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Los Angeles Rams: Top free agency, NFL draft needs for 2017

By The Sports Xchange
Los Angeles Rams run out on the field at the start of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at the Los Angeles Coliseum on September 18, 2016. Photo by Lori Shepler/UPI
Los Angeles Rams run out on the field at the start of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at the Los Angeles Coliseum on September 18, 2016. Photo by Lori Shepler/UPI | License Photo

Los Angeles Rams breakdown: Free agency, draft shopping list

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As they wade through free agency and prepare to evaluate draft prospects at the Indianapolis Scouting Combine (March 1-6), the Rams must decide which players to keep as they seek to improve upon their 4-12 record from last season.

The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com evaluated the Rams' roster and created a shopping list to use in free agency and to reference during the Combine.

Last season, the Rams transitioned from St. Louis to Los Angeles and played worse. This year, they will transition from the Jeff Fisher era to Sean McVay and other coaching changes. That includes defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who will implement a new scheme to a talented defense led by defensive lineman Aaron Donald.

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The issue remains offense as the Rams try to build around quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley but with an offensive line that needs help.

THE BREAKDOWN

2016 finish: 3rd in NFC West (4-12)

STATISTICS

TOTAL OFFENSE: 262.7 (32nd)

RUSHING: 78.3 (31st)

PASSING: 184.4 (31st)

TOTAL DEFENSE: 337.0 (9th)

RUSHING: 103.8 (16th)

PASSING: 233.3 (10th)

NEEDS, SHOPPING LIST

&=Released

*=Vet who may be released or option not exercised

TOP THREE NEEDS

OFFENSIVE LINE

The Rams need an overhaul of this unit. Aside from right tackle Rob Havenstein, no one should be assured of a job or spot on the roster, most of all underachieving left tackle Greg Robinson.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

OT:

Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnati (36 in December, $9M)

Russell Okung, Denver (option not expected to be exercised; 29 in October, $10.6M)

Rick Wagner, Baltimore (28 in October, $576K)

Luke Joeckel, Jacksonville (G; 26 in November, $5.3M))

Matt Kalil, Minnesota (injury; 28 in July, $4.94M)

OG/C

Kevin Zeitler, Cincinnati (G; 27 in March, $1.89M)

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T.J. Lang, Green Bay (G/injury; 30 in September, $5.2M)

Ronald Leary, Dallas (G; 28 in April, $2.55M)

JC Tretter, Green Bay (C; 26, $644K)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

OT:

1/14 Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin, 6-5, 314, 5.29, 1 (underclassman)

2/25 Cam Robinson, Alabama, 6-6, 310, 5.28, 1 (underclassman)

3/38 Garett Bolles, Utah, 6-5, 296, 4.97, 1-2 (underclassman)

OG:

1/33 Dan Feeney, Indiana, 6-4, 304, 5.09, 1-2

2/35 Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky, 6-4, 305, 5.12, 1-2

C:

1/64 Ethan Pocic, LSU, 6-6, 307, 5.18, 2

2/80 Pat Elflein, Ohio State, 6-2, 300, 5.22, 2-3

WIDE RECEIVER

The Rams lack a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver and have virtually no one who strikes fear in the hearts of opposing defenses.

UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)

DeSean Jackson, Washington (31 in December, $6M)

Alshon Jeffery, Chicago (27, $14.6M)

Pierre Garcon, Washington (31 in August, $8.5M)

Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland (28 in June, $1.67M)

Anquan Boldin, Detroit (37 in October, $2.75M)

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Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota (26 in March, $1.8M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

1/8 Mike Williams, Clemson, 6-3, 225, 1 (underclassman)

2/16 Corey Davis, Western Michigan, 6-3, 213, 1

3/19 John Ross, Washington, 5-11, 190, 1 (underclassman)

4/37 Curtis Samuel, Ohio State, 5-11, 200, 1-2 (underclassman)

5/42 Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma, 5-11, 175, 2

LINEBACKER

The Rams are thin behind current starters Alec Ogletree and Mark Barron, so help is needed to play coordinator Wade Phillips' scheme.

