The LA Rams need to pick up another offensive weapon

The LA Rams are now loaded on defense. But Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters and company will need help from an offense weapon if they expect to make a playoff run.

Fresh off acquiring cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, the LA Rams should be in the market for a new offensive weapon this offseason.

Former LA Rams wideout Sammy Watkins signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday and left the Rams without a number one receiving option. There are ways they can change that.

The first option, free agency, is the most immediate solution. Top options like Watkins, Allen Robinson (Bears) and Jimmy Graham (Packers) have been scooped up, but there are still plenty of decent choices with nearly $30 million in cap space.

The best option is Terrelle Pryor, who was disappointing with Washington last season. Coming off a breakout season with the Browns, many expected Pryor to shine with Kirk Cousins. He had just 20 receptions and one touchdown after catching 77 with four TDs the year “prior.” He could be a buy-low candidate with big upside.

Jordan Matthews is another buy-low candidate after he was traded from the Eagles to the Bills before last season. He had eight touchdowns in each of his first two season, but just four combined in the last two.

Part of the reason for those numbers could be the QB struggles his teams had. Rookie Carson Wentz was nowhere near sophomore Carson Wentz, and last year’s Bills were a mess at QB all season. At 6-foot-3, Matthews would be the tallest Rams receiver and a solid bigger option for Jared Goff.

Former Colts receiver Donte Moncrief also fills the mold of cheap, low-risk, high-upside guy the Rams should look at this offseason. Andrew Luck has struggled to stay healthy throughout Moncrief’s four-year career. He averaged 15 yards per reception last year and could open up the field even more for the Rams offense.

There are also tight end options that the Rams should consider. The juiciest option could be Tyler Eifert. The former Bengal has really only had one good season in his five-year career (2015), where he had 52 catches and 13 TDs.

Other tight end options include Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Martellus Bennett.

Seferian-Jenkins had a career-high 50 receptions with the Jets last year. He is likely heading to either the Seahawks or Jaguars, but the Rams should try to pounce while they can.

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Bennett emerged with the Patriots in the 2016 Super Bowl season, but struggled with the Packers before they cut him last season. He resigned with the Patriots and they placed him on IR and supposedly considered retirement. Perhaps Los Angeles would rejuvenate him.

The draft is another area the Rams could address the need. They have eight picks (1st rounder, 3rd, 4th, 5th, four 6ths) and would be wise to use at least one on an offensive weapon.

With the 23rd pick, SMU’s Courtland Sutton is the top receiver that could be available.

The 6-foot-4 wideout caught 68 passes for 12 TDs and 1,085 yards last season. Sutton’s size, speed and physicality are a perfect fit. He could go earlier than 23, however.

Later in the draft, the Rams should target either Florida State’s Auden Tate or Oklahoma State’s Marcel Ateman. Both of these players will likely go in rounds three through five, and Los Angeles could easily trade up for one of them using the surplus of sixth round picks it has.

Tate stands at 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds. He’s a very large receiver, much bigger than anyone on the Rams roster. Tate is dangerous in jump-ball situations and the deep ball because of his size and strength. He could be a great weapon to develop with Goff starting this offseason.

Ateman is 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds. He caught eight TDs and racked up over 1,000 receiving yards last season. The senior also averaged 19.4 yards per catch. Ateman fits in Sean McVay’s offense.

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In the next few months, it is essential that the LA Rams add a weapon to replace Sammy Watkins. Watkins didn’t put up huge numbers last season, but Los Angeles needs to add another element to this offense if it wants to take another step forward an NFC West that has greatly improved this offseason.