Although the Los Angeles Rams have experienced some turnover on defense recently, they managed to keep a familiar face around in Dante Fowler Jr. this offseason.
Los Angeles was in dire need of a stronger presence on the edge during the 2018 NFL season. As a result, the Rams acquired Fowler from the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had been in the final year of his rookie deal.
There was plenty of speculation regarding Fowler’s future before both sides were able to hash out a one-year deal for the 2019 NFL season. It seems he is now determined to prove that he can be a long-term solution.
According to Myles Simmons of the team’s official website, Fowler is hoping to provide the Rams with plenty of bang for their buck for years to come:
“Well I knew for the first few weeks — really, that first month when I was here — that this was a perfect fit for me, and a perfect team for me,” Fowler said. “You know with coach Wade Phillips and his scheme — I was watching his scheme growing up as a kid. And actually when I got drafted, I was a hybrid linebacker-pass rusher. I wasn’t used like that in Jacksonville for my first four years.”
“And I always knew what I had and all that stuff. I knew what was my best abilities and things like that. And when I got here, it just felt like everything I was asking for — it was like my wishes were being granted. So this is a great place with beautiful people, beautiful workers, and a great coaching staff that I was begging for and I couldn’t ask much more from.”
“So I’m gonna be honest with you,” Fowler continued, “I’m just gonna go out there and bust my tail, try to be the best player I can be on and off the field so I can try to figure out a way to stay here in L.A.”
It is always promising to see talented, young players starting to buy fully into the team culture. The Rams have seemingly made it a point to provide second opportunities for those like Fowler that struggled early on and are now looking to thrive under the best possible circumstances in Los Angeles.
The 24-year-old has been unable to follow through on the hype of being a former No. 3 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Fortunately, Fowler has an opportunity to spark a potential resurgence in 2019.
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