3 underrated FA ILBs the LA Rams should chase down

Baltimore Ravens L.J. Fort

When a team needs to add a solid veteran linebacker to their squad, there’s no team that produces and prizes linebacker play any higher than the Baltimore ravens where L.J. Fort has been a solid, proven unsung contributor for the last two seasons for the Ravens. Produces? Yes. But as the Rams found out with ILB Kenny Young, that doesn’t always translate from East Coast to West Coast.

But this one could be different. Ravens L.J. Fort is an eight-year veteran with chapters from the Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Baltimore Ravens.  Since coming over to the team from their erstwhile rivals, the Squealers, Fort played in all 12 games his first season with the team (a split year with the Philadelphia Eagles), and 14 last year, recording 34 tackles his first year and 51 last season.

Statistically speaking, Fort was the Ravens’ most reliable inside linebacker last season. He’s a very sure tackler and attacks the line of scrimmage. He had a missed tackle percentage of just 8.6 percent, the best rate amongst the Ravens’ three starting linebackers. And for pass coverage? 49 of 65 passes found their mark, for a completion rate of 75 percent.

The 6-foot-0 232-pound thumper finished last season with Pro Footballs Focus’s fourth-highest run defense grade among all NFL linebackers. Of course, he ended the season with a very respectable 69.4 grade. Right now, the Rams do not have anyone close to that level of production.

This is a solid player who I’m sure the Ravens would have liked to have kept in the fold, and the Rams should definitely consider scooping him up.