3 projected free agent edge rushers the LA Rams must sign

Aldon does Dallas

For starters, there is Dallas Cowboys’ outside linebacker Aldon Smith, who (much like the Rams’ Floyd) proved his worth last season by putting up good numbers himself.  He did so while playing on a Cowboys team whose defense was none-too-stellar.

What about that Dallas defense? Can you say train wreck?

Smith was one of the lone bright spots in what was a historically horrific defense. He played in all 16 games and racked up 48 solo tackles, five quarterback sacks, 20 quarterback pressures, and 14 QB-hits. He was on a one-year $2.5 million prove-it deal with Dallas, and I’m thinking he could be reeled in for just a small bump in that amount.

This was his prove-it comeback season, after missing almost five seasons out of the league, and he showcased what he can do. He’d make a nice pass-rushing piece to add to the Rams defense. The biggest question mark was how well would he hold up over a 16 game season, and those questions remain.

In the first three games of the 2020 NFL Season, he amassed four quarterback sacks, 20 tackles, three tackles for a loss, six quarterback hits, and defended one pass. For the remaining 13 games, he had one sack, 28 tackles, eight quarterback hits, and one tackle for a loss. In short, he faded fast.

In the Rams defense, he will have a chance to prove that he still ‘has it’.  And since the Rams employ a 3-4 defense, they can also dip into the free-agent talent pool of defensive ends to find an edge rusher, too.