The Rams will have two new starting outside linebackers next season after losing Dante Fowler Jr. in free agency and cutting Clay Matthews, who still remains available. They filled one of the voids by signing Leonard Floyd, but the other spot remains very much up in the air.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though.

For as little proven talent as L.A. has opposite Floyd on the weakside, there’s also a lot of upside in the young players who will be competing for the job. In fact, the competition at outside linebacker will be one of the most exciting on the roster this summer and will go a long way toward determining how successful the Rams defense will be.

The primary candidates are Samson Ebukam, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Terrell Lewis. Jachai Polite and Natrez Patrick could also be in the mix, but Ebukam, Okoronkwo and Lewis will have the best chance to start.

Ebukam is the only one who’s ever played significant snaps in the NFL, serving as a starter in 2018 and briefly in 2019 when Matthews was out. Okoronkwo had 1.5 sacks on just 115 defensive snaps (10%), while Lewis obviously enters as a rookie.

So who has the edge in this position battle? Right now, it has to be Ebukam. In an offseason where players have yet to get on the field and can’t even be in the team facilities, veterans have an advantage over less proven players.

That puts Lewis at a severe disadvantage, because he’ll not only have to transition from college to the NFL, but also learn an entirely new defense at the same time. Sure, Ebukam and Okoronkwo are also entering their first season under Brandon Staley, but it’s still a 3-4 scheme and they’ve been in the NFL for two-plus years now.

What makes this competition so intriguing is the potential that each player boasts. Ebukam is the most well-rounded of the bunch, showing potential as a pass rusher but also prowess as a run defender. Last season, Ebukam had as many defensive stops as DeMarcus Lawrence, who was a full-time player for the Cowboys.

Okoronkwo might have the highest ceiling as a pure pass rusher, showing a good repertoire of moves in limited action last year. While somewhat undersized for the position, Okoronkwo makes use of his quickness and pass-rush counters when trying to get to the quarterback.

Take a look at this spin he used against D.J. Humphries last year en route to a near-sack. He’s rushing from the top of the screen.

And then there’s Lewis, whose potential is sky high after an injury-plagued career at Alabama. Some believed he would’ve been a first-round talent if not for injuries, which makes him a high-upside player in Round 3.

He’s on the bigger size and possesses excellent length with an 83-inch wingspan. That’s a trait Staley covets and one that should help him get on the field early. But again, he has to stay healthy, which he was unable to do at Alabama.

Here are a few plays from his 2017 season with the Crimson Tide, drawing a comparison to Leonard Floyd from Justis Mosqueda.

There’s a ton of potential within this group, and the Rams have several good options to start opposite Floyd. But each player’s floor is also relatively low, given their inexperience and lack of production in the NFL up to this point.