The Los Angeles Rams have continued to revamp their roster this entire offseason with much of that effort directed toward restructuring the defensive unit. However, much of this has come at the expense of thinning out their linebacker group.
Los Angeles traded longtime linebacker Alec Ogletree to the New York Giants along with outside linebacker/defensive end Robert Quinn to the Miami Dolphins. In light of that, the Rams have begun to address that area of need with the signing of former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Ramik Wilson to a one-year deal:
#LARams Agree to Terms with LB Ramik Wilson
Read 📰 » https://t.co/HgtoOqAFA6 pic.twitter.com/HXY6ozATnY
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) March 22, 2018
Wilson had originally been selected in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Chiefs. He spent his first three seasons with the organization recording 112 tackles, one interception, three passes defended, four fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble. In the 2017 NFL season, he played in eight games where he made 16 total tackles with a fumble recovery and two stuffs.
The 25-year-old joins the Rams linebacker corp that features Mark Barron, Cory Littleton, Samson Ebukam and Bryce Hager. At this point, Wilson has a chance to secure a significant role at inside linebacker where he played in the 3-4 defense in Kansas City. This could bode well for him quickly in Los Angeles under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips running a similar scheme.
Los Angeles will likely look to the upcoming draft to further strengthen their linebacker group heading into training camp. There are still several players available in free agency that could help provide stability in that unit of the defense. That said, this is still the one weak point in their defense at this moment that has yet to be truly addressed.
In the meantime, this addition of Wilson at least helps provide much-needed veteran depth at the linebacker position while working toward filling the void left by Ogletree’s departure earlier this offseason.
