Somewhat surprisingly, the Los Angeles Rams opted to wait until the seventh round to add an inside linebacker in the 2019 draft. With their final selection of the weekend, they took Dakota Allen out of Texas Tech. He figures to be more of a special teams player than a core defender capable of starting in Year 1.
Micah Kiser is likely to replace Mark Barron next to Cory Littleton, but he played zero defensive snaps last season. With Kiser a relative unknown and Littleton being a free agent in 2020, linebacker could be a significant need for the Rams.
That’s why Thor Nystrom of Rotoworld mocked an inside linebacker to the Rams at No. 32 overall in his 2020 mock draft. He has them selecting Oregon’s Troy Dye in Round 1.
The Rams, suffering from limited draft capital, failed to address their linebacking need until the seventh round, when they selected Dakota Allen. Dye will jump into Round 1 if he improves upon last year. He’s speedy and versatile, exactly what the NFL wants out of its linebacker prospects.
The order of this mock draft was determined by Mike Clay’s projections for ESPN, in which the Rams are predicted to have the best record.
Dye would be a nice addition to the defense, especially if Kiser doesn’t pan out or Littleton leaves in free agency. He’s got the requisite size at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds but is also a fluid athlete who can cover ground in a hurry.
He looks to be a first-round pick in 2020 assuming he continues to play at a high level.
