3 practice squad LBs for LA Rams to poach for 53-man roster

Goode

Of course, we can’t exclude Najee Goode from this list. He is a linebacker currently signed to the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts.  He is also a nine-year veteran of the NFL who has played on four different NFL teams. While never a full-time starter, Goode has remained active in the NFL with big-bodied physicality and solid tackling.

Standing 6-foot-0 and tipping the scales at 244-pounds, Goode is a great hole-stopping plugger on defense, zeroing in on the running back and delivering bone-rattling tackles when he arrives. Despite his shorter than ideal stature, he can show up in pass defense as well.  In 2019, he managed to pick off a pass in just 295 snaps.  Despite his longevity in the league, he has only played 791 defensive snaps, the equivalent of slightly more than one NFL season.

Looking for Mr. Goode ‘backer

The LA Rams are not going to find elite linebackers in the NFL without paying an outlandish and unaffordable price for one. But the fact is that linebackers play that much better in the shadow of All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald. So the trick is to find a veteran player with positive trends who can accept a developing role on the Rams defense. Goode fits the bill.

Not only has Goode been looking for a team to call “home”, but he’s been showing solid positive trending of improving on pass defense.  And adding him to the Rams current roster would be a minimal expense. In fact, all three players listed here are minimal risk, high reward value.  The LA Rams showed that they can make a roster move by signing ex-Dallas Cowboys kicker Kai Forbath. Now the Rams need to waive Sloman and fill that empty spot with an inside linebacker.