Les Snead Must Make These 2 Moves To Ensure A Playoff Spot For Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams are in year two of their on-the-fly rebuild. Last year they shocked everyone by winning 10 games and landing in the playoffs. This season’s expectations are a bit higher than 2023, but they are still expected to be on the playoff bubble — competing for a wild card spot, rather than thought of as a Super Bowl contender.

After an active offseason of reconstructing the defense and padding the offense, the Rams still need to add pieces to make sure they land in the playoffs once again this season.

Los Angeles Rams Roster Holes Heading Into Training Camp

Defensive Line:

No, you can’t replace Aaron Donald . We get that. They get that. But attempting to roll into the season with your defensive line made up of players with limited to no NFL experience could be a disaster. Of the front five positions (two outside linebackers and three interior defensive linemen) Jared Verse and Braden Fiske are rookies and Byron Young and Kobie Turner are both heading into their sophomore efforts.

Young and Turner took turns flashing as rookies, but that was playing alongside the oft-double-teamed Donald. They won’t get that benefit this season. When it comes to pass rush, experience, and practice are key. There are no two ways around it — the Rams lack those here. Period.

The Rams didn’t address this in free agency, and at this point, it’s hard to find the silver bullet free agent, but they don’t need that. They need a wiley veteran that can execute in the places where the youngins don’t have the positional knowledge to do so.

Yannick Ngakoue , Mike Purcell , or Shaq Lawson would all fit that bill. They don’t need a Von Miller signing at the moment, but they do need an adult in the room.

A trade shouldn’t be ruled out either. The Los Angeles Rams were the only team last season to make the playoffs with fewer than 140 pressures — They had 128, and the next lowest was 143.

Cornerback:

They have plenty of adults in this room, and plenty of youth, but not one proven lockdown option in the defensive backfield. Tre’Davious White was once that, but after two catastrophic leg injuries, the question about his recovery and durability must be asked. Darious Williams is coming off one of the best statistical seasons of his career, but is that outlier season a harbinger of things to come or just an anomaly?

Who will play the nickel corner is also up for debate. Cobie Durant started the year covering the slot, but Quentin Lake moved there in the back half of the season. Neither was spectacular.

The Rams defense is operating on razor-thin margins and that will tank if injuries or regression occurs. There are plenty of free agents the Rams could add to fortify this group from potential collapse. While Akhello Witherspoon struggled against deep passes last season, he led the defense in playing time. Steven Nelson , Stephon Gilmore , and Adoree Jackson are all still available as well.

More must-reads:

• Despite Significant Leap, Los Angeles Rams Offensive Line Battles for Respect in New Ranking
• 4 Predictions For The 2024 Los Angeles Rams Season, Including Playoff Outcome