LA Rams DL talent still overflowing for 2021

True defensive end

The LA Rams were certainly seeking players who could pressure the quarterback, and that is what the Rams saw in the skillsets of defensive end Eric Banks. He is a 6-foot-5 274-pound edge rusher who puts his hand in the dirt and can certainly apply pressure from the outside. He also has ties to LA Rams defensive line coach Eric Henderson, who coached Banks at UTSA in 2016.

Why he could see a larger role in 2021:

The LA Rams have a new defensive coordinator for 2021, and the Rams strength will surely run through the defensive line. Banks is one of several rookies signed to the team’s roster after the draft and he certainly impressed as that hybrid DE/OLB defensive edge role. In fact, his talent was such that the team initially signed him to the 53-man roster. When the Rams needed a slot for players coming off IR, he was signed to the practice squad.

DE Banks is extremely versatile and was once a high school quarterback and star basketball player. That diversity of different sports and football positions truly makes Banks one of the more interesting defensive linemen competing for a larger role.  The fact that he is a true defensive end will certainly help as the Rams will look for the best potential to back up their starters.

Why he won’t see a larger role in 2021:

There is no way to overlook Banks signing with the team after the 2020 NFL Draft. Like it or not, that will place him at the bottom of the depth chart, which means he will need to earn every promotion. While he has one NFL season under his belt, he experienced one of the most bizarre seasons of NFL history. The field for a defensive lineman is very competitive, but his experience with the team should ensure he falls no further than the practice squad in 2021.