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NFL free agency 2019: Top 50 available players

By Conor Myles

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 31: Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) lines up before the snap during the NFL game between the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans on December 31, 2017, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 31: Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) lines up before the snap during the NFL game between the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans on December 31, 2017, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 12: Los Angeles Rams linebacker Dante Fowler (56) raises hands during the NFC Divisional Football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams on January 12, 2019 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 12: Los Angeles Rams linebacker Dante Fowler (56) raises hands during the NFC Divisional Football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams on January 12, 2019 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

40. Dante Fowler Jr., OLB

Fowler made his way to Super Bowl 53 with the Los Angeles Rams after the Rams acquired him for a third-round pick from the Jacksonville Jaguars just before the 2018 the NFL trade deadline. Fowler’s impact has been on display since joining Los Angeles due in large part to the transition to 3-4 outside linebacker.

Fowler struggled to live up to the hype of being the third overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, especially after missing his entire rookie season to a torn ACL. Fowler ended his Jacksonville tenure with 14 sacks as a 4-3 defensive end in 39 games, which isn’t awful, but not what the Jaguars expected from him. Fowler’s impact with the Rams was on display in the team’s victory over the New Orleans Saints in the NFC title game when he pressured Drew Brees into throwing the overtime interception that ultimately sealed Los Angeles’ victory.

Since joining the Rams and becoming an outside linebacker, Fowler has generated more pressure with four sacks, six quarterback hits, 19 hurries, and 15 tackles in 10 games with Los Angeles (including playoffs, pre-Super Bowl). The ex-Jaguar was only able to register two sacks,14 hurries, and five tackles in seven games as a defensive end, furthermore proving that an outside linebacker/edge rusher role should be considered by teams pursuing the former first-round pick.

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