5 free agents the LA Rams should bring in for tryouts

LB Kendricks

The LA Rams’ lack of veteran leadership at the interior linebacker position is a concern. While the team has structured an almost protective shell around the heart of the defense, the team will eventually and ultimately get tested there. Not just once. If opponents find any cracks in the Rams defense at the interior linebacker, they will continue to hammer at it until the Rams figure out a way to stop the carnage.

One way is to create a preemptive strike by simply reinforcing the interior linebacker position before offenses can test its durability. After all, the Rams’ current options at that position have a cumulative total of starting 15 NFL games between all of them. That’s not a lot of experience for a group that will be counted on to deliver in arguably the toughest division of the NFL.

Versatile and productive

One very intriguing player is linebacker Mychal Kendricks. He is an eight-year NFL veteran who has years of experience playing both inside and outside linebacker. Not just experience, but a productive experience. He last lined up on the outside for the Seattle Seahawks last season, where he started 14 games. In 649 defensive snaps, he amassed 71 tackles, three quarterback sacks, four pass deflections, one interception, eight tackles for a loss, and two quarterback hits.

I won’t kid you. If the LA Rams try Kendricks out and he passes the eye test, he’ll be a solid option to start for the Rams. He is a solid run-stopper, but he’s always been a bit gifted when it comes to defending a pass. For an added bonus, he has competed in the NFC West as a Seahawk for the past two seasons. That gives him an advantage, as he has faced the Rams division rivals twice a season. Plus, he is very familiar with Seattle’s offensive and defensive philosophy.

Time to bring some veterans in for try-outs. The worst that can happen is that the Rams pay some travel costs. The best that can happen is that the Rams can find additional, perhaps even missing, pieces to the roster to forge an NFL Championship team.