The LA Rams have completely overhauled many aspects of their defense. With the exception of their inside linebackers, many of the players who are both starting and contributing to this young and hungry defense are new to the team over the past two seasons. While the team has refurbished the defense for another championship run, what of the players who didn't make the journey?
Well, we know the outcome of one such player. The Philadelphia Eagles signed the former Rams outside linebacker Ochaun Mathis to their practice squad. He replaces journeyman OLB David Anenih, who joined the Eagles in mid September. But with the LA Rams hosting the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football this week, are there ulterior motives to this roster move?
Well, perhaps. Perhaps not.
Ochaun Mathis was a young pass rusher added to the Rams roster during the 2023 NFL Draft. At the time, the team needed to restock the outside linebacker position, and was unclear exactly who might succeed in the position. So Mathis joined the team in hopes of earning a roster spot and playing time.
But when the team entered 2024, Mathis was not able to keep up with expectations. With a roster bursting with young talent, the Rams released Mathis as the team pared down to the 53-man roster.
Why Mathis, and why now?
(1) - The first and foremost question is why would the Philadelphia Eagles be interested in Ochaun Mathis. Mathis is a huge-bodied outside linebacker, standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 260 pounds. While just in his second NFL season, he has plenty of special teams experience, and nearly 100 defensive snaps under his belt. While he has yet to record a quarterback sack, he does have four tackles and one quarterback hit.
And he is only 25 years old.
(2) - He trained for Raheem Morris's defense when added in 2023. As such, he is familiar with some of the core principles of Vic Fangio's defensive scheme, a quality that undoubtedly wrote his name on the short list of potential signings. So it makes sense that he would be someone the Eagles would be interested in adding to their practice squad.
(3) - The New England Patriots had just released Mathis. So the 'when' is a ready-made answer. He was signed because he just hit the market, and clearly, his history on the Rams and Patriots roster made him attractive to the Eagles.He was signed late to the Eagles practice squad roster. So any intel and insight he can offer the Eagles for Week 12 will be rather limited. And as he is just arriving to the Eagles, there is almost no scenario that makes sense for him to be activated to compete for the Eagles to face the Rams.
