The Rams have been one of the most successful teams in the NFL at finding draft class steals lately, including when the draft is over. But after signing 18 undrafted free agents in 2025, only one cracked the final roster and he’s in a group of four that is made up entirely of undrafted NFL players: Linebacker Shaun Dolac.
Will Dolac be the latest Rams (un)draft steal?
In a post for OvertheCap.com, site owner Jason Fitzgerald points out that L.A.’s 5.6% retention rate of undrafted rookies on the final roster is tied for the second-lowest rate in the NFL this year. This is not necessarily a bad thing! The Rams had an easier time getting undrafted players onto the roster in the past because they had more holes to fill and they had less money to spend.
This “retention rate” is in no way a condemnation or praise of any team in particular, it’s just a stat and that’s all we can take from it:
- Cowboys, 0% (0/9)
- Raiders, 0% (0/20)
- Rams, 5.6% (1/18)
- Titans, 5.6% (1/18)
- Dolphins, 5.9% (1/19)
- Saints, 6.7% (1/15)
The Rams signed 18 undrafted free agents, including Dolac, and he was the only one to make the initial 53-man roster. Others could join him in a short period of time; of the 17 other undrafted free agents, 8 made the practice squad and 7 of them are still on it:
- WR Tru Edwards
- WR Brennan Presley
- G Wyatt Bowles
- TE Mark Redman
- ED Jamil Muhammad
- DL Bill Norton
- S Nate Valcarcel
Dolac is a backup linebacker alongside former UDFA Troy Reeder, waiting for opportunities behind former UDFAs Nate Landman and Omar Speights. Chris Shula has said that Dolac is ready to play when needed:
“It was really early on [that Dolac picked up the defense]. He picked it up very fast. He can process, he thinks, he runs to the ball, he can tackle and then in the preseason games he did an excellent job as well,” Shula said. “He’s just been a consistent guy from the jump and a guy that fits in well here. Obviously, [he] helps on special teams and if he had to play on defense, we wouldn’t have any hesitation at all.”
Other UDFAs on L.A.’s roster include A.J. Jackson, Jaylen McCollough, Josh Wallace, Darious Williams, Poona Ford, Xavier Smith, Coleman Shelton, Justin Dedich, and Alex Ward.
On certain days, half of the Rams starting defense could be former undrafted free agents.
That should be the case no matter who is playing linebacker, including Dolac, and his camp was so good that it may not be long before it happens.
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