Watching Wesley Bailey, Darryl Peterson grow gives Rams fans a reason for excitement

The Los Angeles Rams may hesitate to put undrafted rookies to the test, but don't tell Darryl Peterson III and Wesley Bailey. They entered the season, one on the practice squad and one on the active roster, with an opportunity to learn from Myles Garrett.

Instead, they are taking his place. Peterson was signed to the active roster earlier this week.

With the defense suffering an outbreak of injuries, defensive coordinator Chris Shula must abandon his blue-chip defensive strategy and rewrite the playbook to feature less heralded playmakers. That's not easy. But it's the only path to success that he has at his fingertips right now.

For Peterson and Bailey, the path to success is a bit less cerebral. They may have succeeded in getting a chance, but the work is just beginning. Players learn through trial and error. LA's newest pass rushers have combined for fewer than 100 defensive snaps. So the error component of their learning curves rests in their future.

Still, getting to see Bailey in action has been an unexpected treat. What kind of role will Peterson have? Fans are right to be excited for their potential, both today and tomorrow.

Rams have unexpected talent in the pipeline after all

Yes, undrafted rookies are still a thing in LA. In many ways, it's the unheralded young players who have done the heavy lifting for general manager Les Snead. It falls upon the inexpensive, value-added crew to balance his star-studded rosters. And with injuries depleting the Horns, the guys stepping in and up are the new playmakers.

Football fans love to see great plays on the field. Sure, everyone loves the stars. But there is a growing enclave of fans who love the dramatic rise of overlooked players. There is something special about watching those rookies ultimately join the ranks of elite playmakers.

The rewards for showing up on game day are high indeed. With LA struggling to determine who, if any, veterans deserve contract extensions, the performances of Bailey and Peterson can help make those decisions. Edge rusher Byron Young is one such veteran whose contract expires, and he has earned top dollar for his next chapter.

If Bailey or Peterson shine this season, Snead may earmark limited salary cap dollars to other positions.

Of course, nothing changes if these two rookies do not make the most of their unexpected opportunities. Somehow, that seems unlikely. Snead does his best work with lesser-scouted rookies. Now it's just a matter of sitting back and watching them grow.

As always, thanks for reading.

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