FootballOutsiders: Four Downs (NFC West)

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Los Angeles Rams

Biggest Need: Edge Rusher

Rams fans got to celebrate their draft haul months ago. Rather than wait until draft day proper, the Rams used their 2018 draft picks as trade fodder, acquiring Brandin Cooks, Marcus Peters, and Aqib Talib.

The downside to all that talent coming in is that the Rams didn't really have the opportunity to fix any more needs in the draft. With Robert Quinn in Miami and Connor Barwin still unsigned, the Rams' leading returning edge rusher is Matt Longacre, with just 15.5 pressures last season according to Sports Info Solutions charting (subscription required). Longacre's really more of a rotational piece, someone who slides in and provides solid play while your actual weapons get some rest on the sideline. He'll be joined by last year's fourth-round pick, Samson Ebukam, and this year's fifth-round pick, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, as Wade Phillips tries to turn top-tier athletic traits into on-field production. It's actually not that bad of a group; it just pales in comparison to the All-Star squad Los Angeles has built on the defensive line and in the secondary.

Notable Undrafted Free Agents: Indiana inside linebacker Tegray Scales is lacking in both size and speed, but he makes up for it with fantastic instincts and a penchant for taking optimal angles to the ballcarrier, resulting in 36 TFLs and 13 sacks over the last two seasons. The Rams are a little thin inside with Alec Ogletree gone and Mark Barron not yet healthy, so Scales has a great shot at making the 53-man roster. So, too, does Colorado safety Afolabi Laguda, a solid tackler who could be an instant contributor on special teams.

Quarterback Luis Perez of Texas A&M-Commerce won the Harlon Hill trophy -- the Division II equivalent of the Heisman -- and led the Lions to a national championship last season, putting up gaudy numbers against limited competition. USC receiver Steve Mitchell can be a big-play threat with blazing speed, but three knee injuries in college mean he has spent more time in the rehab room than in the lineup. Steven Parker out of Oklahoma has experience at both safety and nickel corner, though he needs to improve his tackling if he wants to stick on special teams.