As part of theRams.com’s preview coverage leading into this year’s draft, we’ll be taking a look at each position on the team’s roster.
We continue with the inside linebacker position.
Why it’s likely viewed by analysts as a position of need
Inside linebacker was addressed in the second and later waves of free agency with the signing of Nate Landman and re-signing Troy Reeder, but both players are on one-year deals. The Rams also had a pair of departures at the position in Christian Rozeboom, who signed with the Panthers in free agency, and Jacob Hummel, who signed with the Ravens.
Omar Speights, a 2024 undrafted free agent signee who made last season’s initial 53-man roster, is back. So while Los Angeles has a trio of players in the fold with starting experience, having two of them playing on contracts that only run through the 2025 season – not to mention the attrition at the position with the losses of Rozeboom and Hummel – could be enough of a reason to invest in the position, even if for depth purposes.
Current inside linebackers on the roster
Tony Fields II, Landman, Elias Neal, Reeder and Speights.
Fields and Neal signed reserve/future contracts to remain on the team’s offseason roster earlier this offseason.
Projected names
UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger and Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell come up often in mock drafts at No. 26 overall.
Beyond that pick point, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler recently had the Rams taking Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman at No. 101 overall in the third round; Bleacher Report’s scouting department had Stutsman going to the Rams in the same round but 11 picks earlier in their recent three-round mock.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has Campbell at No. 9 in his most recent overall Top 50 prospect rankings, which would put him as the No. 1 inside linebacker. Schwesinger is No. 44 overall, and the No. 2 inside linebacker based on the order of those rankings.
Los Angeles’ 2025 Draft Picks:
- Round 1: No. 26 overall
- Round 3: No. 90 overall
- Round 3: No. 101 overall (special compensatory)
- Round 4: No. 127 overall
- Round 6: No. 190 overall (from Atlanta Falcons)
- Round 6: No. 195 overall (from Pittsburgh Steelers)
- Round 6: No. 201 overall
- Round 6: No. 202 overall (from Chicago Bears in Jonah Jackson trade)
