Rams picked perfect time to overhaul their LB unit...

Rams picked the perfect time to overhaul their LB unit
Cameron DaSilva

[theramswire.usatoday.com]

Six: the number of linebackers the Los Angeles Rams currently have under contract heading into 2018.

You don’t need to be a math whiz to know that doesn’t leave much wiggle room, given the fact that the Rams play a 3-4 defense, which requires four starters at linebacker.

That’s what happens when you agree to trade away the likes of Alec Ogletree and Robert Quinn, while also facing the prospect of Connor Barwin leaving in free agency. And the lone starter from 2017 that’s under contract? Mark Barron? He could be on his way out of Los Angeles, too.

In the next month or so, we could very easily see the Rams part ways with all four of their starting linebackers from last season. They’re already thin at the position as it stands, but moving Barron seems like a sure bet, given his $10 million cap hit and potential $7 million savings.


As risky as this all is, the Rams couldn’t have picked a better time to completely overhaul their linebacker unit. Both free agency and the draft are loaded with talent at linebacker, more so of the inside variety.

When it comes to inside linebackers, alone, there are four guys worth taking in the first round: Roquan Smith, Tremaine Edmunds, Rashaan Evans and Leighton Vander Esch. All of them would be home run selections at No. 23 for the Rams, though the first two are unlikely to reach that point.

Say the Rams do wind up trading or releasing Barron. They could conceivably replace him with Avery Williamson for the same amount of money, if not less. Additionally, they could draft a rangy linebacker like Vander Esch to take the place of Ogletree, giving Wade Phillips two linebackers to fit his defense.

If Les Snead and Co. would prefer to wait on an inside linebacker in the draft, Micah Kiser, Josey Jewell, Shaun Dion Hamilton and Mike McCray would be worth considering in the third round or later. While they’re not the talents that Evans, Smith and the other top-tier prospects are, they do possess traits NFL teams look for in linebackers.


On the edge, the free agency class isn’t nearly as strong. That’s to be expected every year, knowing how reluctant teams are to let pass rushers hit the open market. It’s exactly why the Lions and Cowboys tagged Ziggy Ansah and DeMarcus Lawrence, respectively.

There are still starters to be had, however. Aaron Lynch is a familiar face after spending the first four years of his career with the 49ers, while Alex Okafor was in the midst of a breakout season with the Saints before tearing his Achilles. Both would come in and start from Day 1, giving the Rams a nice rotation at outside linebacker with Samson Ebukam and Ejuan Price, too.

While the upcoming draft class certainly has a bevy of talent at outside linebacker, it’s not quite as rich as the inside ‘backer group is. Still, Harold Landry is a stud, while guys like Josh Sweat and Dorance Armstrong Jr. are rising after strong combine performances.

Kemoko Turay would be a pass-rush specialist early on and is a candidate to be taken 87th overall (third round) to the Rams.

Regardless of whether Los Angeles decides to spend its first-round pick on a linebacker, cornerback or nose tackle, there’s plenty of talent throughout the draft at all of those spots – particularly at linebacker. That, combined with the players set to hit free agency, is likely why the Rams feel good about remaking the linebacker unit.