With the 2024 NFL Draft just a few weeks away, the Los Angeles Rams seem to be signaling to the rest of the league what positions they’ll be targeting.
Los Angeles rebuilt its secondary in free agency, bringing back Darious Williams and signing Kamren Curl and Tre’Davious White. However, they left the defensive line almost untouched despite the obvious need along the edge and interior.
The interior, in particular, became a sudden area of concern after Aaron Donald decided to retire from the NFL. Without Donald, new defensive coordinator Chris Shula will need need to be creative when it comes to generating pressure.
When breaking down the Rams defense for next season, Donald emphasized the need for another edge rusher, via Green Light with Chris Long:
“On defense, I think we’ve got good guys on the end but I think we can help with some edge help and I think they did (well) as far as bringing some corners in and some guys in the secondary to help,” Donald said. “I think they’re in a good position right now. If anything, if I was to say one thing the Rams need just a little bit of help with, I would say just the edge rusher. Just getting an extra edge rusher, some guy that’s got some experience or find a good guy in the draft that can get it done.
“You see what we did in the draft last year, nobody expected us to be the team (we were) and a lot of the rookies end up making names for themselves and dominating, so if you get another piece like that that can help on the edge, I think the Rams are going to be a great team. it’s going to be fun to watch. I’m excited to watch the Rams play this year. I’m not going to be out there but I just feel like they’re going to have a lot of success, I really do. I think they’ve got all the pieces they need. Add a piece here as far as the edge guy and then they made some moves to help them get better.”
Byron Young is a great foundational piece along the edge, but Los Angeles needs to find him a partner on the opposite end. Donald understands what the young talent on the roster is capable of, but adding another piece will be pivotal for the defense.
Rams pay tribute to Aaron Donald with full page ad in L.A. Times
Weeks after Donald retired from the league, the Rams organization paid him a heartfelt tribute by taking a full-page advertisement out in the L.A. Times.
