With two starters returning, along with the top backup, the Los Angeles Rams edge position doesn’t appear to be a glaring need. Jared Verse and Byron Young are expected to take around 75% of snaps, while Josiah Stewart saw 374 last year and should be in line for an increase. That leaves roughly 200 snaps for the rest of the unit.
The E#4 role is a good place for a high upside rookie to gain some on-the-job-training, while learning the pro game and getting play strength in order. Late round prospects would be similar to what the Rams already have, Desjuan Johnson and Keir Thomas, players that have been in the organization and haven’t been able to break through. The Rams roster is good enough overall that they could use a Round 3 pick on a traits-based candidate with a high upside and not be pressured into putting him on the field right away. Building for the future.
Here’s a closer look at five edge prospects with Round 3 grades.
Derrick Moore – Michigan 6’ 4” 255 lb. 33 3/8” arms 9 1/8” hands
Four-star recruit, will turn 24 in December. Moore was initially set to play at Oklahoma, but when the coach left, he switched his allegiance to the Wolverines. Appeared in every game over four seasons. Of those 53 games, he started 24, booking 95 tackles, 24.5 for loss, 21 sacks, and eight passes defended.
Moore has always been a good pass rusher and his 2025 film shows that he’s made steady improvement defending the run. His pass rush game would have to be designated as power-based, while his get-off is just good, he gets behind low pads and drives with long arms extended. His strikes and un-hinging hips are well-timed, creating the explosive force to drive blockers back into the pocket. He goes outside and around the corner less often. He’s not a twitchy outside edge, but keeps low leverage and his hands active with swipes/chops. He uses good head/shoulder feints and jab steps. Against the run, Morris doesn’t play with quite the same aggressiveness, but he is disciplined when protecting his gap. It doesn’t appear to be a serious flaw, he is willing to mix it up, although at times he was rotated out in running situations. On film, he shows good pursuit laterally and from the backside, but is not particularly aggressive shooting gaps A good form tackler that made a lot splash stops behind the line of scrimmage. His stack/shed moves need work as well as setting a hard edge with a clean outside shoulder.
Sneaky good player that seems a bit under the radar. Can a Round 3 prospect be considered a sleeper? Moore shows that he the traits to play in the NFL with a little play strength and polish. Didn’t workout at the Combine due to a hamstring tweak, but looks to have the requisite athleticism on film. Had a strong showing in Senior Bowl workouts consistently over-powering opponents.
Malachi Lawrence – Central Florida 6’ 4” 253 lb. 33 5/8” arms 9 1/4” hands
Lawrence played tight end and linebacker in high school, the three-star recruit also competed in track, earning a shot put medal at the state meet. Didn’t play much at all in his first two seasons (one redshirt), but broke through in 2023. Even though he wasn’t a starter, he contributed in every game. He became a full-time starter in his final two years and over 39 games with 22 starts, finished with 72 tackles, 28 for loss, 20 sacks, and 10 passes broken up/defended.
Outstanding package of athleticism, size, and length. For a small-school prospect, Lawrence has substantial tool box of pass rush moves. Lined up both standing and with a hand on the ground. Shows good closing speed, whether outside around the corner or inside on stunts/loops. Shows good handwork, especially chops/swipes. Above average bend and body lean getting around tackles and explodes flat towards the quarterback off chops/swipes. Has the length to get hands on, even if being ridden. Lawrence defends the run like a linebacker. He’s not a strong stack/shed guy, but does pursue relentlessly. Has the stop/start ability to react and the lateral agility to quickly change path’s and close. He does this both navigating through traffic and out in space. Very good at hustling through open gaps behind plays and has the burst to get there. He appears to take good angles and is a strong wrap-up tackler.
Lawrence was already a draft darling and he really solidified it with a strong performance at the NFL Combine. Round 3 might be too late because of it. Even with the prolific testing, It doesn’t change my grade, because I think he will be limited to a pass rush specialist early on as a pro. He’s willing to be physical, but as of now, appears to lack the power and stack/shed ability to consistently set a hard edge and be a run-stopper.
Romello Height – Texas Tech 6’ 3” 239 lb. 32 1/4” arms 9 1/2” hands
College vagabond with four different stops. Height was originally set to play for Miami, but flipped his commitment to Auburn for two years, then on to USC for another pair, in 2024 he transferred to Georgia Tech, and finally closed out at Texas Tech. Overall, he started 28 of 50 games, 26 of those starts, as well as most of his stats, came in his final two seasons He logged 105 tackles, 25.5 for loss, 15.5 sacks and forced four fumbles. Turns 25 in April.
