Pro Football Focus Lists Matt Longacre as Biggest Winner from Preseason Week 1

I may have underestimated Longacre in his roster preview last month. I had him at a 4.5/10 chance to make the final roster and he sure as hell played better than that on Saturday.

Pro Football Focus scored Longacre extremely well in the Los Angeles Rams 24-21 win over the Dallas Cowboys in their return to LA.

From this article:

The rich get richer. The Rams already figure to have one of the best defensive lines in the NFL, with the three-stud combo of Aaron Donald, Robert Quinn, and Michael Brockers alone. That’s why when a second-year undrafted rookie from Northwest Missouri puts on a clinic in the first half against Dallas, some eyes start to open. In fact, DE Matt Longacre collected the highest pass-rushing grade and run-defense grade of any NFL edge defender in Week 1 of the preseason. In 36 snaps, he recorded two hits and three hurries.

Longacre is in the mix to be 4th in the Rams DE rotation behind Quinn, William Hayes, and Eugene Sims. If he continues this level of play, he will force some tough decisions from Jeff Fisher and Les Snead. Will he keep Quentin Coples from making the roster? Will he force the Rams to carry 5 DEs?

Either way, the chances Longacre slips through waivers for another stint on the practice squad are getting slimmer. Tough decisions will be made. Which is a change from seasons past and a sign that this team is more talented - if not more productive than the St Louis Rams of recent memory.