LA Rams boast 5 players ripe for Pro Bowl seasons

OLB Floyd

The LA Rams acquired the services of OLB Dante Fowler Jr. in 2018 and then benefitted from a huge upgrade in his production. Since Fowler left for a big payday elsewhere, why not try that again?  Perhaps that was the logic behind the Rams signing up outside linebacker Leonard Floyd to a one-year prove-it deal. That could prove to be quite costly, as Floyd has the potential to be just as good, if not better, than Dante Fowler Jr. on the Rams defense.

Fowler arrived at the Rams mid-season in 2018 via a trade in which the Rams surrendered a 2019 third-round and 2020 fifth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Fowler. In his 2.5 seasons with the Jaguars, Fowler recorded just 14 sacks and 62 tackles.  In his 1.5 seasons with the LA Rams, Fowler recorded 13.5 sacks and 79 tackles.  Comparing Floyd’s numbers, his first 2.5 seasons registered 13.5 sacks and 90 tackles, while the last 1.5 seasons were just 5.0 sacks and 64 tackles. Can the Rams hope to jumpstart his career as well? There are reasons to believe the team can do exactly that.

Right player, the right fit, the right opportunity

From the moment the LA Rams chose Brandon Staley as the team’s new defensive coordinator, the wheels of motion began to turn.  Staley was the former position coach for Floyd when he coached at Chicago.  Floyd is also the only player arriving who has a jumpstart to the type of defense Floyd intends to run with the Rams. Finally, Floyd is familiar with Staley, and Staley is familiar with Floyd. So signing Floyd to the Rams defense was virtually predestined to happen.

Floyd can do it all from the edge. He can cover, set the edge, rush the passer, and defend the run. In fact, he may be stronger at covering passes and defending the run than Fowler. He has a lengthy 6-foot-5 frame to set a huge pass defense and is also entering his fifth NFL season. The Bears wanted to sign defensive end Robert Quinn, so Floyd was a cap casualty. That’s just fine for the Rams, who can convert Floyd into an upgraded Dante Fowler Jr. on the edge in 2020.