Rams could shock the 2019 NFL Draft by selecting running back in first round

Could the Los Angeles Rams pull the unthinkable by selecting a running back in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft?

If there’s one thing to know about this Los Angeles Rams team since Sean McVay took over as head coach, it would be nothing should be ruled out since the NFC champions have proven on numerous occasions they’re always ready to pull off surprise moves.

Just look at last offseason when the Rams acquired Marcus Peters from the Kansas City Chiefs along with Brandin Cooks in a deal with the New England Patriots, showing this team is willing to do whatever it takes to put them in the best possible position to win.

With that being said, Los Angeles finds themselves in unfamiliar territory when compared to the previous two drafts since they will actually have a first-round pick at No. 31.

Realistically, no one would be surprised one bit if the Rams decided to trade down since chances are there will be numerous teams looking to get back into the first round, but also Los Angeles could have numerous strong options to consider with the selection.

As crazy as it sounds to believe, there has been speculation over the possibility of the Rams considering the possibility of using their first-round pick on a running back to add some insurance to the position after all of the uncertainty surrounding Todd Gurley.

Since Gurley’s knee injury continues to be a mystery in the days leading up to the draft, there is no guarantee the Pro Bowl running back will return to his normal ways, and that should terrify Los Angeles as an organization.

When healthy, Gurley has proven to be one of the most dangerous running backs in the league, and the Rams realize the importance of his involvement on offense moving forward to help make sure Los Angeles lives up to the hype of being a top contender in the league.

However, after watching how things played out in the NFC Championship and Super Bowl along with the lack of updates this offseason, Gurley has made it clear his knee issues are a reason for concern moving forward, so adding another running back in the draft to be safe makes sense.

Sure, the Rams could always wait until the middle rounds to look at potential insurance options at running back, but the fact that Los Angeles previously met with potential first-round pick Darrell Henderson shows the team is considering all options heading into Thursday.

One can only imagine the reaction on social media if the Rams ended up using a first rounder on a running back one year after rewarding Gurley with that hefty extension, but also it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Even if Gurley were to become healthy enough to eliminate the concerns from the offseason, the end of last season with C.J. Anderson made it clear that it never hurts to have a reliable No. 2 running back.

In other words, the Rams going with a running back right away in the draft would shock plenty of football fans across the country, but also if it puts the offense in better position, whether Gurley is healthy or not, isn’t that what really matters the most?