The Los Angeles Rams cut Mark Barron this offseason, moving on from the veteran linebacker. They drafted Micah Kiser in the fifth round last year as a potential replacement, but he’s far from a surefire starter.
As a result, the Rams will likely be looking for inside linebackers in the upcoming draft. This is unfortunately a weak class at the position and there are very few immediate starters available outside of the top two players in Devin White and Devin Bush.
Below we’ve listed one linebacker the Rams could target in each round of the draft.
Round 1: Mack Wilson, Alabama
Devin Bush and Devin White are certain to be gone by the time the Rams go on the clock, and while Wilson has the Alabama pedigree, he’s not worthy of a first-round pick. He was inconsistent in college and leaves plenty to be desired athletically. Simply put, he’s the next best prospect after the two Devins, but there’s a big drop-off between them.
The Rams are highly unlikely to take a linebacker at No. 31 overall unless Bush somehow falls to them, but for the sake of this exercise, Wilson is the pick.
Round 2: Blake Cashman, Minnesota
Cashman tested extremely well at the combine, running a 4.50 40-yard dash (fourth among LBs), jumped 37.5 inches in the vertical, had the fourth-best short shuttle time (4.12 seconds) and posted a respectable 6.95 in the three-cone drill. He’s one of the most athletic linebackers in the class and is likely to be selected somewhere around pick No. 50.
He’s an aggressive player and had 15 tackles for loss last season, stepping up nicely against the run with 104 total tackles. He’d fit nicely next to Cory Littleton.
Round 3: Germaine Pratt, NC State
Pratt is another athletic linebacker, having played safety in college. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared him to Tahir Whitehead as a rangy defender who needs to improve against the run. He also displayed the ability to blitz at NC State, recording six sacks in only 11 games.
Because the Rams are picking so late in the third round, Pratt might require a small move up to select. However, if he were to fall to No. 94, the Rams would have to strongly consider adding him to the linebacker group.
Round 4: Vosean Joseph, Florida
Joseph met with the Rams in Los Angeles and is likely a Day 2 or early Day 3 target, but he needs work as a prospect. The coverage skills are there, but he has to improve as a run defender. He fits best on the weak side where Littleton plays, but the Rams could find ways to get him on the field early thanks to his speed.
Joseph isn’t among the five or 10 best linebackers in the class, but he has a high ceiling if he can improve in certain areas.
Round 5: Jahlani Tavai, Hawaii
Tavai, another pre-draft visitor of the Rams, fits what Los Angeles is likely looking for. He’s not the rangy ball hawk like some of the other linebackers in this class. Rather, he’s a bigger run defender who plays downhill. That may make him difficult to keep on the field for all three downs, but the Rams subbed Mark Barron off on several third downs in favor of defensive backs like Marqui Christian.
Tavai is worth a selection on Day 3 if the Rams want to improve their run defense and bring in some competition for Micah Kiser.
Round 6: Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington
Burr-Kirven is a speedy linebacker with outstanding production, making a ridiculous 176 tackles last season at Washington. He’s undersized and struggles getting off of blocks, but there’s no denying his numbers and athleticism.
In the right scheme, Burr-Kirven can become an effective starter. He just shouldn’t be expected to be the primary run-defending linebacker on the strong side. He needs to be protected by bigger bodies in front of him as a WILL.
Round 7: Cameron Smith, USC
Smith doesn’t have great straight-line speed but he’s a smart linebacker who makes good reads in the middle of the field. That’s half the battle and helps him make up for his lack of athleticism when pursuing ball carriers.
At the very least, he’d contribute on special teams as he competes for snaps on defense at linebacker. Kiser would be ahead of him initially, but Smith can develop into a future starter.
