Is Rams DL Dominique Easley on the roster bubble?
Andrew Ortenberg
[
theramswire.usatoday.com]
Every fall, there’s a round of cuts where big-name veteran players get axed. To preview some of the more established names who might not make their team’s initial 53-man rosters, ESPN took a look at players on roster bubbles. For the Los Angeles Rams, it was defensive lineman Dominique Easley.
Easley was drafted with the 29th overall pick by the Patriots back in 2014. Stunningly, he lasted only two seasons with New England before the Patriots cut him loose in April of 2016. He was quickly signed by the Rams and ended up playing all 16 games for them in 2016, notching 35 tackles and 3.5 sacks with two forced fumbles.
The Rams thought highly enough of Easley’s play to put a first-round tender on him in March of 2017. During training camp, he tore his ACL and missed the entire season. It was the fourth ACL tear of his football career dating back to his college days at Florida, but the Rams still re-signed him to a one-year deal this past March. Now, at least partially due to his inability to stay on the field, Easley appears far from a lock to make the Rams’ roster.
ESPN Rams reporter Lindsey Thiry thinks Easley is facing an “uphill battle” to make the team. Thiry notes that he’ll be competing for a spot at “a position group that includes All-Pros Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh and veteran Michael Brockers.”
Easley played well as an interior rusher during his first season with the Rams, but the interior of the Rams defensive line has undoubtedly improved since then, making Easley more expendable. It wouldn’t be a shock if Easley still manages to sneak onto the roster given his draft pedigree and theoretical talent, but his injury history and the Rams’ defensive line depth currently make him a bit of a long shot.
