JACKSONVILLE, FL – OCTOBER 21: Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive End Dante Fowler Jr. (56) pumps up the crowd during the game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 21, 2018 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Jacksonville Jaguars traded pass-rusher Dante Fowler Jr. to the Los Angeles Rams, with the latter hoping he’s the final piece.
Dante Fowler Jr. was the third-overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. He was supposed to be the next great pass-rusher in the league. Instead, he has washed out of his first stop, with the Jacksonville Jaguars trading him to the Los Angeles Rams, getting back a 2019 third-round and 2020 fifth-round pick.
Fowler spent his first four seasons — including a rookie year cut down in August by a torn ACL — with the Jaguars and racked up 14 sacks, despite playing alongside some of the more talented players in the sport including Calais Campbell, Myles Jack, Telvin Smith, Jalen Ramsey, Yannick Ngakoue, A.J. Bouye and Marcell Dareus among others.
Now he gets a fresh start with the Rams, who have designs on getting to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2001. Los Angeles has one of the best interior defensive lines with Ndamukong Suh and Aaron Donald, but the outside pass rush has been limited. Fowler will now get his chance to be the premiere guy coming off the edge alongside Michael Brockers, trying to prove his worth before hitting free agency this winter.
Was the move worth it for the Rams? If they win a championship? Absolutely. Otherwise, it’s hard to fathom giving up a third and fifth-round pick over the next two years for a rental. Additionally, Fowler has been very limited in his production, which makes you wonder whether Fowler has been held back by circumstance, immaturity or a sheer lack of talent.
Los Angeles is 8-0 and headed to take on the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome this weekend, making Fowler’s potential debut even more intriguing. If he’s not able to get on the field that quickly, the Rams next game is a home date with the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10.