2015 NFL Draft: St. Louis Rams' Top 5 Needs

By Anthony Blake

St. Louis Rams' Top 5 Needs In 2015 NFL Draft

St. Louis Rams 2015 NFL Draft
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One of the overriding themes with the St. Louis Rams since Jeff Fisher took over the head coaching position and Les Snead became general manager has been a philosophy of building via the draft. The 2015 NFL Draft will be sparse for the Rams in terms of selections, but Snead has shown a willingness to wheel and deal in the past to get what he desires. Here are five needs the Rams must fill come April.

5. Wide Receiver

St. Louis Rams 2015 NFL Draft
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5. Wide Receiver

St. Louis Rams 2015 NFL Draft
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Fans have clamored for the Rams to add more weapons in the passing game, and the team has come up woefully short in that department. Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey have shown signs of life this season, and even Brian Quick was flashing his potential prior to his season-ending shoulder injury. Finding a potential late-round gem like Titus Davis of Central Michigan in Round 5 or Kasen Williams of Washington in Round 6 would be ideal.

4. Free Safety

St. Louis Rams 2015 NFL Draft
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

4. Free Safety

St. Louis Rams 2015 NFL Draft
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Lamarcus Joyner is a terrific, versatile defender for the Rams’ secondary, but he is more of a third safety or slot corner type than a pure free safety. The team still needs a stud to pair with the hard-hitting presence of T.J. McDonald, and someone like Ole Miss safety Cody Prewitt in Round 3 or Michigan State stud Kurtis Drummond in Round 4 would be a great fit. Jeff Fisher could mold either one of these guys into the perfect center fielder.

3. Offensive Guard

St. Louis Rams 2015 NFL Draft
Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

3. Offensive Guard

St. Louis Rams 2015 NFL Draft
Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

This need could easily be categorized as simply an interior lineman, but finding a powerful left guard would be the biggest need for the Rams. Last year’s No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson will likely take over as full-time left tackle in 2015, leaving the guard spot undermanned. A guy like A.J. Cann from South Carolina would be a great fit if still available in Round 2. It’s about time the Rams devote serious draft capital to fixing the O-line.

2. Outside Linebacker

St. Louis Rams 2015 NFL Draft
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2. Outside Linebacker

St. Louis Rams 2015 NFL Draft
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Defense has become a calling card for the Rams, and the linebacking corps is already quite impressive with James Laurinaitis and star-in-the-making Alec Ogletree. Jo-Lonn Dunbar, however, leaves a bit to be desired, and finding a weakside backer early would be the preferred path. Shaq Thompson of Washington would be a tremendous fit in the mold of Ogletree as a rangy defender in Round 1 to really take this defense to another level.

1. Quarterback

St. Louis Rams 2015 NFL Draft
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1. Quarterback

St. Louis Rams 2015 NFL Draft
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It seems counterintuitive to suggest that a team’s largest need won’t be filled in Round 1, but that’s just how things are likely to shake out for the Rams. Both Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston will be long gone by the time they’re on the clock, so finding a starting signal-caller to groom later on is imperative. Sean Mannion is a kid I’m particularly fond of in Round 5 with elite physical skills (6-foot-5, 220 pounds) and a cannon for an arm.

Anthony Blake is a Senior Writer/Copy Editor for Rant Sports. You Can Follow Him on Twitter, on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

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