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You are here: Home / NFL Draft / Mock Draft / 2016 NFL Draft Preview: St. Louis Rams’ Team Needs?

2016 NFL Draft Preview: St. Louis Rams’ Team Needs?

October 14, 2015 By Frank "Dubs" Dobozy Leave a Comment

Where’s Gil Brandt? Has he passed NFL.com’s “Team Needs” NFL draft duties over to Lance Zierlein? On Tuesday, Zierlein released his first attempt of the year at a projected 2016 NFL Draft order and needs for every team. In his projections, Zierlein has the Rams drafting 19th in the first round. He identifies the Rams’ top need as wide receiver, with defensive end, defensive tackle and center as other needs:

“19. St. Louis Rams
2015 record: 2-3 (.640)
Top need: Wide receiver
Other needs: Defensive end, defensive tackle, center
Senior prospects at positional needs: WR: D.J. Foster (Arizona State), Sterling Shepard (Oklahoma), Josh Doctson (TCU); DE: DeForest Buckner (Oregon), Shilique Calhoun (Michigan State), Shawn Oakman (Baylor); DT: Sheldon Day (Notre Dame), Jarran Reed (Alabama), Adolphus Washington (Ohio State); Center: Nick Martin (Notre Dame), Mike Matthews (Texas A&M).
Analysis: Another year, another draft in which the Rams need to find a wide receiver they can build their passing game around because that guy doesn’t appear to be on the roster — still. Chris Long’s contract number for 2016 could price him out of a job, but even if it doesn’t the Rams could use depth at the defensive end spot. Finding inexpensive depth at defensive tackle and competition at the center spot could also be on the Rams’ checklist.”

For the most part, Zierlein has nailed this correctly. I would likely replace defensive tackle with both safety and cornerback, although defensive tackle could have a depth issue if Nick Fairley is not re-signed and Ethan Westbrooks is permanently moved to the outside. Chris Long’s contract ($14.25 million salary cap hit) could very well become problematic in 2016 (the final year of his contract). Will the Rams sign him to an extension? William Hayes and Eugene Sims both become Free Agents in 2016. The Rams are still looking for that elusive “Number 1” wide receiver. They’ve already traded Chris Givens and Brian Quick is set for Free Agency in 2016. At center, Tim Barnes has been mediocre at best through 5 games this season and Demetrius Rhaney is an unknown quantity.

There is growing support for revamping the tight end position. Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks account for $13.9 million in salary cap hits this season. Clearly the production is lagging far behind the dollars. The secondary could undergo massive changes in the offseason, as Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, Cody Davis, Mark Barron and Rodney McLeod are all eligible for Free Agency in 2016.

Last week, I presented my first 2016 NFL Mock Draft of the year and ranking of team needs. Wide Receiver, Defensive End, Safety, Cornerback and Center were the Rams’ top needs (ranked in order). The Rams’ 2016 positional needs were ranked using the following criteria: potential Free Agent losses, potential positions in need of upgrades and assessing the possibility of existing roster players reaching their potential/ceiling.

St. Louis Rams Current Roster & Depth Chart

CTim BarnesDemetrius Rhaney
RGRodger SaffoldGarrett Reynolds
LGJamon BrownCody Wichmann
RTRob HavensteinAndrew Donnal
LTGreg RobinsonDarrell Williams
TELance KendricksCory Harkey
TEJared Cook
WRTavon AustinBrian QuickBradley Marquez
WRKenny BrittStedman Bailey
RBTre MasonBenny Cunningham
RBTodd GurleyChase Reynolds
QBNick FolesCase KeenumSean Mannion
PKGreg Zuerlein
PJohn Hekker
LSJake McQuaide
DTAaron DonaldNick Fairley
DTMichael BrockersEthan Westbrooks
DEChris LongWilliam Hayes
DERobert QuinnEugene Sims
MLBJames LaurinaitisBryce Hager
OLBJo-Lonn DunbarDaren BatesAlec Ogletree
OLBAkeem AyersCameron Lynch
CBJanoris JenkinsMarcus Roberson
CBTrumaine JohnsonLamarcus Joyner
SST.J. McDonaldMark BarronMaurice Alexander
FSRodney McLeodCody DavisChristian Bryant
Practice SquadInjured Reserve
DE  Matt LongacreCB E.J. Gaines
DT  Louis Trinca-PasatWR Isiah Ferguson
DT  Doug Worthington
CB  Melvin White
CB  Eric Patterson
RB  Malcolm Brown
FB  Zach Laskey
WR Nick Toon
TE  Justice Cunningham
OT  Isaiah Battle

 

St. Louis Rams 2016 Free Agents

PositionPlayerFA Status
QBCase KeenumRFA
RBBenny CunninghamRFA
RBChase ReynoldsRFA
TECory HarkeyUFA
WRBrian QuickUFA
CTim BarnesUFA
KGreg ZuerleinUFA
DTNick FairleyUFA
DEEugene SimsUFA
DEWilliam HayesUFA
OLBJo-Lonn DunbarUFA
OLBDaren BatesRFA
CBJanoris JenkinsUFA
CBTrumaine JohnsonUFA
SSMark BarronUFA
FSRodney McLeodUFA
FSCody DavisRFA

 

When all is said and done, I’d like to see the Rams take the Best Player Available in the 2016 NFL Draft. After all, that strategy seemed to work quite well in the last two drafts, as the Rams eschewed drafting for need with a pair of first round selections and instead chose Aaron Donald (2014) and Todd Gurley (2015). Few can complain about those results.

 

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Filed Under: Mock Draft, NFL, NFL Draft

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