Tag: Leonard Floyd rams

Los Angeles Rams expected to move on from former UGA LB Leonard Floyd

Former Georgia Bulldogs outside linebacker Leonard Floyd has 29 sacks in three seasons with the Rams

The Los Angeles Rams are expected to release former Georgia Bulldogs outside linebacker Leonard Floyd this offseason. The Rams are also looking to trade Floyd.

The Rams could release Floyd as a post-June 1 designation and save $15.5 million in cap space this offseason. Los Angeles would still have $6.5 million in dead cap for the 2023 season due to Floyd’s contract.

Floyd has 29 sacks and an interception over the past three seasons with the Rams. Floyd recorded 59 tackles and 9 sacks in 2022 for Los Angeles, but the Rams struggled and went 5-12.

Floyd is still productive, so he could be worth trading for, but he is scheduled to have a $22 million or more cap hits in each of the next two seasons. Floyd’s ideal destination is probably as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

Los Angeles signed Floyd to a four-year, $64 million contract after the 2020 NFL season. Floyd and Los Angeles won a Super Bowl in 2021.

Leonard Floyd of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Chicago Bears drafted Leonard Floyd with the No. 9 selection of the 2016 NFL draft. Chicago parted with Floyd in 2020 following after four years together.

Floyd has 47.5 career sacks and 338 career tackles in the NFL.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Field Yates reported the details surrounding Floyd’s expected trade or release:

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Grading EDGE Leonard Floyd’s re-signing with the Rams: B

The Rams won their bet on Leonard Floyd in 2020, and stacked the chips in 2021. Was that the right move for the former Bears bust?

Before the Rams re-signed pass-rusher Leonard Floyd to a four-year, $64 million contract on Monday, the Giants were reportedly all in. But it was the Rams that took a one-year gamble on Floyd before the 2020 season, and it was the Rams who were able to retain him. Floyd’s $16 million per year puts him just below Arizona’s Chandler Jones, and just above the deal Bud Dupree is getting from the Titans. So, it’s some pretty heavy money in theory.

One reason Brandon Staley landed the job as the Chargers’ head coach after just one season as the Rams’ defensive coordinator was a clear ability to take players and put them in positions to have their best seasons to date. That was certainly true for cornerback Darious Williams (who’s now one of the more underrated cornerbacks in the NFL), and it was also true for Floyd, who signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Rams in 2020 after four decent seasons with the Bears. In Staley’s defense, Floyd posted career highs in sacks (10.5), quarterback hurries (34), and stops (31), and the stops are instructive. Out of nowhere, Floyd proved to be not only an excellent edge-rusher, but also a highly underrated run-stopper for the Rams.

Floyd had four stops in Week 6 against the 49ers, and this six-yard Deebo Samuel loss was a perfect example of how Floyd can use his speed, quickness off the snap, and grit (not to mention a towel Samuel should keep tucked in!) to limit one of the NFL’s most complex and effective run games.

But when you’re an edge-rusher, you’re paid for sacks and pressures, and Floyd was especially effective against Russell Wilson. This sack at the start of the second quarter in the wild-card round against the Seahawks, in which Floyd just demolished right tackle Brandon Shell, is but one example.

It took a little extra time for the light to come on for Leonard Floyd, but it certainly did in 2020, and the Rams clearly saw it. There might be a “one-year wonder” element given Floyd’s career arc and Staley’s absence, but it’s also possible that Floyd just needed the right home for his talents. But if not, it’s a lot of money to find out.

Former Georgia Bulldog earns over $1M incentive with sack

Los Angeles Rams and former Georgia Bulldogs outside linebacker Leonard Floyd recorded a sack on to earn a major contract incentive.

Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Leonard Floyd recorded a sack on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals to earn a $1.25 million contract incentive.

The Rams signed Floyd, who was originally a first-round pick out of the University of Georgia, as a free agent this offseason after he previously played for the Chicago Bears.

The Rams defeated the Cardinals 18-7 to finish 10-6 and earn a playoff date with the Seattle Seahawks in the first round.

Floyd finished the season with 10.5 sacks, a career high. He has racked up 29.0 career sacks and will be a free agent after the season. Floyd is set to earn $10 million for his efforts this year.

Congratulations to Leonard Floyd. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported his contract incentive.

Following Floyd’s successful season with the Rams, Los Angeles will likely look to retain him if it has the cap space available. Before then, Leonard Floyd will look to add to his postseason sack total (one career postseason sack).

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Report: Former Georgia LB Leonard Floyd signs with new NFL team

Per a report, former Georgia OLB Leonard Floyd has signed with a new NFL team just one day after being released by the Chicago Bears.

Just one day after being released by the Chicago Bears, former Georgia outside linebacker Leonard Floyd had found a new home.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Floyd and the Los Angeles Rams have agreed on a one-year, $10m fully guaranteed deal that can go as high as $13.5m through incentives.

This comes after the Rams lost their star pass rusher Dante Fowler in free agency — Fowler, who had 11.5 sacks in 2019, reportedly signed with the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday according to Ian Rapoport.

Floyd, who played for Georgia from 2013-15, was the No. 9 overall pick by the Bears in the 2016 NFL Draft.

The tall and lanky 27-year-old out of Eastman, Georgia, has played for the Bears for all four years of his professional career. Floyd has played for the new Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who coached the outside linebackers in Chicago from 2017-18.

He struggled to stay healthy during his first two seasons in the NFL, playing in just 22 games. His rookie season, Floyd recorded 7 sacks. Since, he has not had a season with more than 4.5 sacks.

He has compiled 153 total tackles and 18.5 sacks throughout his career.

Congrats to Floyd his new big money contract.