Former Rams draft pick without a job deserves a training camp invite

Some of the over-30 crowd have learned one of life's most difficult lessons: You can't go home again (via Thomas Wolfe circa 1940). Whether that applies to college graduates who want to return to a simpler time or military veterans who need a safe haven from a troubled world around them, returning home is never the same because we have changed. But don't try to teach those life lessons to the Los Angeles Rams.

This is a team that has repeatedly rolled out the welcome mate for former players who, now older and wiser, are content to return to the team where they first experienced life in the NFL. The team has welcomed back veteran ILB Troy Hill, DB Darious Williams, and even DB Ahkello Witherspoon with open arms.

So the pattern is already established. Now, let's open the floor for other potential homecoming candidates.

From the edge of unemployment back to edge rusher

Once selected in Round 5 of the 2018 NFL Draft with the 160th overall pick, outside linebacker/defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo has perfected the art of a highly productive rotational player. After spending his rookie season on the practice squad, he has played more than a 53 percent stake of the defensive snaps, and never played fewer than a 17 percent stake, Ogbo has never failed to sack a quarterback, get at least one tackle for a loss, record less than seven tackles, or pressure quarterbacks fewer than four times.

In short, he may have made a career out of coming in off the bench, but when he does, he has been an effective and efficient player.

Having just turned 30 years old, it's a bit of a surprise to find that Ogbo is entering his eighth NFL season, but still awaiting a chance to play. He played one season for the Houston Texans and the last two seasons for the Cleveland Browns. While he never achieved a Pro Bowl level of play, he did rack up 54 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, and 7.5 quarterback sacks in a rotational role in the Browns defense.

Now the 6-foot-2, 250-pound veteran edge rusher needs a team that is willing to take a chance on him.

Getting the band back together

Believe it or not, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo was a member of the Los Angeles Rams team that won Super Bowl LVI. And he contributed five tackles and a quarterback hit in that playoff chase for the Lombardi Trophy. While he had played outside linebacker for the Rams, he has played the last three seasons with his hand in the dirt as a defensive end.

Right now, the Rams list Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Desjuan Johnson, and Larrell Murchison as defensive ends. All are quite talented. Few are quite experienced. Adding Ogbo to the Rams roster just before training camp makes sense, if only to elevate the competition. And while he has yet to secure a full-time role in a defense, Ogbo is a relatively sure-handed tackler who has a career missed tackle rate of 7.0 percent. But he had two of three seasons in the Rams defense without a single missed tackle.

There is a lot of youthful energy running wild in the Rams' defense in 2025. Perhaps there is no going home for former Rams OLB/DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo. But it's clear that the former Rams draft pick is currently without a job and deserves a training camp invite. He may not make the team. He may not even make the practice squad. But he will make the team better, if for no other reason than by sharing the tales of how the Rams beat the odds and won Super Bowl LVI.

The Rams young defenders deserve to hear that story.

As always, thanks for reading.