Offense or defense: Which should be the Rams' draft focus?

Alden Gonzalez
ESPN Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES -- The offense lacks impact talent, but includes several developing young players. The defense has plenty of talent, but not enough quality players under team control beyond the 2017 season. And that prompts an interesting question: Where should the Los Angeles Rams steer their focus in the upcoming draft, which is less than three weeks away?

It's easy to make either case.

The Rams' shortcomings on offense are obvious. The Rams were dead last in yards each of the last two seasons and have ranked within the bottom eight in scoring during eight of the last 10 seasons. They drafted a quarterback (Jared Goff) first overall in 2016 and a running back (Todd Gurley) 10th overall in 2015. Conventional wisdom would tell you that the Rams need to load up on pieces that will bring out the best in both of them.

But the Rams drafted seven offensive linemen from 2014 to '15, six of whom remain on the roster. Last year, four of their five picks after Goff went to pass-catchers -- Tyler Higbee, Pharoh Cooper, Temarrick Hemingway and Mike Thomas, respectively.

The opposite is true on defense.

The Rams haven't drafted a defensive player higher than the sixth round in the last two years and have recently stomached the departure of key starters, particularly in their secondary. Free safety Rodney McLeod and cornerback Janoris Jenkins left via free agency last offseason. Strong safety T.J. McDonald left this offseason. And now the Rams are staring at a daunting list of players scheduled to be unrestricted free agents next offseason.

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