Since hiring Sean McVay as head coach, the Los Angeles Rams have been at the forefront of roster construction, using their premium draft picks to acquire the NFL’s top players, while supplementing the roster with lower draft picks, undrafted players, and cheap free agents.
The team was forced to lean into their youth following their victory in Super Bowl LVI due to the financial fallout of their championship roster. That ended up revealing just how effective their player development programs is, and in 2026, it appears the team has once again found an overlooked gem.
Outside linebacker Wesley Bailey has stood out as an undrafted gem, using his natural length to win against offensive tackles and continuously establish dominant positions as a pass rusher. He’s done his part to blow up the opposition, both in practice and the preseason. Having drawn comparisons to Super Bowl winner Leonard Floyd, Bailey emulated Floyd’s destructive ability with five tackles, one sack, and four quarterback hits in the Rams’ 34-0 preseason win against the New Orleans Saints. Plus, he punched the ball out of Ty Chandler’s hands inside the 5 to preserve the shutout.
Sean McVay highlighted Bailey’s play after the game, too, saying he made his presence felt against the Saints.
Bailey has flat-out won the preseason, impressing not only his coaches in L.A., but likely many around the league. If he fails to make the 53-man roster, the rest of the NFL will look to acquire him. The Rams should not let a contender get their hands on a young, emerging pass rusher who can also play on special teams.
The rookie from Louisville was involved in a variety of defensive rotations during camp and preseason practices, showing that the coaching staff has high hopes for him. Realistically, Bailey has a better shot at making the team over more established players like Keir Thomas, even in the event Aaron Donald returns.
No matter what happens, though, Bailey has implanted the vision of his potential into the minds of many. Considering both Byron Young and Desjuan Johnson are set to be free agents, Bailey solved a depth problem for the long term.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Wesley Bailey is making it incredibly tough for Rams to cut him
Reporting by Brock Vierra, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brock Vierra, Rams Wire | USA TODAY Network
