Changes are coming to the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive line this season after the team traded Michael Brockers to the Lions and lost Morgan Fox in free agency. Aaron Donald and Sebastian Joseph-Day will remain starters, and A’Shawn Robinson is likely to have a bigger role, but don’t sleep on rookie Earnest Brown IV.
The Rams’ fifth-round pick, Brown comes to L.A. from Northwestern, where he had seven sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss in three seasons as a contributor. He didn’t stuff the stat sheet, but he made impactful plays, such as his nine batted passes at the line.
His versatility will be an asset for the Rams, too. He can play outside linebacker, defensive end and defensive tackle, giving Eric Henderson and Raheem Morris options up front. After the draft, Rams scout Brian Hill said he thinks Brown could make an impact as a rookie this year.
“I think [he] could play 7[-technique], 5, 4i, 3, rush inside, set the edge on run downs. I think he could really carve out a role this year,” Hill said on Epsiode 7 of “Inside the Draft.”
Just wait for the reaction from his friends + family after the call 😩
Inside the Draft: selecting @ErnieBIV | @RocketMortgage pic.twitter.com/5SWFbPVG83
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) May 20, 2021
Senior personnel executive Brian Xanders also raved about Brown’s intangibles, like his “power, instincts, competitiveness, toughness.” He also said Brown “has a GPS he can track the angles of the ball and react accordingly off his block,” which is an example of his awareness on the field.
Brown may not have been the most productive college player, but he’s got the makings of a good pro – especially in the Rams’ versatile scheme that features elements of both a 3-4 and 4-3 front.
