So I wouldn't count on a trade or a FA. Depending on Fowler's actual deal, it could be 15.215m (if Fowler's deal is only 11m) I just cannot see the Rams allocating any more money to edge rushers.
I could be all wet with the edge rusher talk. I will say this as far as the DL depth. It took several major hits with:
A few guys went back to school:
Raekwon Davis - Alabama - a 1st round lock IMO
Derrick Brown - Auburn - another first round lock (these 2 guys were probably top 25 picks)
Lawrence's failed PED did not help his draft stock.
Jeffery Simmons blown ACL also hurt his stock.
Jerry Tillery had an up and down season and could have been a first rounder (he still might be, but not in my book.)
There is still 3 IDL going first round in Williams, Wilkins and Oliver. Add the 2 going back to school, the PED fail, the blown ACL and the inconsistant season and you have 8 first round IDL or 1/4 of the 1st round. That would have been crazy. And TBH Simmons, Lawrence and Tillery could still slide into the 1st.
As far as edge rushers. From the beginning of the college season. there was zero chance Bosa, Allen or Ferrell ever made it to 31.
Polite was a surprise this season as he really made a jump in play. But he had red flags before he showed up to the combine overweight, bombed the events and then in the interviews commenced to trash teams (except the Rams). It was like watching a slow motion train wreck. He has a rare skill set of burst, flexibility and an array of pass rush moves. He needs to get stronger and hasn't had to cover in pass defense so he will need to be coached up in that. That said, he had a top 15 year. Dropping to 31 seems like a fair spot if he interviewed well.
Montez Sweat is a favorite of mine. He was alot smoother then I thought he would be at the combine. There is an outside chance he is there at 31, and he would be my top choice. Another explosive, strong edge with a wide array of pass rush moves and active hands. People tend to go crazy over the combine and its really hard to tune that out, but he was on the edge of making it to the Rams spot, and now I just don't see it.
Brian Burns - elite and I do mean ELITE bend. He can dend the edge to get to the QB like few i have ever watched. I read where he played this year under 220 lbs. At 6'-5", I cannot imagine a 34 edge holding up at 220 lbs. Then he checked in at 250 and that was all she wrote as far as his draft ranking. He is probably the BEST PURE PASS RUSHER in this draft.
Don't waste your time looking back, you're not going that way. - Ragnar Lothbrok
