LA Rams: Potential Free Agent Defensive Line Additions

With the news out of Los Angeles Rams camp yesterday that Dominique Easley potentially suffered a “serious knee injury”, the Rams will likely need to scour whatever is left on the free agent market.

This is terrible news for any player on the Rams, but specifically Easley for 3 reasons.

1. He’s a free agent after this year, and if he played well again this year, he likely would have received a nice deal next year.
2. He has a history of bad knees. He actually tore both of his ACL’s in college, and even had a knee injury in the NFL that put him on the IR in NE.
3. He was finally slated to start, and not only that, but he likely would have played a bevy of snaps.

Unfortunately for Easley, Ian Rapoport of NFLN has said it seems to be a “serious” knee injury, but let’s hope for the best. Now, if it is potentially season ending (please don’t be), the Rams will take a look at the free agent market, and these are some of the options I’ve gathered:

Sen’Derrick Marks

In his career, Marks has been a 3T for the Titans and Jaguars, totaling 8 seasons in the league. Once considered a very good pass rusher from the interior, Marks totaled 15.5 sacks in 4 years with the Jaguars recently (lost 2015 to injury). Marks would likely need to make a new transition to 3-4 DE, but he would offer similar juice from a pass rushing standpoint as Easley, and will certainly remain an option.

Jared Odrick

Jared Odrick is a 29 year old DT/DE who has played 7 seasons for the Dolphins and Jaguars. He was a 1st-round pick in 2010, and has 23 sacks over his career. Odrick best fits as a 3-4 DE and would likely offer a body more than anything at the spot.

Arthur Jones

Once considered one of the premier 3-4 DE’s in the league, Arthur Jones has steadily been in decline. Whether that’s due to many injuries or age, we’ll never know, but one things for certain: Jones has been a very good run stuffing DE in his former days. Jones is a 7-year NFL veteran spending his time in BAL and INDY, and totaling 10 sacks as primarily a run stuffer. He’s only played 1 full season, and that was in 2012. His last name may seem familiar, and that’s because it is. He’s the older brother of Chandler Jones (OLB for the Cardinals) and UFC fighter Jon Jones.

Jerel Worthy

Worthy was a 2nd-round pick for GB. He spent 2 seasons there, as well as 2 seasons in BUF. He’s bounced around on some practice squads as well, though Worthy was considered a very good college football player, it got him drafted high and some though he could have been a 1st round pick. Worthy only has 2.5 NFL sacks, though is only 27, and at 6’2 and 300 lbs, he offers a big body to potentially have at the LE spot on early downs.

Kendall Reyes

Reyes is another former 2nd round pick to make the list. He was originally drafted by the Chargers, and played for the Redskins and Chiefs as well, totaling 5 seasons in the league. He’s 6’4 and 300 lbs, which makes him a nice big guy to potentially plug in at DE. Reyes actually has 14.5 sacks and had a three year stretch where he started almost every game in San Diego as a base end in their 3-4. He’s also only 27.

There you have it. A collection of some of the potential bodies the Rams could add if Easley’s injury happens to be serious. Also, prayers up for Easley. Hopefully he’s ok and things work out best for him.