LA Rams: 5 players whose stock is on the rise after OTAs

ILB Jones

The LA Rams have run two seasons with almost no nurturing or caretaking over their inside linebacker position. Perhaps the expectation that developing undrafted players into Pro Bowl talent like the team managed to do with Cory Littleton nudged the organization into a bit of overconfidence. However the team intended their track to go over the position, they attempted to draft a developmental player at inside linebacker, waive the player to re-sign to the practice squad and were poached by another NFL team who signed their player.

In 2021, the organization finally was fed up, and committed a far-more valued pick to select South Carolina inside linebacker Ernest Jones.  Although a rookie, Jones possesses all of the attributes that the team seeks in a starting inside linebacker, including the ability to track the offense, be fully aware of the defensive countermeasures, and call the appropriate play. In fact, he has already been calling defenses in OTAs.

In any normal season or defense, the opportunity for Jones to earn a starting role would be less than 50/50 at this point. His circumstances are better than that for two reasons: No single inside linebacker stood out in 2020 for the Rams, which leaves the door of opportunity slightly more ajar for the rookie this year. Meanwhile, four of the Rams returning veterans are all on the last year of their contracts in 2021. For continuity’s sake, Jones would be the best choice.