The Los Angeles Rams have long been accused of not caring for middle linebackers, and in 2025, the depth chart supports this idea. What is shown is a serious lack of Ernest Jones, replaced by two undrafted free agents, Omar Speights and Nate Landman. Los Angeles traded Jones ahead of last season instead of negotiating a second contract.
While there was an argument for finding a high-end option in free agency, the free-agent linebacker market experienced a rapid depletion following Robert Spillane’s significant contract agreement with the New England Patriots. On the first day of the legal tampering period, Spillane secured a three-year, $33 million deal, which effectively accelerated the pace of linebacker signings.
Los Angeles Rams Named Best Fit For LB Kyzir White
But Moe Moton of Bleacher Report believes that their is still value to be found on the open market in the form of former Arizona Cardinals, Kyzir White.
“Kyzir White is arguably the best linebacker available after the early waves of free agency,” Moton writes.
“He’s an eight-year veteran who has started in 73 out of 92 career games and has played his best football in recent years. Between 2022 and 2024, the 29-year-old played under Jonathan Gannon, who was the Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator and is currently the Arizona Cardinals head coach. In 2022, White allowed a 74.4 passer rating in coverage. Over the last three terms, he’s surrendered just two touchdowns. The veteran linebacker has nine tackles for loss in back-to-back campaigns. White has blossomed into an impactful three-down defender who can line up in the middle, on the strong side or the weak side at his position.”
The Rams’ defense has quickly become one of the most envied units in the league, built around four defensive linemen on rookie contracts. Despite this, there was a glaring weakness — run defense. Many of those problems were directly related to the lack of investment at the linebacker position.
Getting a veteran in at the position who has what White has shown would go a long way to shoring up the Rams’ Achilles heel.
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