Los Angeles Rams: Biggest Combine priority is defense

The NFL Combine is already upon us and the Los Angeles Rams should really only be focusing on one side of the ball: defense.

Man, it feels yesterday that the Los Angeles Rams were playing in the Super Bowl and now it is already the NFL Combine.

It has only been three and a half weeks since the Super Bowl but it is crazy how fast the NFL moves. The Combine truly signals the start of the fun part of the offseason.

After the Combine is free agents, trades and then the NFL Draft. After that, we have training camp, preseason and then boom: before you know it Week 1 will be upon us.

For now, though, we have to focus on what is right in front of us and that is the NFL Combine. The Los Angeles Rams are going to be vetting players with more depth this year, as it is the first year since 2016 that the team even has a first-round pick.

That is unless the team trades it again as it did last offseason for Brandin Cooks.

Having a first-round pick after not having it for two years is exciting. Although it is the 31st overall pick, the Rams can still snag a difference maker. Sony Michel was selected with the 31st overall pick last year and he was huge for the New England Patriots.

The Los Angeles Rams should not be drafting for the offensive side of the ball like the Patriots did in the first round last year as Super Bowl runner ups. While LA could use some youth on the offensive line, the main focus of the 2019 NFL Combine has to be on the defensive side of the ball.

There are simply too many holes that the front office has to plug with limited cap space. The Rams are likely going to have to replace safety Lamarcus Joyner and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh with help at inside and outside linebacker needed.

Los Angeles needs youth at corner with Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters‘ contracts expiring after 2019 as well. Drafting smart in the 2019 NFL Draft will keep the team in contention for much longer.

Drafting dumb will shrink the title window.

All of those defensive needs, aside from cornerback, are bigger than the need to boost the offensive line, something they can do in the third round or could even hold off for until the 2020 NFL Draft.

However, if the team wants to make another Super Bowl run then it has to shore up this defensive holes. While the defense played great in the Super Bowl, it still was not great last year and not adding to it can hurt the team like it hurt the Kansas City Chiefs.

So don’t expect the Rams to be interested in any flashy offensive playmakers in the NFL Combine. Everything should revolve around the defensive side of the ball.