Rams should do their homework on former Cardinals linebacker Kyzir White
The Los Angeles Rams have done next to nothing to address the linebacker position this offseason. Besides selecting Chris Paul Jr. in the 2025 NFL draft, L.A. has failed to fill a much-needed hole on its roster. If former Arizona Cardinals LB Kyzir White remains on the open market late into the summer, the Rams must scoop him immediately.
White is coming off a season where he amassed 137 total tackles in 17 starts with the Cardinals. The seven-year veteran has posted steady production during stops with the L.A. Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen wrote in his June 5 column that he expects White to be a “three-down player” entering his age-29 campaign:
“White is an off-ball linebacker with run-and-hit traits, and he had nine tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last season. He has the pursuit speed to track the ball on the edges, and he has six interceptions, along with 16 pass breakups, in his career. White can be a three-down player for his new team.”
White isn’t the type of player to post All-Pro stats, given he’s a liability in pass coverage. Across seven NFL seasons, he has allowed a 72.2 completion percentage and an 89.2 passer rating in coverage. Pro Football Focus gave him a 32.0 coverage grade in 2024, ranking 174th among 189 qualified starting linebackers.
However, the former West Virginia Mountaineer is relatively solid against the run, as PFF gave him a 73.0 run defense grade, or 50th among LBs. Since the Rams got lit up twice by Saquon Barkley last season, any help in that department is welcome.
Again, nothing about White will jump out at anyone on film, yet he’s the type of player to help shore up L.A.’s most obvious defensive weakness. Considering how little the Rams’ front office seems to care about this position, that would be a win in of itself.
Second-year LB Omar Speights is a breakout candidate waiting to happen. Speights started 10 games in ‘24 and registered 67 combined tackles. Even then, Los Angeles is seemingly putting too much pressure on a young player to have a standout season, when it would be smarter to add some veteran insurance just in case things don’t go according to plan.
There is a long summer ahead, and the coaching staff might feel comfortable enough in Speights not to add anyone else. But if they’re lacking confidence at any point, White’s agent better have his phone ready.