The Los Angeles Rams went into the offseason with plenty of splash, but one need still sits there waiting to be solved: finding a starting off-ball linebacker to line up next to Nate Landman.
That job didn’t get answered in the draft. The Rams had a thinner pick stash after trading for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, a move that cost them three selections this year and a third-rounder in 2027. With only five picks left, no new linebacker was added to the mix.
So as training camp approaches, the Rams look set to sort this out from within. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The roster already includes several candidates who could make the case over the summer.
The most established name in the group is Omar Speights. The third-year veteran and former undrafted free agent has become a reliable tackler and a steady presence, and his coverage has taken a noticeable step forward.
Even so, his game overlaps heavily with Landman’s, which limits how much he changes the look of the defense. Still, Speights has a strong hold on the spot after starting 26 games over the last two seasons, and the Rams have had far worse options at linebacker in recent years.
Then there’s Shaun Dolac, who has a real chance to push for that role. The 6-foot-1, 222-pound linebacker plays bigger than his frame, and his fundamentals and tackling helped him beat out talented rookie Chris "Pooh" Paul Jr. in 2025.
Dolac was also a special teams standout and a spot starter last season, and if not for a late-season injury, he likely would have had a bigger postseason role. He comes back with a full understanding of the scheme, the coaches and the locker room around him.
Elias Neal is another name to watch, though his path is tougher. Now in his third season, he has bounced between the practice squad and the active roster, and last year he appeared on special teams in two games.
Neal’s effort and attitude have kept him in the picture, but he’ll need to show real growth in camp to turn that into a larger role. He has flashed in preseasons before, so he’s not completely out of the race.
One of the more intriguing newcomers is Nikhai Hill-Green, an undrafted free agent the Rams grabbed after he had drawn plenty of attention before the draft. The Alabama linebacker joins former college teammates Ty Simpson and Tim Keenan III in Los Angeles, and he arrives with a background that suggests he could turn heads.
Hill-Green fought back from a season-ending injury in 2022 at Michigan, then worked his way through Charlotte and Colorado before landing at Alabama. At that stop, he showed the traits that matter most for this kind of job: strong tackling, run-stopping ability, coverage range and turnover production, all while gaining experience in a demanding defense against SEC competition.
For now, the Rams’ plan is clear enough. They want camp to sharpen the linebacker picture and, ideally, produce a partner for Landman who brings more range in coverage.
The candidates are already on hand. Now it’s just a matter of letting the competition sort itself out.
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