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Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

Entering the 2014 NFL draft, there were real debates as to whether the University of Pittsburgh's Aaron Donald or the University of Florida's Dominique Easley was the better three-technique prospect in the class. At the end of the day, the two were the only interior linemen drafted in the first round, with Donald coming off the board with the 13th pick to the then St. Louis Rams and Easley selected with the 29th pick by the New England Patriots.

Easley was known for spinning around stances pre-snap and doing little dances to antagonize SEC offensive linemen. He was playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers. Unfortunately, Easley tore his ACL twice in college, including in his senior season.

For that reason, he never ran at the combine or his pro day, leading to his drop in the draft. Easley also told the Kansas City Star's Terez A. Paylor that he never watched a full football game on his own time before, which then started to raise questions about his work ethic.

“I don’t really watch football,” Easley said at the Combine, when asked who he compares himself to in the NFL. “I just try to be who I am.” In fact, in a further moment of candor, Easley — a potential second-day pick in this year’s draft — told reporters that he’s never watched a full game from start to finish. “I might change it to a cartoon or something,” he said. “I like to play. Just because you’re not watching football doesn’t mean you don’t love football. I have another life, also.”

As a rookie, Easley struggled with knee issues that eventually led to him landing on injured reserve. After just two seasons and three starts, the Patriots cut Easley, which CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora stated was "related" to off-field issues. After going unclaimed on waivers, Easley talked to the Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons and Rams before signing with Los Angeles, as noted by NFLTradeRumors.co.

There, he worked as Donald's backup but set career highs with 35 combined tackles and 3.5 sacks in 16 games as a rotational player. Only 24 years old, Easley still has plenty of football ahead of him if his knees and mind stay right.

As a restricted free agent, the Rams can offer a one-year first right of refusal tender (which last year was $1.7 million) to a first-round tender (which last year was $3.6 million.) The tender differences only matter in the eyes of Los Angeles, who have to gauge how likely a team would be willing to part with a second- or first-round pick for Easley. In a weak defensive tackle class, despite Easley going unclaimed last offseason, a second-round pick may be a fair price.