After being mostly inactive in free agency last year, the Los Angeles Rams have a chance to be much more aggressive this offseason. With more than $27 million in projected cap space, according to Over The Cap, the Rams have plenty of flexibility financially and could sign one of the big fish in the open market.
Desperately needing pass-rush help, Danielle Hunter could be one option in free agency. The Vikings star is 29 years old, which will make him cheaper than the likes of Josh Allen or Brian Burns, but that could work in the Rams’ favor. And he’s certainly shown no signs of slowing down as he’s gotten older, recording a career-best 16.5 sacks in 2023, earning his second straight Pro Bowl selection and fourth overall. He also led the NFL with 23 tackles for a loss and tied a career-high with 22 QB hits.
ESPN listed the best team fit for the top 50 free agents of 2024 and the Rams were the pick for Hunter.
The Rams have money to spend in free agency, and filling the edge rushing need should be a priority. Hunter’s 16.5 sacks with the Vikings in 2023 were the fifth most in the league, and he also forced four fumbles. Adding Hunter would give the Rams a productive veteran force opposite Byron Young — who had eight sacks as a rookie — with Aaron Donald on the interior. That’s how you upgrade a pass rush.
Byron Young is a promising young edge rusher, the Rams still have Aaron Donald under contract for another year and Kobie Turner looks like a future Pro Bowler on the interior. However, they badly need a complementary player opposite Young.
Michael Hoecht isn’t good enough to be a full-time starter and none of the Rams’ other edge rushers showed enough to earn a significant bump in playing time next season. Hunter would be a slam dunk for Les Snead and the Rams, landing one of the top pass rushers in the NFL and ESPN’s eighth-best free agent of 2024.