3 reasons LA Rams target OLB Kyler Fackrell in NFL Free Agency

I – He’s a backup with attitude

The first attribute the LA Rams need on defense is to elevate some emotion on the squad.  A bit of fierce competitiveness, not too much, but more than the team showed in 2019. A fierceness that owns the football field, commanding the home-field advantage which will be crucial for the team in 2020.

OLB Kyler Fackrell is coming off a rookie contract and has certainly earned the right for a larger role in the NFL. During his first four seasons in the NFL, he earned $4.4 million. He was a huge bargain for the Green Bay Packers defense over those four seasons.  Primarily a special teams performer, he jumped from 16 percent of the defensive snaps in 2016 to the 40+ percentage for the remainder of his time with the Packers.

Despite spot usage, he terrorized quarterbacks. he recorded 16.5 sacks for the Cheeseheads. But in his contract year, he only got to the quarterback once.  Pro Football Focus (PFF) graded him consistently in the 60+ range, which is good but not showing much improvement over his NFL career.

Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, praised the ability of Fackrell to handle descending from a 10.5 sack season in 2018 to a one-sack season in 2019. But don’t kid yourself. The young man was seething inside, using it to fuel his 2020 season, and setting himself up to earn the respect of the NFL.  He had a huge season playing opposite OLB Clay Matthews, and he wants to prove he can play that consistency. Ironically, should the Rams sign him, he’ll have the chance to play alongside Matthews once more.