2018 NFL Draft picks show Rams strengths, weaknesses

With the 2018 NFL Draft behind us, here is what we can learn about the internal opinion of the strengths and weaknesses of the Los Angeles Rams from the decisions they made.

The Los Angeles Rams used eleven picks in the 2018 NFL draft, and all but one of those coming on day three. What a team values in the draft can tell you a lot about the team and what they value, as well as their strengths.

As for the Rams, here are a few notables:

• • The Rams used seven picks on defensive front seven players. This includes linebackers, edge rushers, and defensive tackles (though only one of these was a defensive tackle). Going into this draft, we knew that linebacker and edge were going to be important positions to address. The Rams seem to favor smart, athletic defenders who showed some upside. Wade Phillips has a sufficient crop of young talent to mold going forward.
  • The Rams used three picks on offensive linemen. As I wrote earlier, the team seems to be building a crop of young and versatile lineman to take over when the current starters move on. They clearly see the future of the offensive line as an area needing some investment. These players are “Sean McVay guys” in the character mold of LT Andrew Whitworth: hard working and intelligent.
  • The Rams ignored the secondary in the draft. The defensive secondary was the most highlight-making position in the Rams offseason, bringing in CB Marcus Peters and CB Aqib Talib. The staff must feel good about the group they have, because with the exception of OLB Travin Howard who is a coverage linebacker who some see getting snaps at safety, they spent no picks on secondary defenders.

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• The Rams only used one pick on offensive skill positions. In the sixth round, the team added RB John Kelly out of Tennessee, a good route runner (perhaps better than Saints RB Alvin Kamara) who should be able to spell RB Todd Gurley on the occasional third down.   This was the only pick used on a skill position, and shows the Rams believe in the bodies they have in camp already. This is bolstered by the fact that they traded away WR Tavon Austin for a sixth round pick to the Cowboys, not expecting him to make the roster.
• The Los Angeles Rams trust their coaches. This class is developmental, and points toward bringing in talent and coaching them up. The Rams believe in their coaches, in their system, and in their long-term ability to develop talent. If two or three of these players hit, it will make a huge impact on how far this team can go.