Before Sean McVay arrived in 2017, the Los Angeles Rams fielded an anemic offense for years. From 2007 to 2016, they never ranked higher than 21st in points scored and finished last in the NFL in scoring three times.
It’s hardly surprising that he and the Rams have sunk a lot of resources into the offense over the last seven years, being an offensive-minded coach, but this year’s draft class could be more about helping the defense.
Just about every mock draft has the Rams targeting a defensive player in the first round, whether it’s an edge rusher, a cornerback or a defensive tackle to help fill the void left by Aaron Donald. If the Rams do draft a defensive player with their first pick, it’ll snap a four-year streak of Los Angeles taking an offensive player first – tied for the longest active streak in the NFL with the Steelers and Chargers.
Longest active NFL streaks putting a team's top draft pick on the same side of the ball?
Offense: Chargers, Steelers, Rams (4), Falcons 3
Defense: Bucs, Packers, Chiefs (3)— Greg Auman (@gregauman) April 9, 2024
Here’s a look at each of the Rams’ top draft picks under McVay.
- 2023: OL Steve Avila (36th)
- 2022: OL Logan Bruss (104th)
- 2021: WR Tutu Atwell (57th)
- 2020: RB Cam Akers (52nd)
- 2019: S Taylor Rapp (61st)
- 2018: OL Joe Noteboom (89th)
- 2017: TE Gerald Everett (44th)
Going all the way back to 2013, Rapp is still the only defensive player drafted first by the Rams, so it’s been a heavily skewed toward the offense for the last 11 years. That just goes to show it hasn’t been completely because of McVay.
Les Snead, of course, has been the Rams’ GM since 2012, and he’s the primary decision-maker when it comes to draft picks – in conjunction with his head coach.
All signs point toward the Rams taking a defensive player first this year, given their needs on that side of the ball. However, no one should be surprised if they select a wide receiver in Round 1, or potentially an offensive tackle to be the long-term solution behind either Alaric Jackson or Rob Havenstein.
