LA Rams Von Miller, Darious Williams in PFF’s 2022 Top 50 FAs

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The LA Rams are actually fairly deep at the outside linebacker position and have players on the roster who are absolutely deserving of consideration for a larger role on the defense if the team weighs the decision to all Von Miller to part from the team via free agency more favorably.

Let’s start by focusing on the injured starter who created the opportunity for the Rams to deal for Von Miller, ILB/OLB Justin Hollins. Hollins was the season-designated starter for several reasons. First, he was the most dependable and consistent producer outside of veteran Leonard Floyd. Well, until he was injured in Week 3, that is. An injury that lasted until he returned in week 14. Even with playing just eight games, and starting two, Hollins had respectable production. In 223 defensive snaps, he made two quarterback sacks and 22 tackles. Hollins is the type of player whose performance improves the more he plays.

In the on-deck circle

Another outside linebacker who could definitely make a significant leap in 2021 is Terrell Lewis. Since Von Miller has arrived at the Rams defense, it’s been Lewis who is the healthy-ish scratch in games. In fact, Lewis has not seen the football field in the past six games. Prior to his sudden disappearance from the Rams rotation, Lewis had leveraged 367 defensive snaps into 22 tackles and three quarterback sacks this season. It seems logical to expect that if the number of snaps doubled, his production would follow suit.  So a starting role for Lewis should come in at an estimated eight quarterback sacks and 55 tackles. That’s not bad. So why is he sitting on the bench?  I have no idea.

A final young hopeful player who would love to get more playing time in 2022 is rookie outside linebacker Chris Garrett. Despite a lot of buzz in his rookie season, he’s managed only four defensive snaps, and six special team snaps, all season. That’s a paltry number, even for a raw rookie. So what gives? To be honest, the Rams have been hammered at defensive back, inside linebacker, and a host of offensive positions that have directed the attention of the coaching staff elsewhere.

The team even made use of practice squad Justin Lawler early in the season when the team was a bit shallow at the position.

Yes, the LA Rams have some decisions to make regarding their 2022 roster, and however the Rams free agency situation is resolved, there will be plenty of room to second guess their decisions. But that’s half the fun after all, isn’t it? There is all of the speculative intrigue trying to determine what the team will do before they do it. And then? There are all the Fantasy Football general managers who complain about the personnel moves that the team made after it’s over.