UFA TARGETS (Age, 2016 salary)

OLB:

Chandler Jones, Arizona (27, $2.04M)

Nick Perry, Green Bay (27 in April, $5.05M)

Melvin Ingram, L.A. Chargers (28 in April, $2.1M)

DeMarcus Ware, Denver (35 in July, $10M)

Julius Peppers, Green Bay (37, $8.67M)

ILB:

Dont'a Hightower, New England (27 in March, $1.93M)

Lawrence Timmons, Pittsburgh (31 in May, $9.6M)

Malcolm Smith, Oakland (28 in July, $3.5M)

Akeem Dent, Houston (30 in September, $2.25M)

DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)

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OLB:

1/18 Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt, 6-3, 230, 4.74, 1 (underclassman)

2/26 Takkarist McKinley, UCLA, 6-2, 258, 4.58, 1

3/27 Tim Williams, Alabama, 6-3, 252, 4.76, 1

4/31 Haason Reddick, Temple, 6-1, 237, 4.54, 1-2

5/48 T.J. Watt, Wisconsin, 6-4, 243, 4.76, 2 (underclassman)

ILB:

1/7 Reuben Foster, Alabama, 6-1, 236, 4.72, 1

2/41 Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State, 6-2, 240, 4.78, 2 (underclassman)

3/44 Jarrad Davis, Florida, 6-1, 238, 4.78, 2

UFA KEEPERS

CB Trumaine Johnson (27, $13.95M)

WR Kenny Britt (29 in September, $4.58M)

S T.J. McDonald (26, $732K)

K Greg Zuerlein (30 in Dece,ber, $1.25M)

RB Benny Cunningham (27 in July, $1.67M)

ROSTER REVIEW

MAJOR COACHING CHANGES

--Sean McVay replaces Jeff Fisher as head coach.

--QB coach Greg Olson replaces Chris Weinke (McVay did not hire an OC).

--DC Wade Phillips replaces Gregg Williams.

DEPTH CHART

Starters and backups are listed according to their status at the end of the season, but players who were starters before being injured are included.

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* Indicates player who ended 2016 season on reserve.

& Indicates player released since the Super Bowl.

QUARTERBACKS: Starter -- Jared Goff. Backups -- Sean Mannion, Case Keenum (UFA).

RUNNING BACKS: Starter -- Todd Gurley. Backups -- *Benny Cunningham (UFA), Malcolm Brown, Chase Reynolds (UFA), Aaron Green, *FB Zach Laskey.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Kenny Britt (UFA), Tavon Austin, Brian Quick (UFA). Backups -- Pharoh Cooper, Michael Thomas, Nelson Spruce, Paul McRoberts, *Bradley Marquez, *Marquez North.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- Lance Kendricks. Backups -- Tyler Higbee, Temarrick Hemingway, *Cory Harkey.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT Greg Robinson, RT Rob Havenstein, LG Rodger Saffold, RG Jamon Brown, C Tim Barnes. Backups -- G David Arkin, C Demetrius Rhaney, T Pace Murphy, *T Darrell Williams, G Cody Wichmann, G Andrew Donnal.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- *DLE Robert Quinn, DLT Michael Brockers, DRT Aaron Donald, DRE William Hayes. Backups -- DE Ethan Westbrooks, DE Matt Longacre, DE Eugene Sims, DE Morgan Fox, DT Cam Thomas (UFA), DT Dominique Easley (UFA), *DT Louis Trinca-Pasat.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- WLB Mark Barron, MLB Alec Ogletree. Backups -- MLB Bryce Hager, MLB Nicholas Grigsby, WLB Cory Littleton, *MLB Josh Forrest.

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DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Trumaine Johnson (UFA), RCB E.J. Gaines, Slot CB Lamarcus Joyner, SS T.J. McDonald (UFA), FS Maurice Alexander. Backups -- CB Blake Countess, CB Troy Hill, CB Michael Jordan, FS Cody Davis, SS Isaiah Johnson, *S Brian Randolph, *DB Marqui Christian.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Greg Zuerlein (UFA), P Johnnie Hekker, KOR Benny Cunningham, PR Tavon Austin, LS Jake McQuaide.

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