Why The Rams need to draft an offensive lineman in the first round

It is no secret that the St. Louis Rams struggle to protect the quarterback.

More from Ramblin' Fan

• NFL Trade Rumors: Would Rams trade for Jonathon Taylor?
• Look for 49ers players to follow DeMeco Ryans to Texans
• Ryans to the Texans, will Rams Raheem Morris be next?
• Broncos mimic LA Rams, go All-In pairing Payton with Russell
• Need a new Los Angeles Rams hat for less than $10?

The Rams ranked 23rd overall in pass protection according to Footballoutsiders.com. The Rams allowed 47 sacks, good enough for an 8.6 adjusted sack rate. But, is this a result of nobody good enough to get open? Or is it a lack of time to throw the ball?

The Rams ranked 28th in total offense in 2014. They ranked 20th in rushing yards per game and 23rd overall in passing yards per game.

That is not going to get the job done.

The Oakland Raiders allowed the third fewest sacks in the NFL with just 28 but ranked 26th in the NFL in passing yards per game.

Derek Carr was sacked less often than Tony Romo and Andrew Luck, both on teams that finished in the top five in total yards

So why didn’t Carr flourish as a rookie? Because He did not have anyone to throw the ball too.

The Rams need two things on offense. A WR and an offensive lineman. So who do you draft first?

Odds are that Amari Cooper and Kevin White will both be drafted before the Rams pick at 10. Many project the Rams to draft DeVante Parker with that pick. But why would you want to do that as an organization? Can Parker really give the Rams that deep threat they haven’t had since Torry Holt?

If the Rams are on the clock and both Cooper and White are gone, you have three options.

1) Draft next best WR

2) Draft an OT or an OG

3) Trade down

I like option number three. The Rams have shown that they aren’t afraid to trade down. They can prove that by the players they have on defense. The best option would be for the Rams to trade down, pick up an extra second round pick and to draft the next best available offensive lineman.

Because what looms in the second round is something the Rams and their fans can buy into.

There are a slew of great young wide receivers in the second, third and fourth rounds.Here is who the Rams will most likely be able to draft in the second round.

Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Sammie Coates (18) runs with the ball as Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Sojourn Shelton (8) defends during the second half in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Auburn Tigers 34-31 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

1) Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State

2) Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn

3) Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

There is no point for the Rams to waste a pick at 10 on a WR in Parker that isn’t any better than Smith or Coates. Get your lineman in the first round and nab your WR in the second round.

1st round — La’El Collins, OT, LSU

2nd round– Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State

This makes the most sense for me. If you can draft White, by all means, draft him. But, if he isn’t, draft a lineman. It makes more sense. The Rams are headed in the right direction.

Who do you like at pick 10?