Can Rams rookie Omar Speights breakthrough to make the team at linebacker?
The Los Angeles Rams have gotten their share of help from undrafted players recently as the team has had to fill out the 53-man roster with as many cheap options as they can get to make up for the hefty costs of names like Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and even the retired version of Aaron Donald. Could linebacker Omar Speights be the next?
In 2023, the Rams got plenty of help from former undrafted free agents such as left tackle A.J. Jackson, defensive linemen Michael Hoecht, Jonah Williams, and Marquise Copeland, center Coleman Shelton, running back Ronnie Rivers, and linebackers Christian Rozeboom and Zach VanValkenburg. It is probable that more undrafted free agents will make the team again in 2024.
TheDraftNetwork’s Justin Melo sees Speights, an undrafted linebacker out of LSU, as having perhaps the highest odds to be the next undrafted player to make the Rams out of training camp:
The Rams do things differently, but former LSU linebacker Omar Speights has a terrific opportunity to compete for a 53-man roster spot.
Speights transferred to LSU ahead of the 2023 college football season after four successful campaigns at Oregon State. He immediately became a leader in the Tigers locker room and earned the respect of his teammates. Quickly establishing himself as an every-down defender in the SEC, Speights totaled 70 tackles. He departs college ball with 378 career tackles, seven pass breakups, 5.0 sacks, and three interceptions.
Speights is severely undersized, which likely contributed to his undrafted status—the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native measured in at 6-foot and 225 pounds at LSU’s Pro Day. Speights then displayed decent athleticism, running a 4.65 40 with splits of 2.62 and 1.58. He also had a 10-foot broad jump and ran a rock-solid 7.07 3-cone.
It helps that Speights plays arguably the weakest position on the defense: The linebacker spot next to Ernest Jones. Rozeboom, Troy Reeder, and Jacob Hummel are the only players with experience. None of it particularly exciting or encouraging.
Melo says that Speights makes up for his lack of athleticism with “advanced technique and a high football IQ”.
He’s not the only UDFA that Melo likes though:
Other Rams undrafted free agents worth monitoring throughout the summer include cornerback Josh Wallace, nose tackle Tuli Letuligasenoa, and offensive tackle Blake Larson.
Multiple undrafted free agent rookies are likely to make the roster. Will it be any of these four or perhaps someone else?
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