Much of the talk surrounding the Los Angeles Rams revolves around the roster moves they made on defense, especially on the defensive line. They added NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to secure their edge, while NFL legend Aaron Donald has returned to solidify the strength of their interior.
However, in the midst of those bigger moves, the team may have found another gem up front. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula singled out second-year nose tackle Ty Hamilton as a pleasant surprise following a disappointing rookie season. Shula stated Hamilton was challenged this offseason, rising to the call by playing free and loose.
“The guy that really stuck out to me was Ty Hamilton," said Shula on Monday. "I thought he did an awesome job where
in camp, it was like Giff (Smith), his position coach, really challenged him to play physical, play fast, play tough. As a rookie, we thought he was kind of thinking and hesitating a little bit too much, and you saw that show up on the tape. He was definitely a pleasant surprise for us, for sure.”
Hamilton was drafted in the fifth round for his ability to shoot gaps and cause overall disruption in run defense, eliciting a trade-up by the Rams in 2025. His improvement allowed the Rams to give him a roster spot on a loaded unit, while veteran Larrell Murchison and rookie Tim Keenan III failed to make the 53-man roster.
In 2025, Hamilton played in 14 games, registering 138 snaps and 11 total tackles. Hamilton also played in the Rams' three playoff games.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' Chris Shula names 2nd-year DT who's been a 'pleasant surprise'
