How should Rams approach each roster position in the draft?

Identifying whether Rams need a long-term starter, role player, future proofing, or depth at each position through draft

With two weeks to go until the NFL Draft, how should the Los Angeles Rams approach each position on their roster? Let’s take a look at the current depth chart and attempt to stick toward the following labels:

Long-term starter

A position that can be immediately upgraded with a day one starter and the team would benefit greatly from a long-term fix

Role player

Starter is in place for the foreseeable future but the team could use someone with a complimentary skillset to get more out of the position group

Future proof

Starter is in place for 2025 and only short-term thereafter. A draft pick may not start this year but having someone with the talent to take over in 2026 would be ideal.

Depth

Target in the later rounds of the draft with the idea of building security should the starter go down with injury.

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Quarterback

Matthew Stafford returns for 2025 although Sean McVay has publicly hinted towards the veteran’s retirement as soon as next offseason. Jimmy Garoppolo, the backup, is on a one-year deal. Stetson Bennett has shown no signs of contributing in a meaningful way.

The Rams need an answer for life after Stafford. That could come via an early pick or the team could kick the can down the road and attempt to fill with a veteran trade later. Still, if they fall in love with a particular player that could make a move in the first round.

Target: Future proof

Running back

Kyren Williams enters the final year of his contract with rumors of an extension circulating. Blake Corum didn’t make much of an impact as a rookie, though if he needed to step in for Williams there shouldn’t be much of a drop off.

Can the Rams find someone with more breakaway potential and that can contribute to the passing game in a dynamic manner?

Target: Role player

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Receiver

The Rams are set at the first two wideout spots for 2025. Puka Nacua has two years left on his deal. Davante Adams is effectively on a one-year deal but could earn a return in 2026. LA re-signed Tutu Atwell for this season and he could prove that he deserves a longer term deal from either the Rams or someone else. Jordan Whittington showed promise in limited opportunities as a rookie.

The team could go a lot of different directions here. Barring injury, it’s unlikely that a rookie would crack into the starting lineup; however, Adams is long in the tooth and LA isn’t exactly married to Atwell. This position still isn’t an immediate concern for 2025.

Target: Depth

Tight end

Tyler Higbee is like that trusted, old tool in the shed. You can buy a flashier, newer power tool but when there is a job that needs done right you can’t help but go back to the one that has gotten it done time and time again.

The Rams attempted to future-proof the position with Colby Parkinson, Hunter Long (now with the Jacksonville Jaguars), and Davis Allen but those moves haven’t panned out. They still find themselves in need of a long-term starter for life after Higbee, and that time is coming sooner than later.

Can the Rams live without a top tier tight end? Yes, they’ve done it before. If they can land a Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland in the draft, they would be set for years to come.

It might be a luxury, but I’m aiming high at the position for Los Angeles.

Target: Long-term starter

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Left tackle

LA re-signed Alaric Jackson, who figures to be the starter for the foreseeable future. It never hurts to throw more darts at a key position, and Warren McClendon doesn’t look like someone who is capable of starting in the future. Drafting a developmental tackle or could step in for a game or two here and there makes sense.

Target: Depth

Guard

While Kevin Dotson is close to being on the wrong side of 30, interior offensive linemen can play at a high level for some time past that point. Steve Avila is under contract for two more years.

Target: Depth

Center

Coleman Shelton is the starter for 2025. Beaux Limmer is under contract for three more years and may eventually take over for Shelton, unless LA finds another diamond in the rough that outshines last year’s rookie starter.

Target: Depth

Right tackle

The last remaining player from the Rams’ days in St. Louis is Rob Havenstein. He’s been reliable for the last decade, but has missed time with injury of late and is on the last year of his contract.

Simply put, Los Angeles needs a succession plan for Havenstein. The answer may come via free agency in 2026, or they could draft someone early who can spend the next year learning the ropes of the system.

Target: Future proof

EDGE

Jared Verse and Byron Young are an excellent pairing on the EDGE. Verse is powerful with a strong burst, and Young excels at chasing down athletic quarterbacks.

But Michael Hoecht’s departure in free agency to the Buffalo Bills leaves a void from a depth and key role perspective. The Rams deployed personnel packages often in 2024 where they put three EDGE rushers on the field, and if they cannot replace Hoecht in a meaningful way that part of their defense may go by the wayside.

Target: Role player

Defensive tackle

LA is set at defensive tackle with Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, and Poona Ford for at least the next two seasons. They’ll have to make decisions on who gets contract extensions out of this group, and from that perspective it makes sense that they’d take more swings in the later rounds of the draft to see if they can pinch pennies later.

Target: Depth

Off-ball linebacker

While fans will often clamor for the Rams to finally fix the linebacker position long-term, it’s simply not a position the team values in a significant way. They seem perfectly willing to plug for a year at a time with a below average starter.

For that reason, I could see LA drafting someone late. They do need a pass coverage linebacker but that can be offset in part by deploying extra safeties.

Target: Depth

Corner

Cobie Durant is in a contract year and hasn’t exactly solidified himself as a key starter, although he’s been impressive at times especially from an analytics perspective. The team elected to keep Darious Williams and Derion Kendrick despite being able to save at least $3M but cutting either player. Ahkello Witherspoon returned on a one-year deal.

While LA has options for 2025, a top draft pick could immediately step in and be better than whoever is penciled in as a starter right now. There’s no telling if any of these aforementioned players would/could return for 2026. The Rams need long-term options here.

Target: Long-term starter

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Safety

Last year’s third round pick out of Miami, Kamren Kinchens, solidified himself as a top 10 player at the position when you consider that each team needs two starters. Kam Curl can be immediately upgraded and is a replacement-level player. Quentin Lake is on the final year of his contract, and provides important flexibility in the slot.

If the draft board falls a certain way—say Malaki Starks dropping to 26 overall—LA stands to benefit and could ink in their starting lineup for the next three seasons. There’s not an immediate need here, and taking a safety early bucks the historical approach we’ve seen at the position for LA.

Target: Depth

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Final thoughts

These are the target count across the roster:

Long-term starter (2)

Role player (2)

Future proof (2)

Depth (7)

There are four positions that either need immediate starters or viable options to start long-term: quarterback, tight end, right tackle, and corner. It will be tough to patch these holes given the scare amount of early draft capital. The Rams don’t have a second round pick. Quarterbacks and corners are very difficult to find after the first couple of rounds.

Role players at running back and EDGE could be found in the mid-rounds, and that reserves the later picks for the seven positions that could benefit from young, developmental depth.