It's only training camp, but a perfect reunion just fell into the Rams lap

The Los Angeles Rams' pass rush is one of the rapidly developing trademarks of a DC Chris Shula defense. While the team has positioned the edge rushers on this team to be even better this season than 2024, there is always room to add one more. And with a young and hungry edge rusher group, perhaps there is room to add a former Rams veteran edge rusher. The best part about this concept is that the Cleveland Browns have just released edge rusher Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.

So, now the question is, does he make sense to bring aboard the Rams pass rush?

The question is simply not easily answered yet. After all, the Rams' pass rush rotation may already be filled with a 53-man rotation that includes OLBs Jared Verse, Byron Young, Brennan Jackson, and rookie Josaiah Stewart. With the team having completed OTAs and minicamp, there is no way to confirm that as the final rotation. Beyond that, the team has other players in the running for playing time, including:

• OLB Nick Hampton
• OLB Keir Thomas
• Rookie OLB Jamil Muhammad
• Rookie OLB Josh Pearcy

With so much abundant talent, is there even a reason to bring Ogbo back for a second run with the team? I think so, as any veteran with his credentials is more than just a player who adds stats on the football field. Let me explain:

(3) Lead by example

It may only be training camp, but when you see out Ogbonnia Okoronkwo approaches OTAs and minicamp with the Cleveland Browns, it's impossible not to recognize the passion and fervor that he attacks every drill with, even in t-shirts and shorts:

If the Rams were content to be an improving team that is not viewing Super Bowl LVX as a goal, then there is no reason to view Ogbo as a viable player to add to the roster for the 2025 NFL season. But this is a team that is likely facing some of the final seasons of multiple veterans, including RT Rob Havenstein, WR Davante Adams, TE Tyler Higbee, and QB Matthew Stafford.

That fact translates into a short duration window to win now. Is the team better suited to hope for enough growth and development from younger players? Or should the front office take the obvious shortcut by adding a veteran who has seen action in Super Bowl LVI?

(2) He forces younger players to earn reps and snaps

Even if you are not fully in favor of the Rams adding Ogbo to the roster, keep in mind that he could be cut when the team pares down the roster to the 53-player limit before the 2025 NFL season is about to begin. But in the meantime, his presence forces younger players to exceed his performance of play before surpassing him in repetitions and defensive snaps.

Ogbo has always been a rotational player, getting anywhere from 15 to 50 percent of the defensive snaps. As such, his pass rush has resulted in 1.0 to 5.0 quarterback sacks. But even without sacks, he continues to generate multiple quarterback pressures.

And there is something to be said about defenses that have multiple players who can apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Ogbo is not going to lead this team in quarterback sacks. But what he does bring is veteran consistency and a willingness to contribute to the defense even as a rotational player.

(1) He played on the Rams for Super Bowl LVI

Perhaps one of the most compelling reasons to bring back OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is the fact that he is a former Rams edge rusher who was on the Rams roster for Super Bowl LVI. The only two current players who competed in Super Bowl LVi on the defensive side of the football are DB Darious Williams and ILB Troy Reeder.

Ogbo could bring valuable playoff experience to a defensive front that has gone 1-2 over the past two seasons. So why did the Browns cut him? It was a numbers game, with a projected fallout of somebody facing release due to too many players competing for too few spots on the edge rusher rotation.

Of course, other NFL teams may pursue signing Ogbo. But the Rams have enjoyed success at adding former players. And even now, the Rams are still linked to trading for former DB Jalen Ramsey. Since trading for Ramsey still appears to be an option for the team, why not get as many of the former band members together for another Super Bowl run?

The key to this move comes down to two questions. Can Ogbonnia Okoronkwo improve the team's projected 53-man roster? If the answer to that question is yes, then the team must ask the second question: Is the cost of adding Ogbo to the team worth it? If the answer to that question is also yes, then the Rams know what they must do.

As much as I'd love to see the team gamble on existing young players and be blown away by one or more exceeding expectations, this is one time where I see more value in a veteran presence on the edge. A perfect reunion just fell into the Rams' lap. I, for one, do not think that this is the right time to look a gift horse in the mouth.

As always, thanks for reading.

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