4 options for LA Rams edge rusher: re-sign, sign, draft, or promote?

By Bret Stuter | Feb 5, 2020

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: Linebacker Dante Fowler #56 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after sacking quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers during the game at Levi's Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

3 of 5

Los Angeles Rams GM Les Snead

(Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

Sign a Free Agent

The LA Rams may not be able to attract or afford the bidding war which is almost certain to erupt as soon as the 2020 NFL Free Agency season begins. So the team will likely need to focus on other outside linebacker edge rushers this year. Fortunately for the LA Rams, there are many edge rushers to choose from in this free agent market, and several ranked near or higher than Fowler by PFF.

More from Rams Draft

This season, the market will swell with the likes of OLB Jadeveon Clowney, OLB Shaquil Barrett, OLB Bud Dupree, and OLB Matt Judon. If the Rams would like to bargain hunt, they could explore the likes of OLB Jason Pierre-Paul, OLB Vic Beasley, OLB Yannick Ngakoue, OLB Marcus Golden, OLB Jordan Jenkins, OLB Bruce Irvin, OLB Terrell Suggs, OLB Aaron Lynch, OLB De’Vondre Campbell, OLB Kyler Fackrell ,and even OLB Kamu Grugier-Hill.

We did an expose on a quality outside linebacker from the Green Bay Packers, Nick Perry, who was injured in 2018 and did not heal in time to catch on a roster in 2019. In that article, we pointed out that Perry had averaged 9.0 sacks and 45 tackles over the 2016 and 2017 NFL seasons.

The free agent market will rush to pay a select few free agents instantly out of the gate. If the Rams show constraint, and wait for free agency to become a buyer’s market, the team can find tremendous value. There are plenty of free agents hitting the edge market in 2020. Only the LA Rams offer an opportunity to play alongside DT Aaron Donald.

Home/Rams Free Agency