Rams confident in Kiser

Rams have ‘more work to do’ at LB but are confident in Micah Kiser

Rams have 'more work to do' at LB but are confident in Micah Kiser

One of the least surprising moves of the Los Angeles Rams’ offseason thus far was the release of linebacker Mark Barron. He’s battled injuries the last two seasons, isn’t a great fit in a 3-4 defense and allowed the Rams to free up $6.33 million in cap space.

Combine those factors with Los Angeles’ 23rd-ranked run defense in 2018 and the writing was essentially on the walls. Barron’s release doesn’t, however, mean he’s completely done in L.A. Les Snead said this week that the team is open to bringing him back after letting him gauge his value in free agency.

“We are going to continue to monitor his market, right? We felt like by releasing him he would be able to get a sense of — and he deserved that, was as healthy as he’s been at the end of the year, and had gotten over some of the surgeries and was playing well — what is his value today?” Snead said, via the team’s official site.

As of now, Cory Littleton will be one of the starting inside linebackers, but the other spot is still up for grabs. Ramik Wilson and Bryce Hager are also free agents, leaving Micah Kiser as the likeliest candidate to replace Barron.

Snead expressed some confidence in the 2018 fifth-round pick, saying the Rams have him in the mix if they don’t fill Barron’s spot in free agency or the draft.

“If we can’t, we drafted people,” Snead said in regards to bringing Barron back. “Micah Kiser was drafted. And you always probably have to add depth.”

Snead did admit “there’s probably a little more work to do” at linebacker this offseason, but having Kiser on the roster is a nice fallback plan. Although he didn’t play any defensive snaps last season, he shined in the preseason.

He was also highly productive at Virginia, playing that “thumper” role as a run-stopping linebacker. That’s exactly what the Rams need on defense after allowing the most yards per carry in the NFL last season.

After filling holes at safety with Eric Weddle and outside linebacker with Dante Fowler Jr., the Rams are freed up to take the best player available in the draft, including an inside linebacker. But if there aren’t any strong options at their picks, Kiser is a viable candidate to replace Barron.