The Los Angeles Rams' decision to bypass the edge rusher market in free agency and the draft raised some eyebrows, but with a solid returning core, the team is betting on internal development. Instead of adding a veteran or a high-profile rookie, L.A. signed three undrafted free agents—Eddie Walls, Darryl Peterson, and Wesley Bailey—to compete for a roster spot. But can any of them break through the depth chart?

Let's face it: the path to playing time is steep. Jared Verse and Byron Young are entrenched as starters, each logging over 75% of snaps last season. Rookie Josaiah Stewart carved out a 33% share, while Deshaun Johnson, despite seeing just 9% of snaps, emerged as a reliable fourth option late in the year and is poised for a bigger role in 2026. Few NFL teams boast four solid edge players, so the Rams' unit is already in good shape. That leaves the newcomers fighting for scraps—or a practice squad spot.

First up is Eddie Walls, a versatile defender who bounced around college, spending time at Bethune-Cookman, Florida International, and finally Houston. Over 46 games (35 starts), he racked up 177 tackles, 36.5 tackles for loss, 18 sacks, and eight passes defended. He brings good size and length—33 1/4-inch arms and 9 1/2-inch hands—but his athletic testing numbers are below NFL standards: a 4.68 shuttle, 7.70 three-cone, 31.5-inch vertical, 9-foot-4 broad jump, and 22 bench reps. He didn't run the 40-yard dash.

On tape, Walls is a classic, hand-in-the-dirt defensive end who can play both inside and outside. He's best as a gap penetrator, showing quickness in tight spaces, a good get-off, and a knack for shooting low into the backfield. He flashes a few pass rush moves—jab step, spin, chop, swim—but tends to use them one at a time without a real counter when his initial move is stuffed. He's effective moving downhill or on an angle, and he hustles in pursuit, but his lack of lateral agility and change-of-direction skills limits his ability to chase ball carriers outside the tackle box. Walls does a solid job extending his arms and using his hands to hold ground against blockers, and he's a reliable tackler who keeps his eyes on the ball. He'll also get his hands up in passing lanes.

The question is: where does Walls fit? He's been a traditional down defensive end his whole career, and the Rams' scheme may require more versatility. With five veterans ahead of him, the odds are long, but if he can show value on special teams or as a rotational interior rusher, he might stick around. For now, it's an uphill battle—but that's the story for every undrafted rookie hoping to make an NFL roster.