2) SECOND-YEAR STARTERS ON DEFENSE?

The Rams have to replace a pair of productive veterans in their starting defensive group in nose tackle Ndamukong Suh and inside linebacker Mark Barron. As of now, candidates to replace them include second-year defenders Sebastian Joseph-Day and Micah Kiser.

Joseph-Day, a 2018 sixth-round pick, was on the 53-man roster all last year but did not have a chance to suit up on gameday — mainly because Suh played 88 percent of the defensive snaps, meaning he barely came off the field for a rotation. As of now, Joseph-Day is one of the players working in at nose tackle in the base 3-4 defensive set. And he has a chance to own that role on a full-time basis if he continues progressing.

L.A. picked up Kiser in the fifth round last year, and he played significant snaps on special teams, but none on defense. He said this week that he’s been hitting the playbook as much as possible to improve his above-the-neck approach.

As the offseason program continues, both players know there’s significant opportunity in front of them — but they also realize how much they have to earn it.