Every year that Sean McVay’s been the head coach, the Los Angeles Rams have drafted either a running back or fullback. It started with Sam Rogers in 2017, followed by John Kelly, Darrell Henderson Jr., Cam Akers and Jake Funk.
McVay has a penchant for drafting running backs, taking Henderson and Akers in the top 70 in back-to-back years. They’re both talented players, but it’s not as if the Rams have been a top-10 rushing team since Todd Gurley was cut. They ranked 17th in yards per carry in 2020 and 25th in that category a season ago.
Despite the depth Los Angeles has in the backfield with Akers, Henderson, Funk and Xavier Jones, you can bet McVay is itching to grab another running back in the draft this year. That doesn’t mean he and the Rams should draft one.
Even with eight picks, there are better ways to use their resources in the draft. Heck, selecting a punter would probably be a wiser decision than drafting another running back, given the void left by the decision to cut Johnny Hekker.
Akers has two years left on his contract and is projected to be the starter next season. Henderson is entering the final year of his deal, but the Rams could either sign him to a relatively cheap contract next offseason or simply draft his replacement.
Or, they could entrust Funk and Jones to take over as Akers’ backup in 2023, which they’d most likely be capable of doing. Funk is a great athlete who has dealt with a long list of injuries dating back to college, while Jones is a player the Rams are high on after signing him as an undrafted rookie in 2020.
Akers looked like he was on the verge of becoming a star at the end of his rookie year, but a torn Achilles last offseason derailed his 2021 campaign. He’ll come back even better next season with a full summer of work. Henderson is a perfect complement as RB2, showing off his receiving skills in the Super Bowl – an ideal role for him.
Few teams have as much talent and depth at running back as the Rams do, which should push that position far down on their list of needs. Focus on edge rushers, cornerbacks, defensive linemen, guards. Maybe add a tight end to compete with Brycen Hopkins and Kendall Blanton as Tyler Higbee’s backup. Safety could use some added depth and an injection of talent after that group was decimated in the postseason.
Just don’t make running back a priority – again.
