8 edge rushes from free agency the LA Rams should invite for tryouts

LB Kendricks

The LA Rams would be an ideal team for the versatile veteran linebacker, Mychal Kendricks in several ways. At 5-foot-11 and 240 pounds, Kendricks is the right size to play inside or slip outside. And with his play as a two-year starter for the Seattle Seahawks, he comes with a treasure trove of experience against NFC West opponents.  Familiarity with NFC West teams is a plus.

But the basic premise of helping the pass rush is the focus, and in his last 17 starts with the Seahawks, Kendricks generated five sacks and five quarterback pressures.  How is he on pass defense? Over that same time period, he deflected five passes. In 91 starts, he has amassed over 548 tackles, 19 sacks, 38 QB hits, and 52 tackles for a loss.

Role model

Kendricks, like most players from free agency this late in the season, is not a player who will compete for 100 percent of the defensive snaps.  But he is the type of player who can add a bit of coverage if the opponent is finding success in the middle of the Rams defense with outlet passes to running backs or depth receivers.  Kendricks has proven the ability to cover in the NFL.

The Rams are not going to find some overlooked stud at pass-rushing at this stage. NFL teams have scoured the ranks of free agency and nearly everyone with a good chance of success has been signed. Kendricks has some value, and to unlock it the Rams will need to place him into the right situations for his skill set. Still not sold on inviting him in for a tryout?  There are three more to consider.