Ranking every NFL team’s offensive supporting cast post-draft
19. Los Angeles Rams
RB: Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, Malcolm Brown (18/25)
It’s tough to replace Todd Gurley; even though he was dealing with knee arthritis last season, he was still a driving force behind the Rams offense and scored 40% of the team’s offensive touchdowns. Los Angeles attempted to soften the blow of his departure by drafting Cam Akers with their first pick in the NFL draft.
Akers is a talented prospect but he was not a consensus top-five back before the draft. Henderson and Brown are solid depth, but given the Rams prioritized drafting a running back with their second-round pick, it says a lot about how Sean McVay feels about them.
WR: Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson, Josh Reynolds (23/25)
Even without Brandin Cooks, the Rams still have one of the better wide receiver cores in the league. Cooper Kupp is a tremendous slot receiver and red zone threat; he caught 94 passes for 1,161 yards and 10 touchdowns despite seeing less playing time down the stretch.
Robert Woods is a great intermediate route runner and possession receiver, having also surpassed 1,100 yards this past season. Van Jefferson and Josh Reynolds are great depth receivers, with Jefferson having the potential to be the next “Cooper Kupp.” This group deserves high marks.
TE: Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett, Brycen Hopkins (21/25)
This may sound controversial, but the Los Angeles tight ends deserve a high ranking. Tyler Higbee led all tight ends in receiving yards and receptions during the month of December, proving he could play like a top-five tight end if utilized. Everett is a solid No. 2 tight end that impressed in the prior season, and Brycen Hopkins is an intriguing fourth-round rookie. This tight end group belongs in the upper-echelon of the NFL.
Offensive Line: Andrew Whitworth, Austin Corbett, Brian Allen, Austin Blythe, Rob Havenstein (18/25)
Now, while the Rams upgraded their skill positions with three of their first five picks in the NFL draft, they failed to add to a porous offensive line. The Los Angeles front did get better over the course of the season, but they still allowed Jared Goff to be relentlessly pressured early on. It’s a credit to Goff that he ended up taking only 22 sacks on the year. Nonetheless, Austin Blythe’s addition will not solve what looked to be a serious problem early on.
Total Score: 80 /100
Summary: While the Rams arguably had a top-three supporting cast just two seasons ago, that all changed following Gurley’s injury and Cooks’ decline. Still, Los Angeles boasts one of the best pass-catching units in the league and has a potential star with Akers in the backfield. If their offensive line can improve from 2019, they will quickly move up the rankings.