LA Rams: Three roster holes and how to fix them in the draft

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 06: Head Coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams looks on from the sidelines during the NFC Wild Card Playoff Game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Los Angeles Coliseum on January 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 06: Head Coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams looks on from the sidelines during the NFC Wild Card Playoff Game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Los Angeles Coliseum on January 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – LA Rams
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – LA Rams /

Edge Rusher:

In similar fashion to the team’s wide receiver situation, edge rusher has become a position of need because of the departure of key player, Robert Quinn. The LA Rams traded Quinn to the Miami Dolphins at the start of free agency in a move likely done to free cap space. This move was ultimately a good decision, as Quinn is not the player he used to be, but it does leave them extremely thin at outside linebacker.

It is essential they add a legitimate pass rusher at the position if they want to bolster one of the league’s top defenses. They already possess a top tier secondary, a fantastic defensive coordinator, and the best interior pass rusher in the NFL. An edge threat is all they need to create perhaps the best defense against the pass in the entire NFL.

The perfect player to fill this role is LSU’s Arden Key. Ideally the team would select UTSA’s Marcus Davenport in the first round, but he will likely be taken before the team’s 23rd overall pick. Arden Key is one hell of a backup plan.

Key is known to be one of the most versatile pass rushers in the draft, being able to succeed with a bevy of moved on both the outside and inside stunts. This is a talent that is perfect for a 3-4 outside linebacker, especially with a coordinator as creative with blitzes as Wade Phillips. Key still has to work on his coverage skills, but that is something that can be developed and is quite frankly not extremely important for the role he would fill on the team.