The Los Angeles Rams didn’t dominate on defense the way many expected them to last season. With a star-studded unit that featured names such as Aaron Donald, Marcus Peters and Ndamukong Suh, the defense fell short of expectations.
It’s still a good unit on paper and there’s hope entering 2019, but changes on that side of the ball could force a handful of players off the roster. Here are four defenders on the roster bubble heading into training camp later this month.
NT Tanzel Smart
Smart’s chances of making the team took a significant hit when the Rams selected Greg Gaines in Round 4 – trading up to take him, at that. They’re clearly high on the rookie nose tackle, saying immediately after the draft that he could be a key piece in their base packages. With Sebastian Joseph-Day impressing coaches in spring workouts, too, it seems Smart is No. 3 on the depth chart.
He was tried as a starter in 2017, making four starts and playing all 16 games. He wasn’t utilized nearly as much last season, playing just two games. Being a starter again will be nearly impossible in 2019, but a good showing in camp could at least land him on the 53-man roster.