2021 NFL Draft: 3 key LA Rams defensive takeaways from day one

III –  Will the Rams select a defensive lineman on day two?

If the LA Rams are going to draft a rotational player for the defensive line, today is the day. Even as the team focuses upon other positions, the drop off of the defensive line from the top-tier players to the mid-tier is fairly significant. So it’s one of those “if you’re going to do it, you’d better do it soon” discussions.

Of course, after losing defensive end Morgan Fox to free agency, and then trading away veteran defensive lineman Michael Brockers, the Rams certainly have enough motivation to look at the defensive line position in rounds two and three.  But to be honest, the supply of defensive ends in this draft is vitally low, and defensive tackles won’t last much longer.

And so, the Rams may be entirely dependant upon the undrafted defensive linemen from 2020 who were stashed in bulk on the practice squad until 20201.  That list includes Eric Banks, Michael Hoecth, Jonah Williams, and even 2019 undrafted free agent Marquise Copeland. The Rams have four solid players in Aaron Donald, Sebastian Joseph Day, A’Shawn Robinson, and Greg Gaines. So the team will likely look for two additional players to bolster their defensive line rotations in 2021.

Of course, there are always day three and undrafted prospects who can add to the competition, and may result in a surprise starter. But it seems that the Rams will need to rely upon returning players from last year’s practice squad if they don’t act tonight to select a defensive lineman. But defensive lineman is not the only position that would benefit from talented additions.