4 internal candidates who could fill in at LA Rams ILB post-trade

(4) - Elias Neal

While the former Marshall Thundering Herd rookie inside linebacker Elias Neal did not hear his name called out in the 2024 NFL Draft, he has been a fast learner with the LA Rams so far. He made the most of his preseason opportunities to showcase a gritty defensive presence that has resulted in seven tackles and one forced fumble in limited defensive snaps. He stands 6-foot-0 and weighs 227 pounds.

While he is unlikely to get the green dot signifying defensive play calling as a rookie, Neal is a legitimate option to backfill the inside linebacker rotation. While I would hesitate to consider him 'starter quality' just yet, he showed up far more frequently than expected in preseason games. He has a bright NFL future ahead of him.

(3) - ILB Omar Speights

Another undrafted rookie inside linebacker is former LSU Omar Speights. Speights is a 6-foot-1, 228-pound inside linebacker who may not have heard his name called out in the 2024 NFL Draft, but whose presence on the football field confirms that playing defense in the NFL is his true calling. He does it all and does it well. He racked up 11 tackles, is a bone-crushing tackler on special teams, and shoulders the burden of running the defense like a fish takes to water or a bird takes to the air.

It's his natural element.

Pro Football Focus seems to agree, assigning him an overall grade of 90.6 for his preseason work. I cannot recall ever seeing an undrafted rookie score that highly. But this was no mistake, Speights has the aura of throwback Rams linebackers, the kind who love to play in any weather, He is a rookie, which works against him. But if Jones is traded, he is going to earn the starting role.

Mark my words.