The biggest swing Rams could take at Edge rusher

The offseason is typically full of optimistic but not always realistic plans from fans and creative content writers. Even I have been accused of pushing the boundaries of believability to their limits at times. But sometimes reality is such that a bit of boundary-pushing is needed to keep clearing space for the unexpected reality that awaits.

Nobody expected Round 3 NT Kobie Turner to tie Aaron Donald's rookie sack record of 9.0 quarterback sacks. And yet, he did.

Nobody expected Round 5 WR Puka Nacua to set the bar as the greatest rookie WR in the history of the NFL. And yet, he did that too.

The LA Rams want to improve their ability to get after the quarterback, and to do that many believe that the team needs to add a game changing pass rusher. While several options come to mind, the biggest swing to land a top pass rusher is for the LA Rams to pursue free agent outside linebacker Danielle Hunter.

But let's be quite clear. Hunter will not come cheap. In fact, Spotrac.com estimates that he will cost an average of $20 million per year. I believe that number will come in closer to $25 million per year on average.

Minnesota VIkings DE/OLB Danielle Hunter is not a one-hit-wonder. He is the real deal and has been one of the NFL's most productive edge rushers since arriving in the NFL in 2015. In 2023, he started all 17 games for the Vikings and played 1009 defensive snaps. Over that time, he recorded 83 tackles, 16.5 quarterback sacks, 22 quarterback hits, and 23 tackles for a loss.

So how can the Rams possibly pay that salary? Well, we just finished a recent article on how the Rams can create an additional $65 million in 2024 salary cap space. While not all would be needed to free up enough money to sign Hunter in free agency, it has doable options that can happen now.

If the Rams want to optimize their offseason, then the team's pursuit of DE/OLB Danielle Hunter has all of the characteristics of an All-In move that the Rams are famous for. But the team will need to act to free up cap space for 2024. There is no way that signing Hunter to a $25 million/year will sit well with DL Aaron Donald in the last year of his contract.

But let's save that discussion for another time: