Based on the futility of the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams offense the past two seasons, it make sense to want to surround quarterback Jared Goff with playmakers.
But with holes at multiple positions and the Rams not drafting until the second round, is it wise for the franchise to target a wide receiver with their first pick at the expense of the best player available?
Rams general manager Les Snead stressed to ESPN that the goal was getting the best talent, but ESPN added that Snead did hint that finding productive toys for Los Angeles’ second-year quarterback was the preference.
“And though Snead stressed that the Rams will draft the best player available, his target seems clear,” ESPN reported. “He needs more weapons for Goff, but he also wants players who can complement the ones he already has on his roster.”
ESPN listed wide receivers such as Washington’s John Ross, Zay Jones (East Carolina), JuJu Smith-Schuster (USC), Dede Westbrook (Oklahoma) and Chad Hansen (Cal) among the coveted players. Tight ends like Evan Engram (Mississippi) and Gerald Everett (South Alabama) also have been linked to the Rams.
The problem is that of that list, only Ross, who set an NFL combine record by running a 4.22-second 40-yard dash, and Engram are consensus Top 40 draft talents. In addition, ESPN’s Draft Board lists Ross as the No. 17 overall best player in the draft. CBSSports.com has him at No. 18. He might not even be available to Los Angeles when they finally pick in the second round with the 37th overall selection.
Can the Rams afford to reach for a wide receiver if another position (offensive line, safety, cornerback) has more value?
After all, the Rams more or less put themselves in this position last year by trading away a bunch of picks to take Goff, who may have been the top QB prospect but not necessarily the top prospect overall.
Regardless, the front office has to start making the right decisions … or the Rams will be looking for other front-office personnel.
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