Terrell Lewis brings more depth to the LA Rams edge rusher position

OLB Terrell Lewis makes the LA Rams edge defense better with his speed and ferocious pass rush

The LA Rams may have found their pass rusher of the future. They picked outside linebacker  Terrell Lewis of Alabama in round three with the 84th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. Lewis is the heir apparent to the spot vacated by Dante Fowler.

In 2019, Lewis made 31 tackles with 11.5 being for lost yards. He collected 6 sacks and knocked down a pass. He stands 6-feet-5 weighing 252 pounds.

He played two seasons at Alabama, 2018 and 2019. There is quality depth on that roster which makes it difficult to find playing time. Lewis made the most of his opportunity last season.

Currently, the Rams base defense is the 3-4 front. They have three players listed as outside linebackers on their roster. There is one defensive end listed as well. Six other players are listed as defensive tackle or lineman.

Expect Lewis to play the edge pass rusher where Fowler played. Defensive lineman Michael Brockers will play opposite him with Aaron Donald in between. Leonard Floyd and A’Shawn Robinson will round out the front five. The interior linebackers will battle throughout the preseason for those two spots.

What others say about the LA Rams pick Terrell Lewis

Joe Marino of thedraftnetwork.com describes Lewis in the following way:

"Features outstanding length and short area burst that is the foundation for his success. Has some impressive reps where he hits a one arm stab or executes a push-pull to clear contact and make plays near the line of scrimmage. Long arms are capable of clogging throwing lanes and influencing pass windows in zone drops. … 3-4 teams should be intrigued by the idea of creating runways for him as a pass rusher to use his length and narrow build to get through gaps and work into the backfield. …"

Lance Zierlein of nfl.com writes the following:

"… hold his ground against downhill rushing attacks. He’s played in just 26 games, so he’s less technically sound than most Alabama defenders at this stage, but he was still productive and showed growth as a player in-season. With more coaching and development as a rusher, he should be able to pair traits with skill to become a future NFL starter…"

Charlie Campbell of walterfootball.com reports the following:

"Lewis totaled 31 tackles, six sacks and two passes batted in 2019. He was a dynamic edge rusher, showing speed, power, length, and some moves. At the Senior Bowl, Lewis had a hot start and had his share of wins in the one-on-ones."

Lewis is a good selection for the Rams. For the new outside linebacker coach turned defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, Terrell Lewis is his Rams equivalent of a house warming gift. Staley knows edge rushers, having coached both Khalil Mack and Von Miller. As such, he knows a thing or two about elite pass rushers.

Lewis should secure a spot early as the edge rusher heading into week one. He has upgraded the defense with his presence on the roster.