The Los Angeles Rams missed out on the high-end edge rusher sweepstakes and will now either trade for a veteran or shop in alternative aisles to find answers on defense. Here are three under-the-radar options for the Rams at edge rusher that have high upside and won’t break the bank.
Los Angeles Rams Free Agency Tracker
Top Available Free Agents For Los Angeles Rams’ 3 Key Positions
Sleeper Edge Rushers for the Los Angeles Rams
Kyle Van Noy
At nearly 34 years old, Kyle Van Noy isn’t a long-term option, but worth pairing with the stable of young edge rushers acquired in last year’s draft and any drafted this year.
His 2023 campaign proved that he still has plenty of gas in the tank. He set a career-high 9 sacks and had a pass rush win rate higher than Chase Young.
The Rams wouldn’t be able to use him on all three downs, but on pure pass rush snaps Van Noy can be the game wrecker they need. And he will go for a very reasonable, short contract. Fitting nicely under the cap
PROJECTED CONTRACT: 1 year, $3.33 million avg/yr
Mike Danna
Michael Danna played a career-high, 74 percent of defensive snaps for the Kansas City Chiefs last season and he rose to the challenge. He finished 4th on the team in sacks and third in pressures.
The 26-year-old, former Michigan Wolverine embodies reliability and consistency, excelling in his role by maintaining gap control and seizing opportunities when they arise. While he may not possess explosive speed off the line, he compensates by effectively pushing opposing tackles into the pocket.
PROJECTED CONTRACT: 3 years, $8.25 million per year
Darrell Taylor
Darrell Taylor is a restricted free agent, which gives the Seattle Seahawks more leverage to keep him, but the new regime has yet to move on the 27-year-old former second-year pick. This bodes well for the Ram’s chances of landing him.
Despite limited playing time, Taylor was third on the team with six sacks and had nine in 2022.
Taylor displays agility and quickness, utilizing a reliable inside spin move to evade offensive linemen. However, he sometimes struggles to break free from his initial engagement, getting stuck in tight spots. Despite this, Taylor’s lateral movement allows him to effectively sack quarterbacks, as he rarely gets evaded by them.
PROJECTED CONTRACT: 2 years, $4.5 million per year
