Bills addiction to Rams pass rushers leads to 3rd FA signing in 4 years

If you were like me, you were hoping that the Los Angeles Rams would find enough financial resources to re-sign veteran outside linebacker Michael Hoecht. But per GMFB host and NFL Insider Peter Schrager, it's just not going to happen. Per details that are currently being reported, the terms of the new agreement are three years worth up to $24 million per year.

Where is he landing? He will be playing with the Buffalo Bills. That's right, the same Buffalo Bills that outbid the Rams for veteran outside linebacker Von Miller after the team won Super Bowl LVI. But that experience did not stop the Bills from shopping Rams free agents the following year. After the 2022 NFL season, the Rams released veteran OLB Leonard Floyd, who promptly signed with the Buffalo Bills to play in the 2023 NFL season. Floyd played well for the Bills.

Will third time be the charm? The Buffalo Bills certainly hope so.

Rams DT/OLB Michael Hoecht is a unique free agent. He played defensive tackle in college. He played fullback in high school. He runs a 4.6-second 40-yard dash. And in the midst of the 2022 NFL season, the Rams trained him to become an outside linebacker, rather than his natural defensive tackle role. Curiously, he played very well for the Rams as an outside pass rusher.

But the Rams roster is starting to feel the pinch of a logjam at the outside linebacker position. In 2024, the Rams stuck to a three-man rotation that included Hoecht, rookie OLB Jared Verse, and second-year OLB Byron Young. That meant that the Rams did not mete out many defensive snaps to OLBs Keir Thomas, Nick Hampton, or Brennan Jackson. It could be the logjam at the position which caused the Rams to hold back on extending Hoecht, as the team would like to see how a younger player handles an increased workload.

The Rams have to feel confident in starting edge rusher Byron Young and Jared Verse in 2025. But will the Rams simply ask for more from the other edge rushers? Or will the Rams look to add more talent via the 2025 NFL Draft?

While losing veteran OLB Michael Hoecht may disappoint more than a few Rams fans, it should come as no surprise. The Rams had diminished his role, and were unlikely to offer him anything close to the salary he will earn with the Buffalo Bills. Like many players who are signing contracts to play elsewhere in 2025, we wish him well. But we also hope that new edge rushers can perform even better for this defense.

As always, thanks for reading.

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