Uber-explosive edge prospect with a lean frame. In the early going as a pro, Height will live or die as a speed rusher in passing situations. HIs run defense is not lacking effort, just muscle, as he is often over-powered. He’s a chase and drag tackler rather than getting his pads into runners. Some of his problem is that he doesn’t use pace, it’s all gas, pedal to the metal. He does not stack/shed well and is more apt to duck around blockers. He can, however use his burst to get through gaps/creases to make plays behind the line of scrimmage and he also pursues very well from behind. As a pass rusher, he uses his speed, feints, and jab steps to set up blockers. They struggle to square him up and with a swipe/chop he’s suddenly gone around the edge. Loose hips give him the bend around the corner and he burst off flattening out. Even if ridden out, he quickly hustles back into the mix. Wicked spin move as a counter, but no speed to power move to speak of.
A somewhat polarizing prospect. He clearly has explosive, play maker ability as a pass rusher and he attacks every play like his hair’s on fire, but his lack of mass and play strength show just as clearly against the run. I think a great role for him would be the one Michael Hoecht manned a couple of years back. Height can be lined all over the formation as a rusher/blitzer and create havoc on opposing blocking schemes. He also has the ability and change of direction to drop into short coverage. What us old heads used to call weak side linebacker.
Joshua Josephs – Tennessee 6’ 3” 242 lb. 34 1/4” arms 10” hands
Four-star recruit with an 82’ wingspan. Josephs jumped right into action as a true freshman as rotational/situational player, splitting time with current Ram Byron Young and James Pearce, a Round 1 pick in 2025. Josephs played in 46 games with 16 starts, charting 104 tackles, 22 for loss, 9.5 sacks, 23 hurries, and six forced fumbles.
Appears to have a long, lean frame with room to add more mass. Adding strength will be important to reaching his potential. Right now, his game is dependent on his speed and motor, mostly an around the corner speed rusher, but has the tool box and athleticism to develop into a high-end pass rusher. Cat-like quickness off the snap, explodes downhill with his long arms extended. Able to quickly get into the opponents chest, stress the outside, or shoot gaps inside, he can put blockers under immediate pressure and in peril. If blockers get their hands on him first, he struggles to disengage, but with that wingspan, he does a good job of reducing passing windows. Josephs has had some missed-tackle issues, some of which stems from not getting himself settled, a tendency with that speed to slide off runners. Against the run, ornery and willing, needing to work on upper body strength and properly utilizing his length on setting the edge and stacking/shedding.
There’s a developmental aspect to Josephs’ game, mostly dependent on polish and play strength, but has high-end NFL traits. Only a one-year starter and until his senior year, often rotated in on pass rushing situations. He needs the technique polish on countering and taking his pass rush inside and fully realizing how to leverage his length. The added play strength will pair up well with his motor and willingness to be physical, improving his run defense.
Dani Dennis-Sutton – Penn State 6’ 6’ 256 lb. 33 3/8” arms 10 1/8” hands
Five-star recruit won’t turn 23 until December. Made an impression right away for the Nittany Lions, was was named to the ESPN True Freshman All-American Team. Over his four years, Dennis-Sutton played in rotation/along side Abdul Carter, Chop Robinson, Adisa Issac, and Arnold Ebeketie. Started 30 of 55 games with 127 tackles, 34.5 for loss, 23.5 sacks and 18 passes broken up/defended.
Total package of size, length, speed, agility, and toughness. Played both as a standing edge and a hand-on-the-ground defensive end. As well as he tested, film shows his pass rush to be linear and not particularly explosive. He shows power and decent jolt in his punch, and flashes good hands, but doesn’t appear to have many counter moves. Although Dennis-Sutton shows a pretty smooth spin move inside, he doesn’t use it near enough. That tool box has few moves in it, but they are all power-based. Get-off is okay, and he can stress blockers with his long strides, but is too tight to be bendy and flatten out around the corner. Against the run, he uses those long arms and lower body strength to set a stout edge and hold gaps. Follows the ball and pursues well. At times, he can be leveraged by playing too high. When opposing linemen get into his chest, he lacks the sophisticated handwork to set himself free. Did not see any reps where he dropped into coverage. Tackles well with good form.
The best run defender in this pass rush heavy set of prospects. Also has the highest floor. Grades for Dennis-Sutton have fluctuated and after a stellar NFL Combine are the highest they’ve ever been. I don’t think his film shows a future star, more likely a good pro, a “steady Freddy” that is better in the supporting cast. No major flaws, an all-round edge.
Is there a Rams E#4 amongst this group?
Interestingly, four of the five reviewed prospects are really good pass rushers, but on the smaller side, and need work against the run. The in-house Rams striving for the E#4 role (Desjuan Johnson and Keir Thomas) are former down linemen, bigger guys who are run defenders.
So in theory, there’s room for speed rush specialist who can help out in passing situations while developing their all-round game. All five are also athletic enough to help out on special teams. Let us know who you like at E#4.
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