It seems like every year we have a couple of players making a position switch on defense. They don’t always work out for fantasy production, but this next guy should thrive. Michael Hoecht is an EDGE rusher for the Los Angeles Rams. Hoecht started the 2022 season as a rotational interior defensive lineman. Once injuries and departures began to pile up, Hoecht found himself starting as an outside linebacker. With the strong impression he left on the coaching staff at the end of last year, look for Hoecht to fill one of the starting edge rusher positions.
Over the last seven weeks of the season, Hoecht would play no less than 75% of the defensive snaps. During those games, he would amass 34 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and nine QB hits. Three of his sacks came against Geno Smith of the rival Seahawks. The Rams are in a complete rebuild on defense. There are no other established pass rushers currently on the roster. They did spend a third-round pick on Byron Young out of Tennessee. Then followed up with fifth and sixth-round picks on Nick Hampton and Ochaun Mathis respectively. So there is at least some competition in the room.
Hoecht has been spending the entire offseason with the OLB group, which tells me the switch is a permanent move and not a flash in the pan. A 75-90% snap share and a returning Aaron Donald will set this hidden gem up for constant success this year. He is going drastically unnoticed in drafts and can be found in the very late rounds.
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