Michael Brockers has been a member of the Rams since he was drafted 14th overall in 2012. He’s one of the longest-tenured members of the team, having played 123 games in eight seasons.
He’s set to be a free agent in March, and as important a role as he’s played in recent years, Brockers may not be in the Rams’ plans for 2020 and beyond. He’s 29 years old and was making more than $11 million on his last three-year contract.
He won’t fetch that amount on his next deal, but he’s also not going to be as cheap as someone like Morgan Fox, who shared time with Brockers at defensive end toward the end of the season.
General manager Les Snead has a lot to work through in the coming months, and this week, he spoke specifically on Brockers’ situation.
“What’s his market moving forward? Can we afford that? Do we think he helps us?” Snead said about Brockers, via the team’s official site. “That’s where you got to get this passionate to 2021, 2022 however long we were to sign him. Is it best for us to allocate those resources to another position in our human being? That’s still yet to be determined.”
While there seems to be some doubt about where the Rams are headed with Brockers, there’s no question about what the veteran wants to do. He wants to remain in Los Angeles and help usher in a new era of Rams football when they move to SoFi Stadium next season.
“In my mind, (being) biased, I would love to be here,” Brockers said. “I’ve played the position, I’m comfortable here, comfortable with the coaching staff, comfortable with the standards we uphold here, but I understand it’s a business as well. Understanding that aspect, you never know.”
Brockers had a strong season in 2019, recording a career-high 63 tackles and posting three sacks. His nine quarterback hits were his second-most in a season, as well. He plays an important role, especially against the run, but money will of course be in the conversation; it’s possible Brockers can get more elsewhere.
Free agency opens in March, but the Rams can extend him before he hits the market. But with Cory Littleton, Andrew Whitworth and Dante Fowler Jr. also becoming free agents, Brockers isn’t the only priority.
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