5 Rams tumbling down depth charts during the preseason

Outside linebacker

When the LA Rams added outside linebacker John Daka, he was claimed off the NY Jets waiver wire, and he most certainly arrived in time to fill a concerning and critical position for the LA Rams defense, the outside linebacker position. While he arrived in early May 2021, he was a welcome reinforcement to a position that was quite uncertain in terms of depth and quality.

Since his arrival, the Rams have found that Justin Hollins will start opposite veteran Leonard Floyd. We’ve discovered that Ogbonnia Okoronkwo has returned and had elevated his game. We discovered that Justin Lawler has the stuff of a rotational player. And against the Chargers, rookie Chris Garrett put on a ten minute clinic of how an outside linebacker can change a games momentum.

I don’t want to leave an impression that the LA Rams are getting nothing out of OLB John Daka. They are. It’s just that he is not keeping pace with some of the stars on the Rams’ defense. So far in preseason, Daka has four tackles and one for a loss. That’s pretty good production in two games while the team rotates players in and out of the lineup.

The Rams may only carry four on the roster, which means that either Garrett or Lawler may be slid on over to the practice squad (if they clear waivers). It also means that last year’s selection, Terrell Lewis, is at risk of appearing on the waiver wire too. From that perspective, Lewis likely gets the nod over Daka due to the draft pick invested in him. Daka is NFL worthy. He just ended up among players who are showing more rapid production and development than he is currently.