It was fairly obvious heading into the 2018 NFL Draft that the Los Angeles Rams were going to take an edge rusher. With such a strong defensive line and secondary, the Rams needed to add a dynamic pass rusher at outside linebacker to take the place of Robert Quinn and Connor Barwin.

Everyone in Dallas knew Los Angeles was going to select one, it was just a matter of when. Many believed the Rams would spend their top pick in the third round on a pass rusher, but it took five selections for them to finally address the position.

Fortunately, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo was still there in the fifth round, allowing the Rams to trade up and select him. Pairing him with Wade Phillips is a situation that doesn’t bode well for the rest of the NFL, given his ability to work with pass rushers and help develop them.

Okoronkwo has a chance to become a starter relatively early in his career, hopefully replacing the production lost by Quinn.

“They see me as an edge guy who can do linebacker things and also an instant contributor on special teams,” Okoronkwo said of where he’ll play. “So, I’ll be doing what Robert Quinn was doing.”

Quinn struggled in the beginning of last season as he transitioned from defensive end to outside linebacker. Ultimately, he finished the year with 8.5 sacks, which is a respectable number, but not at the price tag he carried.

The Rams hope that adding Ndamukong Suh to a group that features Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers will help whichever edge rushers get the call outside.

“I see an amazing opportunity. With the addition of Ndamukong Suh and also Aaron Donald opening up the inside like that. It’s an edge rusher’s dream,” he added.

Heading into minicamp and eventually training camp, Okoronkwo will get the chance to rush against a familiar face. Fellow Rams draftee, Joseph Noteboom, faced Okoronkwo several times in the Big 12.

Okoronkwo said he knows Noteboom “very well,” but he’ll become even more friendly with the former Horned Frog this season.

As for who won those battles, Okoronkwo humbly admitted he got the best of Noteboom as a junior.

“I think he had a great jump from junior year to senior year. I think in the year we battled it out. I think junior year I really got the best of him,” Okoronkwo said. “Senior year, he was like a whole different player. I saw him grow a lot in a year.”

Needless to say, training camp is going to be a lot of fun with these rookies squaring off in pass-rushing drills.