5 players who could be surprise salary cap casualties for LA Rams

Kenny Young

Trade – The LA Rams acquired the very promising inside linebacker Kenny Young when the Rams traded misfitted cornerback Marcus Peters to the Baltimore Ravens. The Rams need ILB depth, and Young was promising enough to project as a future starter for the Rams defense.

Young started, yes. But it was nothing to cheer about. Based on the optics, he would fall to the bottom of the Rams inside linebacker depth chart, and yet he is well-paid. That is not to say that he will not be a fit in the right defensive scheme. He’s had a full year of starting experience with the top defense in the NFL. That alone should be worth a sixth-round pick.

Kenny Young’s salary cap hit of $2.2 million is not enough to push back the team’s overage. But that money can add up, and as the Rams not only need to get under the ceiling but build a cap reserve to ultimately add players, a couple of millions of dollars is nothing to scoff at.  This is young’s final season under his rookie contract, and if the Rams do not see long-term value in him, now is the time to trade him.

The Rams do have Travin Howard, Troy Reeder, and Micah Kiser back for 2021. They will be joined by Derrick Moncrief and Christian Rozeboom. What that group does not inspires visions of Pro-Bowl caliber play, it is certainly on par or better than what the Rams have witnessed so far from Young’s play.  Square peg and a round hole. Young does not fit what the Rams do on defense, and the Rams should trade him to the team that can make better use of his skillsets.