Rams Pre-Free Agency Position Overview: Linebackers

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Pre-Free Agency Position Overview: Linebackers

Ahead of the start of the new league year, theRams.com examines which linebackers are currently under contract and which ones are scheduled to become free agents.

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Rams Pre-Free Agency Position Overview: Linebackers

The calendar has turned to March, which means the start of the new league year – March 17, 1 p.m. pacific time – and free agency isn't far away.

Ahead of this pivotal time in the offseason, theRams.com will be breaking down the team's roster with an overview of the players currently under contract and those who are scheduled to become free agents, as well as their 2020 stats.

The series continues with a look at the linebackers:

Currently under contract

• ILB Micah Kiser: Tied for third on the team with 55 total tackles in 2020 despite being limited to nine games due to injury, also chipping in three pass breakups and one forced fumble.
• ILB Troy Reeder: Second-leading tackler with 81 total, plus three sacks and two pass breakups while playing in all 16 games (seven starts). Did not miss a regular season game for second-straight year.
• ILB Kenny Young: Starting alongside Reeder when Kiser was injured, made 52 total tackles, one sack, two pass breakups and returned an interception 79 yards for a touchdown while playing in all 16 games (six starts).
• LB Justin Hollins: Signed because of his familiarity with then-defensive coordinator Brandon Staley's scheme (both worked together in Denver), versatility to play either inside or outside linebacker and added value as a special teams contributor, tallied 28 total tackles, three sacks, one pass breakup and one forced fumble while playing in all 16 games.
• OLB Terrell Lewis: Atrophy from a knee procedure he underwent in the preseason – due to infection concerns from a previous procedure – delayed 2020 third-round pick's debut until Week 5, then missed Weeks 12-15 as a precautionary approach to reduce swelling in his knee. Made five tackles (two for loss) and two sacks in the eight games he was active and healthy.
• OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo: Made 12 total tackles, one sack and one pass breakup in 10 games.
• OLB Justin Lawler: Spent 2020 season on injured reserve after sustaining a preseason foot injury.
• LB Derrick Moncrief (Reserve/Future): Signed in the offseason after spending 2017-19 playing in the Canadian Football League, spent most of the 2020 season on the team's practice squad.
• LB Christian Rozeboom (Reserve/Future): Signed as an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota State, spent the 2020 season on the team's practice squad.
• LB Travin Howard: Spent 2020 season on injured reserve after sustaining a torn meniscus during training camp. Tendered as an exclusive rights free agent on March 4.

Scheduled to become a free agent

• OLB Leonard Floyd (unrestricted - Free Agent Spotlight): Produced career-high 10.5 sacks on one-year deal last season, also adding 55 total tackles, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries while starting in all 16 games.
• OLB Samson Ebukam (unrestricted - Free Agent Spotlight): A fourth-round draft pick in 2017, tallied 31 total tackles (five for loss) plus 4.5 sacks while starting opposite Floyd in 14 of 16 games.

 

[SeminoleRam]

I know it is NOT going to happen BUT I sure would like to see Floyd back in a RAMS uniform this coming season(s)!

 

[sloramfan]

i think the rams have something with terrell lewis, he just needs to recover and stay healthy...

OBO? .. that ? is getting old... as another poster said elsewhere, "what were you expecting from a 5th round rotational player"... a reality check for me for sure... no longer hoping for 10 sacks a year from the gatekeeper at the ice tub...

floyd i believe is replaceable, due in a big part to the aaron donald effect on stats... (see fowler)..

2 cents..

go rams

slo

 

[dang]

I believe Floyd’s sacks can be replaced but he was very effective against the run and with his long arms/body was often around the QB on pass plays. Pretty sure no one on roster can replace all that. So FA options?

 

[BonifayRam]

Og Okronkwo is now in his 4th season the last yr in his contract, his first 3 seasons have been full of injuries. Since being drafted in the 5th rd in 2018 the Rams have played in 53 gms. OG has only played in 18 due to injuries. In 3 seasons Og has a total of 18 tacks & 2.5 sacks.Og has more DL mentality in him than OLB'er. Og is going to have to start this season & remain healthy there are no other real reserves to turn too.

i think the rams have something with terrell lewis, he just needs to recover and stay healthy...

OBO? .. that ? is getting old... as another poster said elsewhere, "what were you expecting from a 5th round rotational player"... a reality check for me for sure... no longer hoping for 10 sacks a year from the gatekeeper at the ice tub...floyd i believe is replaceable, due in a big part to the aaron donald effect on stats... (see fowler)..2 cents..go ramsslo

Yes I agree they have something ...................... an unhealthy OLB'er with a bad wheel

 

[Merlin]

That is one ugly list.

 

[BonifayRam]

That is one ugly list.

Uglier on the outside than inside.....

