NFC West 2017 offseason preview

Here's a reference guide for your favorite NFC West team throughout the combine and free agency

by Rob Rang & Dane Brugler

[www.cbssports.com]

The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com have evaluated all 32 rosters and created shopping lists for each team to be used in free agency and referenced during the combine and draft season. Below, we tackle the four NFC West teams.

Los Angeles Rams

Last season, the Rams transitioned from St. Louis to Los Angeles and played worse. This year, they will transition from the Jeff Fisher coaching 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 tackle Aaron Donald.

The issue remains on offense, as the Rams try to build around quarterback Jared Goff with a potential franchise running back (Todd Gurley), but with an offensive line that needs help.

2016 Breakdown
Finish: Third in NFC West (4-12)
Total offense: 262.7 (32nd)
Rushing offense: 78.3 (31st)
Passing offense: 184.4 (31st)
Total defense: 337.0 (9th)
Rushing defense: 103.8 (16th)
Passing defense: 233.3 (10th)

Offseason shopping list

Need 1: Offensive line

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

Potential UFA targets (age, previous contract’s average annual salary)
Tackle:
Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnati (36 in December, $9M)
* Russell Okung, Denver (29 in October, $10.6M)
Rick Wagner, Baltimore (28 in October, $576K)
Luke Joeckel, Jacksonville (26 in November, $5.3M)
Matt Kalil, Minnesota (28 in July, $4.94M)
* Option not expected to be exercised
Guard/center:
Kevin Zeitler, Cincinnati (27 in March, $1.89M)
T.J. Lang, Green Bay (30 in September, $5.2M)
Ronald Leary, Dallas (28 in April, $2.55M)
JC Tretter, Green Bay (26, $644K)
Potential draft targets (ranking pos/overall, player, school, height, weight, 40, proj. round)
Tackle:
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)
Guard:
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
Center:
1/64. Ethan Pocic, LSU, 6-6, 307, 5.18, 2
2/80. Pat Elflein, Ohio State, 6-2, 300, 5.22, 2-3


Need 2: 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.

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

Potential draft targets (ranking pos/overall, player, school, height, weight, 40, proj. round)

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


Need 3: Linebacker

The Rams are thin behind current starters Alec Ogletree and Mark Barron, so help is needed to play coordinator Wade Phillips’ scheme.
Potential UFA targets (age, previous contract’s average annual salary)

Outside linebacker:
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)

Inside linebacker:
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)
Potential draft targets (ranking pos/overall, player, school, height, weight, 40, proj. round)

Outside linebacker:
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)

Inside linebacker:
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

Potential 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 December, $1.25M)
RB Benny Cunningham (27 in July, $1.67M)

Roster review
Major coaching changes
Sean McVay replaces Jeff Fisher as head coach
Matt LaFleur replaces Rob Boras as offensive coordinator
Wade Phillips replaces Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator

Depth chart
Starters and backups are as of the end of the season, but include players that were starters before being injured.

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

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

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

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

OL: 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.

DL: 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.

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

DB: 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.

ST: K Greg Zuerlein (UFA), P Johnnie Hekker, KOR Benny Cunningham, PR Tavon Austin, LS Jake McQuaide.
* Indicates player that ended 2016 season on reserve; & Indicates player released since the Super Bowl.