5 mesmerizing red-hot position battles for the Rams in 2024

IV: Edge Rusher rotation

After the dust settled from the 2024 NFL Draft, the LA Rams pass rush seems to have added fangs and claws. This is a far more dangerous pass rush, not just by the addition of two new outside linebackers, but in the overall concept of how the team will structure the players who will be called upon to compete for playing time in this new and as of yet unnamed rotation.

It's no leap of faith to anticipate that the two 'starters' at outside linebacker will be rookie OLB Jared Verse teaming up with last year's sensation Byron Young. And I don't believe that it's any form of hyperbole to anticipate some incredible teamwork in the form of rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske doing in the NFL what they did so amazingly well at Florida State to help out that defense:

But, who will help this team out at rushing the passer in 2024?

We know that the team has high hopes for Washington State rookie outside linebacker Brennan Jackson. And despite the fans disfavor, the return of OLB Michael Hoecht (81 tackles, 6.0 quarterback sacks, 2.0 passes broken up, one force fumble, 11 quarterback hits, seven tackles for a loss) gives the defense a solid foundation to terrorize quarterbacks.

But this team is welcoming back OLBs Zach VanValkenburg, Keir Thomas, Ochaun Mathis, and Nick Hampton as well. Perhaps more important than Byron Young and or Jared Verse, how will the Rams second-tier of pass rushers perform this year? Will any make that huge sophomore step forward to become undeniably productive in 2024? That will depend all too heavily on which players earn their way into the rotation. As of right now, it's practically all up for grabs.