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Uglier on the outside than inside.....

Ugly inside and out imo

 

[Soul Surfer]

Is it possible to have a defense ranked number one in the NFL and have "ugly" inside linebackers?

I prefer to think of them as serviceable *team* players that performed surprisingly well.

And I love the guts of a guy like Reeder who stayed healthy and plugged in pretty damn well for an undrafted free agent.

 

[kurtfaulk]

.



.

 

[Allen2McVay]

After reading the word “ugly” so often in this thread, I needed to go to the Boobie thread.

I feel better now.

Personally, I like Kiser a lot; am hoping Howard is a good compliment. Have my fingers crossed on Rozeboom.

Realize that’s not much inside but with other ... greater ... needs elsewhere and cap limitations (can’t be ignored), just don’t think we can expect much in an off-season addition other than a late round prospect ... like Kiser and Howard were.

See Reeder as very limited athletically, and Young as a potential cap casualty

 

[ottoman89]

ILB has been an issue since Littleton left. We got lucky with him. I don't think this team could find a game changing ILB if they tried.

 

[MachS]

I think Floyd played himself out of a contract in LA. I expect us to let him walk, pick up the 3rd round comp pick next year which has been our formula, and grab another solid edge rusher on the FA market. There are a number of options. We cant rely on T Lewis but I sure hope he stays healthy. Obo is average at best and I doubt Ebukam comes back. He's not very good anyways. I think ensuring we add one legit OLB in FA is a big focus. The franchise has never cared about ILB, and while it's frustrating, heading into next year with Kaiser, Reeder, Hollins, Howard, Young isn't the end of the world.

 

[Merlin]

Is it possible to have a defense ranked number one in the NFL and have "ugly" inside linebackers?

Yeah I think so. Like this group lol.

 

[RamDino]

Hard to believe one of those young guys hasn't panned out, although they've all looked good at times..

 

[Merlin]

I flip-flop a bit with Floyd where I bounce from thinking he's gone to thinking maybe they get something done. One thing's for sure... If they don't then they're up shit creek at OLB meaning they'll need to go get another FA because they're not gonna enter the draft with holes on both edges. And a prove-it type is not something you can assume you'll hit on. Rams have for two years running but there's no guarantee they'll hit again.

What is going for us is that Floyd is a strong side guy and he's one of the best there but strong side guys don't get paid crazy money generally. Plus this FA market still looks like it's going to be strong. Plus there's a lot of teams in cap trouble who normally might mortgage things to add a piece like him.

I'm kind of expecting us to ink him then also draft OLB at our round 2 pick where there's probably gonna be some really nice options. Do that and you might have something with that front.

 

[ottoman89]

I flip-flop a bit with Floyd where I bounce from thinking he's gone to thinking maybe they get something done. One thing's for sure... If they don't then they're up shit creek at OLB meaning they'll need to go get another FA because they're not gonna enter the draft with holes on both edges. And a prove-it type is not something you can assume you'll hit on. Rams have for two years running but there's no guarantee they'll hit again.

What is going for us is that Floyd is a strong side guy and he's one of the best there but strong side guys don't get paid crazy money generally. Plus this FA market still looks like it's going to be strong. Plus there's a lot of teams in cap trouble who normally might mortgage things to add a piece like him.

I'm kind of expecting us to ink him then also draft OLB at our round 2 pick where there's probably gonna be some really nice options. Do that and you might have something with that front.

I keeping flipping back and forth between wanting Floyd or JJ3.. the thing is that we draft S well through the whole draft, we don't draft LB well anywhere. I flip back to wanting Floyd more because we can't keep expecting to get lucky on these 1 year prove it deals. At some point, I'd like to have continuity with a good LB.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I flip-flop a bit with Floyd where I bounce from thinking he's gone to thinking maybe they get something done. One thing's for sure... If they don't then they're up shit creek at OLB meaning they'll need to go get another FA because they're not gonna enter the draft with holes on both edges. And a prove-it type is not something you can assume you'll hit on. Rams have for two years running but there's no guarantee they'll hit again.

What is going for us is that Floyd is a strong side guy and he's one of the best there but strong side guys don't get paid crazy money generally. Plus this FA market still looks like it's going to be strong. Plus there's a lot of teams in cap trouble who normally might mortgage things to add a piece like him.

I'm kind of expecting us to ink him then also draft OLB at our round 2 pick where there's probably gonna be some really nice options. Do that and you might have something with that front.

He may only get half the snaps, but besides potentially losing Floyd & Ebukam, we're also likely losing our DE edge in Fox.
Retaining Floyd is a must imo, otherwise this won't be the same defense.
With a long-term deal, the Rams can effectively slash Floyds 2021 CAP hit, next year when all the new TV revenue kicks in, paying future debt will be much easier. jmo.