What do the LA Rams need in the 2023 NFL Draft?

The greatest abilities a player can have in the NFL are availability and durability. Right now, the LA Rams have a huge deficit of both, and some could argue that it’s due to their own neglect when restocking their roster. Have you noticed that the LA Rams have emphasized raw athleticism over durability in recent draft classes? As the Rams organization relies more and more heavily upon data analytics, the process can deliver unexpected results simply because the information gathered is dependent upon asking the right questions.

Can new additions to this roster handle the daily wear and tear of the NFL?  While some will point to the LA Rams’ lack of first-round draft picks, durability is a factor that can be found at any selection in the NFL Draft. And it’s something that has eluded the Rams draft classes in both 2021 and 2022. When that happens, you become numb to the constant reminders from the LA Rams injury reports and daily season updates, like this one:

Okay, so getting sturdy prospects is a must. But what other positions are in need in 2023? Well, if you assume that all projected free agents (UFA, RFA, and ERFA) are gone next year, then you have the following projected losses from the Rams roster by position group:

• Position        No. Players            No. Starters IOL                          2                              1 OT                           2                               0 DB                           7                              4 DL                            4                              2 K                               1                              1 LB                             2                              0 LS                             1                               1 P                               1                               1 QB                            2                               0 PR/KR                     1                               1

That is a significant number of projected losses. So what does that all mean for the LA Rams shopping list for the 2023 NFL Draft?

LA Rams 2023 NFL Draft positional needs

I believe it’s safe to conclude that the LA Rams will address all three special teams’ positions by extending their existing players. The team is absolutely thrilled with kicker Matt Gay, and the team likes the versatility of punter Riley Dixon. Finally, the Rams have not only been content with Brandon Powell’s playing-making ability as a return specialist, but the team has even begun to interweave him into the offense as well.

The Rams are currently projected to enter the 2023 NFL Draft with ten picks. But with eight of those ten picks coming late, the Rams must use special care with their Day 2 picks. In fact, because the Rams have so many positional needs, and a limited number of picks early in the draft, the Rams are already a strong candidate to trade back in both Round 2 and Round 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft with the goal of obtaining multiple picks in both rounds. Unfortunately, that is a discussion for another day.  For now, let’s start off with the positions that must be addressed in the 2023 NFL Draft: