3 shocking LA Rams players who could be traded in the off-season

Outside linebacker

When the LA Rams drafted OLB Terrell Lewis with the 84th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft in Round 3, I was optimistic that the rookie would arrive in the NFL, slowly heal and learn the Edge rusher position, and begin to produce double-digit sacks in his third season. Well, here we are in his third NFL season, and a guy who just learned the position, OLB Michael Hoecht, already has more QB sacks this season in just two games.

Terrell Lewis is a huge and powerful Edge rusher, standing 6-foot-5 and weighing a burly 262 pounds. On paper, that is the ideal size and heftiness to bring terror to opposing quarterbacks. Unfortunately, that has not been the case for Lewis, who has yet to showcase his potential as well as he did in his rookie season against the Seattle Seahawks with two quarterback sacks in just 28 defensive snaps.

Two problems: One solution?

But there are two problems that continue to arise with Terrell Lewis. The first and most obvious challenge is durability. Lewis has been a player who has found it quite difficult to get and keep on the football field. In nearly three seasons, he has played 823 defensive snaps. His teammate, OLB Leonard Floyd, has played 644 defensive snaps in this year alone. Of course, not all of his absences are directly attributable to injuries. But between knee and back ailments, Lewis has been tough to play consistently on defense.

The second problem, and perhaps the more concerning, is Lewis’ approach to playing the position. While he does have the ability to defend the run and shed blockers, when he is engaged in his pass rush, he takes a beeline directly to the quarterback. That is a bad habit to get into, as more mobile quarterbacks simply skirt to the outside, getting great looks to any receiver downfield, or simply pulling the football down and running for miles.

The Rams need a dependable starter on the edge, and to be honest, Terrell Lewis may need a change of scenery.  If the Rams are good with cutting Terrell Burgess and Darrell Henderson Jr. because they are not part of the team’s future plans, then trading away Lewis for a Day 3 draft pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Trading Lewis will shave $1.2 million from the Rams’ 2023 salary cap deficit as well.