Omar Speights was impressive as a rookie, emerging as an instant-impact performer in the middle of the Los Angeles Ramsâ defense.
What does he have in store for an encore?
Pro Football Network listed the 6-foot-1, 228-pound linebacker as one of its top breakout candidates for this season, citing his strong play in the postseason as a key launching point.
âWith the Rams seeking stability at inside linebacker, Speightsâ instincts, tackling efficiency, and ability to diagnose plays make him a strong candidate to seize a full-time starting role in 2025,â PFNâs Brandon Austin wrote. âAs he enters his second season, Speights is poised to build on his breakout rookie campaign and could become a cornerstone for a young, ascending Rams defense.â
Omar Speights Projected to Start at ILB
Speights, an undrafted free agent out of LSU, had 67 tackles, six tackles for loss, and two pass breakups in 17 games (10 starts). He then carried his strong play into the postseason, recording 11 tackles, one sack, and a forced fumble in two starts.
The Rams wound up falling 28-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Round. In that loss, Speights had seven tackles, one forced fumble, and his first career sack.
âHis advanced metrics back up the eye test,â Austin said, âas his 5.1% missed tackle rate was the third-lowest at his position.â
The 24-year-old Speights projects as a starter at right inside linebacker, with Byron Young (WLB), Troy Reeder (LILB), and Jared Verse (SLB), the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, filling the other linebacker spots.
Lack of Size Impacted Linebacker’s Draft Stock
Speights spent his first four collegiate seasons at Oregon State, tallying 308 tackles (147 solo), five sacks and three interceptions in 45 games. The Philadelphia native was named First Team All-Pac 12 in 2022 after totaling 83 tackles.
The following offseason he transferred to LSU. As a fifth-year senior, he had 70 tackles.
A pre-draft scouting report by Bleacher Reportâs Matt Holder projected Speights to go undrafted, in part due to his lack of size.
âHe battled a hip injury early in the season (at LSU) and proved to be reliant on his solid instincts to make plays,â Holder said. âThat didn’t result in many impact tackles. …
âSpeights is also undersized and doesn’t show great movement skills, so he’ll likely go undrafted, but he is worth bringing into training camp. He stands out as a hustle player and shows decent straight-line speed to potentially contribute on special teams.â
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