Aaron Donald is one of the most dominant defensive players in the game today. He’s also among the league leaders in double-team percentage, constantly drawing an extra blocker his way.
Teams typically pay when they don’t double Donald, since he makes such quick work of individual blockers when rushing the passer. One way to help him get more one-on-one rushes is by finding a productive edge rusher as a complement.
The Rams had one in Dante Fowler Jr. the last season and a half, but he left to join the Falcons in free agency. Clay Matthews was also cut this offseason, too.
But in steps Terrell Lewis, who the Rams spent a third-round pick on this year. The promising pass rusher out of Alabama dealt with injuries during his college career, but if healthy, he can be an instant contributor for the Rams.
Having Donald on the same defensive line will help, but Lewis hopes he can provide some assistance for Donald, too.
“I know that I won’t be able to be double teamed and I’ll kind of take the pressure off of him. So, I think it’ll be something that we can both benefit off of, being able to contribute and help him, take a load off of him, and he take a load off of me,” Lewis said after the draft.
Lewis will first have to earn a starting job at outside linebacker. He’ll be competing with Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Samson Ebukam for the spot opposite presumed starter Leonard Floyd.
Lewis shouldn’t be ruled out as a Week 1 starter, but the altered offseason won’t do him any favors, either. The veterans on the roster have a leg-up on him already as a result.