3 ways the Rams roster is painted into a corner before the 2025 NFL Draft

The Los Angeles Rams won the NFC West Division in 2024 and were oh-so-close to defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in a snowstorm on the road. Had the Rams pulled off that miraculous come-from-behind victory, many NFL analysts suspect that the team was capable of winning Super Bowl LIX. Capable, but not historically correct. The Eagles denied the Rams the opportunity. And RB Saquon Barkley proved to be an unstoppable juggernaut not just to the Rams, but to the entire NFL.

It's no stretch of the imagination to expect all roads that the Rams have to compete in Super Bowl LX as leading through the Philadelphia Eagles. So, the team has to get stronger all along the line of scrimmage. But the fixation on beating the Eagles cannot be so intense that the Rams open themselves up to vulnerability to an NFC West Division rival.

The Rams swept the San Francisco in 2024, while splitting games with the Arizona Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks. So GM Les Snead has his work cut out for him. This team needs to upgrade the roster, but cannot take a wholesale change approach that worked well for the team in the past several years. The Rams cannot expect every young player added to the team to become a starter in 2025. There are some positions that need competition for a starting role, but many more need solid depth.

I want to be clear. This is not what I believe the Rams should do. This is simply a quick assessment of what actions are most likely to take place. Preparing now to lower expectations for specific team actions during the upcoming draft has two benefits. It has the primary benefit of shaving off an immediate reaction of disappointment if the team does not adhere to our expectations. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, if the Rams surprise by acting as fans hope, there is a greater moment of euphoria and pleasure.

It's simply the act of keeping one foot on the ground.

Where does that place the Rams? Let's pull back the curtain and examine how some key units stand right now after the first wave of free agency:

(3) - How many changes remain for the Rams defense?

While the Rams roster on the defensive side of the football has definitely been a work-in-process over the past two seasons, has the front office done enough? In some ways, I suspect that GM Les Snead has smoked his celebration cigar over the state of the defense compared to what it was at the end of the 2022 NFL season.

The question is: Are there many more changes due? Perhaps, perhaps not. We can all point to specific players, or positional groups, on the defense. But as the Rams roster stands now, it's more a matter of taste and want, as opposed to immediate need. Can the Rams shuffle into the 2025 NFL season with a defense 'as is'? I think so, yes. I would love to see a talented inside linebacker, top-tier cornerback, more defensive line depth, and perhaps another edge rusher to compete for OLB Michael Hoechts vacated spot in the rotation.

The Rams may act to fill some or even all roles listed above. But to enter the 2025 NFL season, the team does not need to do anything. The team could simply opt to sign undrafted college players after the draft to address depth issues. But the team arguably has enough oomph on the roster as is to enter the 2025 NFL season.

Depth? Sure. But with Poona Ford added and the return of Ahkello Witherspoon, this defense should perform as well or better than the 2024 version.

(2) - How will Rams configure current offensive line

The Los Angeles Rams offensive line is still not 'there,' just yet. The front office has been very effective at finding great bargain additions to shore up the physicality of the offensive line. But is this group ready for the physical demands of another NFL season. In 2023, the Rams starting offensive line suffered injuries to all positions to a point that only starting right guard Kevin Dotson did not miss any games for medical reasons.

But even he got banged up last season.

So, depth at every position is vital. With the addition of former starting center Coleman Shelton, I see the Rams' depth between the tackles as adequate. The Rams have Beaux Limmer, Dylan McMahon, and Justin Dedich, two players who saw substantial work last season. If Limmer beats out Shelton for the starting center role, the team will have three versatile interior offensive linemen for 2025. But, what of the offensive tackles?

The team has AJ Arcuri, KT Leveston, and Warren McClendon Jr. competing for backup roles in 2025. Of course, the team has to keep an eye trained on veteran RT Rob Havenstein's successor, as well as a capable backup for Alaric Jackson. Is this a good draft to address an offensive tackle position? Early Rams mock drafts indicated yes. But I see the team throwing that wish into a Day 3 shopping spree.

One talented offensive tackle, whether veteran or drafted rookie, makes a world of difference to this team's depth. I could see the front office signing several collegiate free agents after the draft to round out the roster.

(1) - Don't look for many changes from running backs

Even after doing a deep dive into the Rams' running back room, I don't know that the expose generated a consensus about what the plans are for the running back room. The Rams are not typically swept up in the herd mentality that seems to lure a significant number of NFL teams to carpet bomb a specific position group that is lauded for talent and depth.

In the 2024 NFL Draft, narratives about the abundance of quarterbacks, offensive tackles, wide receivers, and cornerbacks were everywhere. The Rams selected WR Jordan Whittington and OT KT Leveston, both rookies added late on Day 3. So there is no established pattern to the Rams rushing to get a top-tier talent from an abundant rookie class. It could happen. Historically, it hasn't happened.

The other challenge to expecting the team to address the running back position is more practical. The last rookie running back to get any amount of playing time was Florida State RB Cam Akers. He was drafted with an expectation of starting. He needed plenty of the 2020 NFL season to build up to a starting role.

The Rams had already invested in the running back position in the 2024 NFL Draft by selecting Michigan RB Blake Corum with the 83rd overall pick. With the team extending Ronnie Rivers, the Rams enter 2025 with the same group of rushers that they stuck with all season in 2024. Yes, the Rams can draft a running back in Round 1. But doing so does not ensure any playing time for that rookie. Corum was expected to share the workload with Kyren WIlliams.

He was simply a rotational player given a light workload to keep Williams fresh. Any rookie added in 2025 will need to leapfrog RB Cody Schrader, Ronnie Rivers, and Blake Corum, just to get a small rotational role in this offense. That type of role is better targeted with a Day 3 pick, rather than a pick on Days 1 or 2.

Are there many running backs who deserve to be selected early in this draft? Of course. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected rookie RB Bucky Irving with the 125th overall selection in Round 4 of the 2024 NFL Draft. He rushed for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns in his rookie season, a far cry better than Corum's NFL debut. The difference? He had the opportunities to run with the football that Blake Corum never got.

No matter who the Rams do or do not select at the running back position, they still need to get enough carries to make a difference. I can't see this offense giving any rookie a larger share of the workload than Kyren Williams or Blake Corum.

Changes are coming to the team and the offense. But the Rams are somewhat painted into a corner after the first wave of free agency as to what makes sense for the defense, the offensive line, and the running back room. Stay tuned, as we will soon pivot to areas of the Rams roster due for bigger changes in 2025.

As always, thanks for reading.

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