The Rams are making wholesale changes at outside linebacker this offseason, releasing Clay Matthews and watching Dante Fowler Jr. sign with the Falcons. It continues what’s been an overhaul on defense, and will likely lead to the Rams leaning on a young player to rush the passer off the edge.
They did add Leonard Floyd on a one-year deal, but he’s hardly a prolific pass rusher. He’s more likely to replace Matthews as the strongside linebacker, doing most of his work against the run.
But who will replace Fowler as the right outside linebacker? The Rams have two internal options already on the roster, as well as a bunch of potential targets on Day 2 in the draft. With few quality edge rushers left on the free-agent market, they’re likely to either promote from within or draft a rookie.
Here are eight potential replacements for Fowler.
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
Okoronkwo finally has a path to a starting job and is healthy enough to seize it. He should get a chance to compete for the outside linebacker spot opposite Floyd, which will mean primarily rushing from the weakside against left tackles. That’s where Okoronkwo did most of his work in limited action last season.
He still needs to refine his pass-rush skills, but perhaps working with Brandon Staley – who’s worked with outside linebackers the last three years – will help Okoronkwo develop into a starter.
Samson Ebukam
Ebukam has been a starter and impact player for the Rams before, and he could regain that role in 2020. He’s an athletic edge rusher with good size and speed for the position. He just sometimes lacks a pass-rush plan and can get erased by the better left tackles.
Ebukam is in line to compete with Okoronkwo for the other starting job on the other side of Floyd, and it could be a truly open competition. If that’s the case, his experience might win out, depending on what Staley is looking for.
Josh Uche, Michigan
Uche is somewhat undersized, which will push him down draft boards in April. However, he can rush from the right side of the defense, drop into coverage and get after the quarterback as a blitzer on the interior.
He has good power in his rushes despite being on the smaller side, which bodes well for his chances to succeed in the NFL. He’d fit nicely in the Rams’ diverse scheme as a second-round pick next month.
Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
Okwara has the prototypical size teams look for in an edge rusher, paired with the requisite athleticism to succeed at the next level. He’s just not the strongest defender, which can cause tackles to bully him on the outside.
He’s also not the best run defender in the class, which will hurt his draft stock, but as a pure pass rusher, he has a high ceiling. He should be a target for the Rams in Round 2.
Terrell Lewis, Alabama
Lewis comes with major injury concerns and his production at Alabama was nothing to get excited about, but with his size and athletic profile, he’s worth taking a chance on. If he can stay healthy and get quality coaching at the next level, he can turn into a starter in a year or two.
Lewis is somewhat similar to Ebukam in the fact that he’s explosive and has good length, but his pass-rush technique needs work. That being said, he could be a second- or third-round target for the Rams.
Zack Baun, Wisconsin
Baun is a versatile linebacker who can play on the edge or off the ball, which will intrigue Rams Staley in the draft. When he did rush the QB at Wisconsin, it primarily came off the weakside, which is where the Rams need help.
Baun is a good run defender, too, proving to be a willing tackler and is good at taking on opposing tackles on outside runs. Baun is a candidate to go in the first round, but the Rams should weigh the upside of taking him if he’s there at No. 52.
Bradlee Anae, Utah
Anae isn’t the most physically imposing edge rusher in this class, but he still has the technique to succeed at the next level. While he needs work as a run defender, the Rams would primarily be looking for him to rush the passer, particularly as a rookie.
Anae is another Day 2 prospect who should be on the Rams’ radar at No. 52. He boasts a good repertoire of pass-rush moves that should allow him to make an impact early on at outside linebacker in the Rams’ scheme.
