THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- With the promise of an improved offense, the Los Angeles Rams' defense is preparing for an encore performance.
Last season, three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald and All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey spurred the unit to the top of the NFL.
Both star playmakers return after a 10-6 season that resulted in divisional playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers. So does outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, who signed a four-year, $64 million deal after a career-best campaign in which he tallied 10.5 sacks.
But gone is defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who inherited a defense that ranked ninth in efficiency and improved it to first in his only season before departing to become the Los Angeles Chargers' head coach. Enter defense coordinator Raheem Morris, who held the same post last season with the Atlanta Falcons for five games before being promoted to interim head coach.
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Before the start of the 2021 NFL draft, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay made his stance clear: the roster did not have any pressing, must-fill needs.
"We don't have any major glaring holes where it's like, 'Okay, you've got to address this position or else,'" McVay said. "We're not really asking anybody to feel like they have to come in and immediately start."
The Rams went into the draft with six picks, but three trades later, general manager Les Snead made nine selections. The Rams added four offensive players and five on defense.
"All of these guys provide tremendous value," McVay said. "They all love football and their skill sets are different, but I think they really fill out the rooms that they're going into."