LA Rams Day 7 NFL Scouting Combine Summary – defensive display

The LA Rams finally got to the meat of the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine when the defense – linemen, and linebackers – had their day on the field.

The consensus remains that for the LA Rams 2020 NFL Draft to succeed, the team must draft offensive linemen. But I contend that the future hangs more in the balance based upon how the team handles the defensive side of the ball.

For starters, the Rams have already lost solid veteran safety Eric Weddle to retirement.  Free agency will likely claim four more starters, defensive end Michael Brockers, outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr., and inside linebacker Bryce Hager as well as inside linebacker Cory Littleton.

If the LA Rams were the only team shopping for defensive help, this would be an outstanding class. But 31 other teams are shopping, and 51 of their choices will hear their names called long before the LA Rams walk up to the podium.

The NFL Scouting Combine has a number of defensive standouts, somewhere in the order of approximately 15 such players who could hear their name called on day one.  While the LA Rams won’t be calling any names on that day, this draft is loaded with talent on the offensive line, wide receiver, quarterback, running back, and defensive back as well. In fact, the current rough estimate of day one grades among NFL Draft prospects is rapidly approaching the 50 mark, which suggests that a first-round talent will be there for the Rams at 52.