When it comes to what the Los Angeles Rams will do with the 19th overall pick, there has been a lot of debate on whether or not that player should come on the offensive or defensive side of the ball. On one hand, the Rams have a lot of needs on defense, especially following Aaron Donald’s retirement. At the same time, when it comes to the first round on the 2024 draft, the players on offense may provide a better value.

On the defensive side of the ball, there may only be five to seven players worthy of a first-round pick. However, on offense, there is an abundance of talent, especially when looking at the wide receiver and tackle positions. With that said, the Rams may be able to maximize their first round pick with an offensive player, while getting good value on defense on days two and three of the draft.

NFL Network’s Peter Schrager released his first mock draft on Tuesday. It’s worth noting two things here. Schrager’s mock drafts don’t necessarily come from a place of analysis or personal choice. Schrager does a lot of reporting work for his mock drafts. As he says, “This isn’t what I would do — it’s what I’m hearing from my sources around the league.” Secondly, Schrager is very good friends with Sean McVay and therefore is pretty connected with the Rams.

“I’ll go on record with something of a guarantee here: If the Rams do not trade back, you better believe Sean McVay’s first-ever first-round selection will be an offensive player. Los Angeles shored up its interior O-line in free agency. Guyton — a bit of a project, but someone who can play either tackle spot — gives Matthew Stafford another promising young guy to protect him in his 16th NFL season.”

Guyton may not be a popular choice in the Rams fanbase, but the pick isn’t necessarily what’s worth paying attention to here. The interesting part about Schrager’s mock isn’t that he has Rams taking Guyton. What’s interesting is that he has them going offensive tackle and continuing to invest in Matthew Stafford and prioritizing that over needs on the defense.

Even if the pick isn’t Guyton but instead a player like Troy Fautanu or Amarius Mims, it follows the overall theme of the offseason. That theme has been investing in and protecting Stafford. The Rams re-signed Kevin Dotson to contract extension before free agency, retaining one of the best guards in the NFL last season. They then signed Jonah Jackson to pair with Dotson on the left side. That was a significant investment to the interior of the offensive line which goes against how they’ve approached the position in the past. The difference here is the commitment to investing in protecting Stafford as he gets old.

As I wrote two weeks ago while saying that the Rams need to continue to invest in Matthew Stafford and draft offense,

“It’s worth noting that the immediate impact of a rookie defender is possibly being overrated, especially one drafted outside the top-15. Currently, there isn’t a player that can elevate the other young players still learning on the defensive side of the ball. Meanwhile, that’s exactly what a player like Stafford can do on offense. The Rams likely have three more years of Matthew Stafford. It’s important that they keep investing in him and giving him the supporting cast that allows the best chance for success.”

This isn’t just a wild prediction from Schrager and throwing something at the wall hoping it sticks. The fact that he not only says that he’s going on the record, but lays it out as a almost a guarantee is very notable. If the Rams do not trade back, there is a good chance that they see more value in the players on offense rather than forcing a need on defense.

Guyton may not be the preferred option for the Rams among fans. He’s an extremely raw tackle that has upside but will also need a lot of coaching to hit his ceiling. It’s also worth noting that Brian Thomas Jr. went to the Pittsburgh Steelers at 20 and Amarius Mims dropped to the Green Bay Packers at 25. Edge rusher Chop Robinson wasn’t among the 32 first-round picks.

With Thomas dropping past the Rams, it may be a hint that if the Rams do go offense in the first-round that they may be looking at the offensive line. While Guyton needs some development, the Rams also brought back Alaric Jackson, meaning that there may not be pressure for him to start right away.