Deep dive into complex LA Rams draft needs in the 2024 NFL Draft

Offensive Skill Positions

While the LA Rams feel like a team with plenty of offensive upside, the Rams offense showed a significant amount of wear and tear in the Wild Card Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs. Whether by random chance, or a deliberate attempt by overly aggressive defenders, the Rams emerged from the 2024 NFL Playoffs with a host of banged-up bodies whose injuries could seriously impact their ability to train with the Rams in 2024.

Tight end - The position that appears to be the hardest hit for the LA Rams as the team pivots to the 2024 NFL season is the tight end position. As it now stands, the Rams have already acted, and have signed two players to Reserve/Future contracts. The Rams roster will also welcome back two veterans, Tyler Higbee and Hunter Long, but both will be returning with serious injuries. As it now stands, the Rams 2024 season appears to rest solely on the shoulders of TE Davis Allen. The Rams will certainly need depth at tight end and may need to seek a rookie no later than Day 2 to ensure that the team has playmakers in the role.

Wide Receiver - It was obvious that despite the surprising debut of Rams rookie WR Puka Nacua in the Rams offense, the Rams needed every bit of offensive production from their first-year receiver. The question is, who can step up and help shoulder the load in 2024? While I love the way the Rams receivers seemed to complement one another in 2023, the expiring contacts of Demarcus Robinson and Austin Trammell create holes in the team's 53-man roster that simply cannot be filled by promoting players already on the roster. Can the Rams compete in 2024 without receiver help? Perhaps, but not for long if anyone is injured. The Rams will need a new WR3. Is that a role that can be found on Day 3 of the draft?

Running back - While second-year running back Kyren Williams certainly seemed to pooh-pooh my fears about the durability of smallish running backs, he did suffer an injury in the 2024 NFL Playoffs that required corrective surgery to his hand. While that should not impact his ability to run in 2024, it does showcase the concern at the position. Williams has missed significant playing time for the Rams due to injuries in two consecutive seasons.

I like the upside of RB Zach Evans, a rookie who was seldom used by the team in 2023. But the Rams will lose both RB Royce Freeman and RB Ronnie Rivers in 2024 due to expiring contracts. The Rams' offense works better with an effective running game. You have to believe that the Rams will shop for a rookie RB if they are not planning to extend anyone at the position.