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Los Angeles Rams Top 3 Offseason Needs

Sean McVay and his new coaching staff have their work cut out for them in the 2017 offseason

St Louis Rams v Seattle Seahawks Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images

It’s fair to say the Los Angeles Rams will look a lot differently in 2017 than they did last year.

The Rams finally cut ties with Jeff Fisher, and now look to Sean McVay - and a slew of new coordinators and position coaches - to build a roster talented enough to compete for an NFC West division title.

As for their current crop of players, McVay says that evaluating the talent they currently have is his top priority. He’ll then set his sights on free agency and the draft.

Expect turnover. Some players will not fit McVay’s vision for their offense, and some certainly may not fit what Wade Phillips is trying to accomplish in a new-look 3-4 defense.

Some will be lost to free agency. New talent will be acquired. Rams’ GM Les Snead recently hinted that this could be the year the Rams get aggressive in free agency. Time will tell if that means targeting top-tier, pricy players or getting the most bang for their buck and utilizing their cash to address multiple positions of need.

Lastly, some of their current players simply won’t make the cut. Whether it be effort or talent, some players just aren’t, and in some cases haven't been, good enough to crack the roster.

Regardless of how it all shakes out, McVay & Co. have a lot of work to do in the coming months if they hope to field a respectable product in September. But where do they start?

Over at Rotoworld, Evan Silva took a close look at each NFL team’s offseason needs. Here are the Top 3 for the L.A. Rams:

Offensive Line

The Rams’ offensive line couldn’t block anyone last year, and only LG Rodger Saffold returns as a quality starter. RT Rob Havenstein took a surprising sophomore step back. Cement-footed LT Greg Robinson has been a colossal bust. With 22-year-old stringbean Jared Goff at quarterback, it is imperative that Los Angeles finds multiple new starters up front.

Wide Receiver

The Rams need receiver help. Again. Kenny Britt and Brian Quick’s contracts are up, while Tavon Austin remains an inefficient gadget player wholly undeserving of the six-year, $56 million commitment the Jeff Fisher regime made him last fall. On the line and out wide, the Rams’ offseason needs to be spent figuring out ways to improve the players around Goff.

Defensive Back

One year after choosing LCB Trumaine Johnson over star corner Janoris Jenkins, the Rams are in danger of losing Johnson in free agency, as well. SS T.J. McDonald’s contract is also up, and sturdy slot corner Lamarcus Joyner’s will be after this year. Even if the Rams figure out ways to re-sign both Johnson and McDonald, it won’t necessarily be enough following RCB E.J. Gaines’ dismal year.


Analysis

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