The Los Angeles Rams, for the most part, did a great job this offseason with their roster following their Super Bowl victory. They are re-loaded and ready to make another run at the Lombardi Trophy this upcoming season.
Once again, the Rams are among the favorites to win the big game, as they should be. This is a team with a great coaching staff and a strong roster in every phase of the game. However, if there is one area they could be lacking in compared to last season, it is in their pass rush.
Los Angeles lost star EDGE defender Von Miller in free agency. Miller opted to sign a massive six-year, $120 million deal with the Buffalo Bills. While unlikely that he is ultimately paid that much, it was still a huge deal for a 33-year-old to land in free agency.
Miller isn’t your everyday 33-year-old, as he was still among the best players at his position last season. He has shown very few signs of slowing down and is someone that the Rams will miss defensively.
Replacing someone of that caliber, especially given their salary cap situation, is virtually impossible. Los Angeles doesn’t have the cap space to go near the top of the current market for someone such as Jadeveon Clowney. But, there are still some solid players on the market that could help the Rams out.
Over at Bleacher Report, they put together a piece, selecting one veteran free agent that each contending team could be helped by. For the Rams, that player is Carl Nassib.
Nassib was released by the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason as he didn’t pan out as a free agent signing. In the last two seasons, he totaled only four sacks. But, he has a history of producing, as he had 12.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss in 2018 and 2019 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It would be worth a shot for the Rams to see if he can replicate that level of success surrounded by a star-studded defense. Things will be easier for Nassib rushing the passer alongside Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd.
Right now, the Rams are banking on Justin Hollins to get after the quarterback opposite of Floyd. Hollins had two sacks in eight appearances last season and has some massive shoes to fill as Miller had more sacks in half a season with the Rams in 2021 than Hollins has in his three-year career.
Bringing in a veteran such as Nassib for insurance is a no-brainer decision for the Rams to make. He won’t cost much and you know what you are going to get from him on the field. If he regains his form from Tampa Bay, their defense will be in business.
