With two starters and the primary backup returning to the 2026 edge unit, the Los Angeles Rams appear in good hands for another season. Thus, L.A. decided to forego free agency and draft additions, instead signing three undrafted rookies. Eddie Walls, Darryl Peterson, and Wesley Bailey.
However, many fans opined that the Rams needed depth at edge and should amend the unit through the draft. But does L.A. really need much more support?
Jared Verse and Byron Young each played 75+ percent of snaps last
season, while rookie Josaiah Stewart logged 33 percent. Although Deshaun Johnson only saw 9 percent, he took over as a viable E#4 late in the season and appears ready for a bigger role in 2026. Few NFL teams have four solid options.
Let’s meet the new UDFA additions to the Rams edge unit.
Eddie Walls – Houston 6’4” 250 lb.
Made a trio of stops in his college career, three seasons at Bethune-Cookman, a year at Florida International, and his final campaign at Houston. All told, Walls started 35 of 46 games and logged 177 tackles, 36.5 for loss, 18 sacks, and eight passes broken up.
Good size and length, 33 1/4” arms and 9 1/2” hands. Did not test in the forty yard dash. Walls comes in below NFL standards for athleticism. 4.68 shuttle, 7.70 3cone, 31.5” vertical, 9’4” broad, and 22 reps on the bench.
Played almost all snaps with a hand in the dirt. Played both inside and outside. Best suited as a gap penetrator. Phone booth quickness, good get-off and shoots in low. Shows a few good pass rush moves, jab step, spin, chop, swim, but uses them one at a time and doesn’t have a real counter plan when stymied. Best moving downhill or with a little angle. Although Walls hustles and stays in pursuit, his lack of lateral movement and change of direction skills don’t allow him to run rushers down outside the tackle box. Does an adequate job of getting his arms extended and using hand fighting to hold ground. Good tackler and follows the ball, gets hands up when in passing lanes.
I’m not sure what the Rams will do with Walls, he’s been mostly a down defensive end. His relative lack of mass and lower body strength makes him exploitable as an interior player and with his lack of athleticism, he doesn’t really fit in with how L.A. utilizes their edge players. I can see why the Rams like him as a UDFA though, he works hard with his hands/arms and plays 100%.
Darryl Peterson – Wisconsin 6’1” 248 lb.
After a redshirt year, Peterson became a regular contributor in the Badgers defense, making 30 starts in 50 games. During that span, he charted 136 tackles, 25.5 for loss, 14 sacks, and six passes broken up.
Although a bit short, Peterson meets the NFL size/athleticism standards for the edge position. 32 1/2” arms and 9 5/8” hands. Speed/quickness, 4.85 forty and 1.65 10-yard split. Agility/change of direction, 7.35 3cone. Flexibility/burst/balance, 4.40 shuttle. Explosiveness and upper/lower strength, 22 bench reps are adequate, 35” vertical is strong , and 9’2” broad is good.
Compact build with good leverage and relentless effort. Lengthh is adequate and good strength in hands. The violence in his hands stands out, he chops and swipes blockers attempts to strike or latch on. Sets a strong edge, good patience on RPO, doesn’t bite on fake handoff and give up the edge. Even though he reportedly bulked up to play inside last season, when lineman get ahold of him, they can move him. Can bullrush outside with a little runway, but wins inside by gettng off first into gaps with good contact balance. Stays tight when looping inside. Needs strength work, particularly upper body.
Peterson has a solid, all-around game, not elite at any one aspect, but no glaring weakness. A four-year contributor for Wisconsin in a competitive conference. Although he played standing up early in his career, Wisconsin miscast him as an interior player with a hand in the dirt. He often lined up as a 3tech, shading between the guard and tackle. He always gave effort, but it’s fair to say he won’t be able to make a living inside as a pro.
Wesley Bailey – Louisville 6’4” 260 lb.
Raised in Canada. Spent five seasons at Rutgers before transferring to Louisville for his senior year. Started all 12 games in his final season with a six-year tally of 48 games with 37 starts. Bailey made 98 tackles, 19.5 for loss, with 13.5 sacks and nine passes broken up.
Outstanding testing for size and athleticism. 34 1/2” arms and 9 1/2” hands. Very good speed over distance, 4.69 forty, and initial quickness, 1.53 10-yard split. Nice combination of upper and lower body strength, 27 reps on the bench, 35” vertical, and a 10’1” broad. 4.50 shows good flexibility/burst,/balance, while a 7.00 3cone is a strong agilty/change of direction number.
Prototype frame and length for edge position. Good get-off, hustle, and pursuit. As a senior roughly 50/50 on stand up and hand in the dirts snaps. At times, Louisville moved him inside on pass rush situations. As athletic as he is, more of a power player. There are some pass rush moves in his toolbox, but he doesn’t string them together. Good swipe/chop when attacking outside, shows adequate dip and contact balance turning the corner. I wouldn’t call him bendy, but can change direction for a big guy. Against the run, his high pad level limits his anchor. And he can get lost in traffic. He does use his length leverage, is a solid tackler, and stays with plays to make hustle and back side tackles. Couldn’t find any coverage film.
There’s a good starting point to work with, a developable ceiling, but being from the 2020 recruiting class. He’s an older prospect. At his best, Bailey can be handful for offensive linemen with his athleticism and power, he can also disappear in games. Cleaning up his tendency to play too upright and developing a pass rush plan seems solvable with coaching.
Roster chances?
Narrow path competing with Desjaun Johnson and Keir Thomas, who both coming to L.A. as defensive interior players before settling in at edge. At E#4, Johnson started to show signs of being a contributor last season, playing in 25% of snaps down the stretch and through the playoffs. Thomas could vulnerable, he has not made the Rams opening roster in each of his three seasons, last year suffering season-ending injury in camp.
Bailey has the highest ceiling, his size/length/athleticism profile compares with Rams starters Jared Verse and Byron Young. The highest floor goes to Peterson, was often played inside on struggling Wisconsin team and he gave all-out effort. Walls transitioned into bigger programs twice and showed improvement.
As E#5, most likely a practice squad role, I would ride with Peterson. With his all-around game and toughness, he strikes me as the best fit right away. But his path is narrow, the Rams have two solid staters and two backups ahead of him.
