Entering the 2026 NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams have two outstanding edge defenders in Jared Verse and Byron Young. Both players were named to the Pro Bowl last season and were critical members of the Rams’ pass rush, constantly putting pressure on quarterbacks.
However, Young is a free agent after this season and Verse will be able to start contract negotiations next season. With edge rushers being the highest-paid non-QBs in football, that price tag might be a bit hefty for the team, especially as they look to extend Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner and others.
As a result, NFL insider Adam Schefter believes that while most people have the Rams selecting a wide receiver early in the draft, the edge position could be a route they’re looking to explore as they seek solutions for the financial puzzle that sits in front of them.
On the Adam Schefter podcast, Schefter went into the thought process behind his claim.
“I’ll tell you the sneaky one that’s interesting on the Rams,” stated Schefter. “Will Anderson, last week, got paid $50 million a year. Let’s keep this in mind, the Rams have two pass rushers that they’re probably going to have to pay, Byron Young and Jared Verse.”
“Will Anderson gets $50 million a year. Can they afford to pay both those guys? Now, I know last year, they went out and drafted Josaiah Stewart as a pass rusher, but you can never have enough pass rushers in this league. And I think a fallback option would be a pass rusher here. And people might say, ‘Whoa, what are the Rams doing?’ Well, they’re preparing for the day that they can’t keep both Byron Young and Jared Verse as much as they love both players, because you can’t pay everybody in this league.”
If the Rams were to select a pass rusher, it’s unlikely they would get a better shot to snag a top talent than at 13. Something to keep in mind is that when the Rams lucked out in 2024 and Verse fell into their lap, he went 19th overall.
Two unusual things occurred in that draft that are unlikely to happen in drafts moving forward. The first 14 picks were all on offense, including six quarterbacks. The second part is that Verse was the third edge player and fourth defensive lineman selected in the draft. Considering the Rams typically pick in the back half of the draft, if there’s any time to select an edge rusher, it’s now.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Adam Schefter names a ‘sneaky’ position Rams could address at No. 13
Reporting by Brock Vierra, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
