Kenny Young had been the Rams’ best linebacker this season – which admittedly isn’t saying much, considering the play Los Angeles has gotten out of that position in recent weeks. That’s what makes their decision to trade Young to the Broncos for a late-round pick swap in 2024 so surprising.
The move leaves Los Angeles thin at linebacker, with only Troy Reeder, Ernest Jones and Travin Howard on the active roster. Reeder had his worst game of the season on Sunday, Jones is a rookie with minimal experience and Howard has played 10 snaps on defense in 2021.
It’s an inexperienced and underwhelming group that desperately needs help, not subtractions. Young was at least steady and reliable in the middle of the defense, proving to be a leader, too.
So with Young gone, what is the Rams’ plan at linebacker?
Most likely, Jones is going to get his shot at starting. The rookie has only played 45 snaps this season, all of which came in three games, struggling to carve out a role. And when he has gotten on the field, he’s failed to impress.
But with Young out of the picture, the Rams have almost no choice but to give Jones a chance. He’s a smart linebacker who knows how to find the ball, especially against the run. He still needs plenty of work in coverage and shouldn’t be thrust into a full-time starting role right away, but he’s not getting any better on the bench.
Another possibility is that Howard will see more snaps in Young’s place, since he’s a somewhat similar player. He’s a former college safety who transitioned to linebacker, so he’s familiar with playing in space and dropping back into coverage. But again, he’s only played 10 snaps, and that came during the Rams’ blowout win over the Giants.
Lastly, another move could be coming. The Rams saved $3 million by restructuring Rob Havenstein’s contract and now clear about $1.3 million by trading Young, giving them about $5 million in cap space.
The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 2, so it won’t be long before we find out if dealing Young was part of a bigger plan to acquire a better player. But for now, it leaves the Rams thin and hurting even more for talent at inside linebacker.
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