Rams’ under-the-radar offseason pickup already looks like a major steal

The Los Angeles Rams needed to reinforce their inside linebacker room at the end of the 2024 NFL season. The position was not a strength of the team, and two of the team's veterans, Christian Rozeboom and Jake Hummel, signed with new teams as free agents. The team did not ignore the matter. Rather, the strategy was to attack the need through any means necessary.

One addition to the roster was the signing of former Atlanta Falcons veteran Nate Landman. Landman is a veteran of three NFL seasons who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 235 pounds. He has started in 23 of his 36 games played, and brings a reputation as a run-stuffing beast.

At the time, LA signed him to a one-year deal worth $1.1 million. Now, Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon is listing him among the 8 NFL Players Who Already Look Like 2025 NFL Free-Agent Steals of training camp. And he is absolutely correct.

Nate Landman was an awesome addition for the Rams

Before Landman's arrival, the defense was forced to choose between 6-foot-3, 236-pound veteran Troy Reeder and 6-foot-1, 226-pound Omar Speights. Reeder had more experience and size. Speights has more oomph and was the better run defender. With Landman, the defense benefits from the best of both worlds.

The 26-year-old has earned limitless praise from HC Sean McVay and is calling the defensive plays, as signified by wearing the green dot at practices.

The Rams do not cut big checks for inside linebackers, which is why the front office scrambles to restock the position by any means necessary. It appears that the former Falcon has already earned the starting job, showing up big in run defense in joint practices along the way. While he'll hold the starting position this season, don't expect the team to immediately hand him an extension.

This is a team that added rookies Pooh Paul Jr. and Shaun Dolac, both of whom have impressed in the preseason. The most likely scenario is that Landman signs a lucrative contract with a new team in 2026, and the Rams promote one of two rookies to take over. While that is still a year away, it could compel the team not to release both rookies in hopes of stashing them over on the practice squad.

Let the chess match begin. As always, thanks for reading.

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