However, his general manager was much more transparent, adding after that “Players who score touchdowns are important in this league, I’d keep that in mind.”

While there is a need along the defensive line at both interior and edge rusher for LA, the team has proven an ability to develop talent in later rounds at that position. Rookies Byron Young and Kobie Turner are both standout examples of this. The team has also had success developing solid role players like Bobby Brown III, Michael Hoecht and former players like Greg Gaines or Michael Brockers, who went on to sign larger contracts after their LA stints.

The difference is, this time around is that the team will not have Donald to take some off the pressure off a potential young replacement, or former defensive line coach Eric Henderson, who left to take over the defensive coordinator position for USC.

That said, while the Rams look very solid on offense there are areas the team could improve on. Wide receiver may seem like a deep position on the roster, but veteran Cooper Kupp has had trouble staying on the field the last two years, and Los Angeles could use a true number three pass catcher. Demarcus Robinson, who signed a one-year extension this offseason, has been very serviceable in his role however he is not the long-term answer at the third receiver spot or as a future replacement for Kupp. With talent like Brian Thomas Jr. from LSU, Xavier Worthy from Texas available, or even a scenario where LA trades down a bit and snagging a guy like Ricky Pearsall from Florida, their could be too much temptation for McVay to pull the trigger on another weapon for Matthew Stafford.

Another offensive option is a popular one among Rams fans, which is tight end Brock Bowers out of Georgia. With Higbee’s major knee injury in the playoffs, his return is unknown and how he will be when he returns is another major question mark. The team signed Coby Parkinson to a 3-yr deal in the offseason, and still have second-year player Davis Allen as well, but Bowers could end up being a top-5 tight end talent in the NFL if he lives up to his potential. I don’t think you can pass on a major talent like that just because you have Parkinson and Allen as depth.

Quarterback is always an option too, but with Stafford still playing at a pro bowl level, I don’t think the Rams will waste their first opening round pick in eight years on a young QB that will sit, over doing something that helps Stafford in the immediate time frame – especially after signing Garoppolo and the return of Stetson Bennett.

Is it out of the question? Not at all, but I think it’s much more likely if they were to nab a quarterback it will be a mid-to-late rounder.

No matter which way the Rams go, it’s clear this will be one of the most exciting first-rounds that Los Angeles fans have had in sometime. If the Rams go offense, who would you like to see them take? Comment below!