The Los Angeles Rams straight up traded away their chance at back-to-back Defensive Rookie of the Year players in 2025, sending pick 26 to the Atlanta Falcons. What’d they miss out on? Well, the Cleveland Browns snatched linebacker Carson Schwesinger at pick 33, and after just one season, his peers ranked him in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026. Yeah, you heard that right, the No. 93 player in the entire league, and the Rams could’ve had him.
Every Other Team Got a Linebacker. Why Not L.A.?
It wasn’t just Schwesinger. The Rams’ refusal to value linebackers is haunting them early this season. This past Week 1, rookie second-round picks Josaiah Trotter, Anthony Hill, and Jacob Rodriguez all dropped outstanding performances for their teams. Guess what? They all looked way better than Nate Landman, Shaun Dolac, and Omar Speights did for L.A. It’s like the Rams had multiple shots to grab a game-changing talent, but Les Snead decided trading that 2025 pick for tight end Terrance Ferguson was the move instead of taking Schwesinger. Ferguson had zero targets in Week 1, even with a 73% route share in the first half. You gotta wonder if that trade was worth it when you see what other teams are doing with young linebackers.
Landman’s Struggles and Speights’ Sideline Swell
Look, the Rams’ linebacker weakness isn’t some new revelation. Fans have known about this for years. But it feels even more obvious now. Nate Landman, who signed a three-year, $22.5 million deal in mid-2025, is not living up to that contract. His Week 1 PFF grade was a rough 50.3, he’s getting torched in the passing game, and he’s straight up struggling against the run. He even got blamed for a missed tackle. And then there’s Omar Speights, who might be better against the run than Landman, but he’s a total liability in coverage. He’s battling a hip pointer injury and some swelling, with Sean McVay saying he’s tough but they’ll “manage him.” “Replacement level player” is the best you can call him right now. Shaun Dolac had the highest PFF grade of the three, but even that wasn’t considered a good day. This unit is just not cutting it.
The 49ers ran all over L.A.’s defense in Week 1, and while some blame falls on defensive coordinator Chris Shula, it’s a whole lot easier to coach when you have actual talent. The Rams don’t have great linebackers, and it’s showing. They let multiple opportunities slip away to fix this position. As the season gets rolling, you have to wonder how much longer this defense can hold up without a serious upgrade in the middle. This isn’t just a Week 1 problem; this is a foundational issue that could sink their entire season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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