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2020 NFL Roster Breakdown: Los Angeles Rams


Roster Changes

 

Key additions

DL A’Shawn Robinson, OLB Leonard Floyd

 

Key losses

QB Blake Bortles, RB Todd Gurley, WR Brandin Cooks, WR Jojo Natson, WR Mike Thomas, OLB Dante Fowler Jr., OLB Clay Matthews, ILB Cory Littleton, CB Nickell Robey-Coleman, S Eric Weddle, K Greg Zuerlein

 

2020 draft class

RB Cam Akers (2.52), WR Van Jefferson (2.57), OLB Terrell Lewis (3.84), S Terrell Burgess (3.104), TE Brycen Hopkins (4.136), S Jordan Fuller (6.199), ILB Clay Johnston (7.234), K Sam Sloman (7.248), G Tremayne Anchrum (7.250)

 

Projected Starters

 

Offense

QB: Jared Goff
RB: Cam Akers
WR: Robert Woods
WR: Cooper Kupp
WR: Josh Reynolds
TE: Tyler Higbee
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Austin Corbett
C: Austin Blythe
RG: David Edwards
RT: Rob Havenstein

 

Defense

DE: Aaron Donald
NT: A’Shawn Robinson
DE: Michael Brockers
OLB: Leonard Floyd
ILB: Micah Kiser
OLB: Terrell Lewis
CB: Jalen Ramsey
CB: David Long Jr.
CB: Troy Hill
S: Taylor Rapp
S: John Johnson

 

Team Outlook

 

Biggest strength: Defensive line

Everyone knows that Aaron Donald is perhaps the best defensive player in football, but Los Angeles also signed A’Shawn Robinson and was able to lure back Michael Brockers after his deal with the Ravens fell through. Donald is going to get extra attention because he will wreck games without it, so having other strong options up front will make it tougher for opponents to control the trenches. The defensive line being dominant again would really help the monstrous edge duo of Leonard Floyd (six-foot-six) and rookie Terrell Lewis (six-foot-five) hit their ceiling.

 

Biggest weakness: Inside linebacker

I liked Micah Kiser coming out of Virginia in 2018, but he has yet to start an NFL game, and combined, the inside linebackers have just 14 career starts between them. New defensive coordinator Brandon Staley has some big shoes to fill in replacing Wade Phillips, and he needs to find the right combination of players for the middle of the defense between Kiser, Troy Reeder (eight starts), and Kenny Young (six starts). There could also be more reliance on defensive backs to combat all the explosive passing attacks in the NFC.

 

Position battle to watch: Running back

The Rams have a tall task of replacing former NFL Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley at running back, but there are three capable options on the roster with Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, and Malcolm Brown. While it could end up being a three-way committee, the draft capital spent on Akers—who compares favorably to Damien Williams as an all-around back that can catch passes and hold up in pass protection—may set him apart. Training camp and preseason action should give fans (and fantasy owners) a better idea about this backfield.

 

One more thought

There is a lot talk about Sean McVay and Jared Goff being overrated, but I believe it’s the opposite, and the head coach/quarterback duo is squarely among the best in the league for me. Last season could be classified as the “Super Bowl hangover” that many teams have gone through after losing the Big Game, but the offensive line was the issue more than anything else, and they seemed to get things figured out down the stretch. If Goff has time, he is an extremely accurate distributor to all levels of the field; the coaching staff has notably said the quarterback will have more ownership of the offense in 2020.

 

Early over/under: 8.5 wins (via FOX Bet)

Over. Los Angeles has gone 11-5, 13-3, and 9-7 in three years since hiring McVay, and they feel like a contender that’s flying under the radar in the NFC. If pass protection holds up and the defense has a couple of young guys emerge, the Rams should push for double-digit wins.

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