rams free agency – Page 7 – Syndication Server

6 realistic free-agent LB targets for the Rams this offseason

The Rams could go after these six linebackers if Cory Littleton leaves.

One of the biggest decisions facing the Los Angeles Rams this offseason is whether or not to re-sign Cory Littleton. They’d undoubtedly love to keep him in L.A., but Littleton enjoyed a breakout 2019 season and should cash in as a free agent.

If Littleton doesn’t come back, there will be other options available for the Rams, ones who will be cheaper, too. With not much money to spend this offseason, the Rams will have to play it smart.

Here are six realistic linebacker targets for them in free agency, which begins in March.

Jamie Collins, Patriots

Collins wouldn’t be a seamless fit at inside linebacker for the Rams, but he would give the defense a playmaker. He lined up all over New England’s defense this season, enjoying a resurgent campaign with his old team after a disappointing stint in Cleveland.

He played all 16 games, recorded 80 tackles, seven sacks, 10 QB hits, forced three fumbles and picked off three passes. In the Rams’ scheme, he could play both inside and outside linebacker, taking on a variety of roles.

His outstanding 2019 season might drive his price up, but he shouldn’t be out of the Rams’ range.

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6 free agents with ties to Rams OC Kevin O’Connell

The Rams could be interested in these six free agents, all of whom played for Kevin O’Connell.

After a down year offensively, Sean McVay decided to hire an offensive coordinator for his coaching staff. He landed on 34-year-old Kevin O’Connell, formerly of the Washington Redskins. He was the offensive coordinator and play caller at the end of the 2019 season and previously served as the quarterbacks coach on Jay Gruden’s staff.

O’Connell will have an impact on the offensive game plan, even if he doesn’t call the plays. He can also help the Rams lure players in free agency who he has connections to.

Here are six players with ties to O’Connell who may interest the Rams in free agency.

OG Brandon Scherff

Unless the Redskins re-sign him before March, Scherff will be one of the best offensive linemen available in free agency. He not only has ties to O’Connell, having played for him for the last three years, but also to Sean McVay, who was with the Redskins during Scherff’s first two seasons.

The Rams have a clear need at guard with Austin Blythe being a free agent and Joseph Noteboom potentially moving to left tackle from guard. Scherff is going to break the bank and become one of the top-paid guards in the NFL, so he might be out of the Rams’ price range.

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5 pending free agents the Rams should let walk this offseason

The Rams should pass on re-signing these five players this offseason.

The Los Angeles Rams mostly kept their core together last season after reaching Super Bowl LIII. Yes, players came and went, but wholesale changes weren’t made – with the exception of two new starters on the offensive line and a few others on defense.

This offseason could bring about significant changes. It’s not going to be a rebuild, by any means, but the Rams have numerous key players hitting free agency and not a ton of money to spend.

In order to save money and use it elsewhere, the Rams should let these five pending free agents walk in March.

DE Michael Brockers

Brockers had one of his best seasons in a long time, recording a career-high 63 tackles and posting 3.5 sacks to go along with them. He’s a stout run defender – among the best in the NFL, according to Aaron Donald – and is a key member of the defense. However, he’s also 29 years old and just cost the Rams $10.75 million in 2019.

If he’s hoping to maintain a salary north of $10-11 million, the Rams should move on. For the position he plays, the Rams can find someone nearly as productive for far less money. Given his history with the team and leadership in the locker room, it’ll be tough for the Rams to move on. But if he doesn’t give a hometown discount, Los Angeles should look elsewhere.

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Andrew Whitworth: Returning to Rams is top choice ‘without question’

Andrew Whitworth has no doubt in his mind that staying with the Rams is his top option.

Andrew Whitworth is one of 10 Rams who are set to become unrestricted free agents in a couple of months as his three-year contract with Los Angeles comes to an end. It’s been a very successful tenure for Whitworth, who made his first career postseason appearance, was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro and even reached the Super Bowl.

Being 38 years old, retirement is certainly on the horizon for Whitworth. But he wants to continue playing in 2020, saying as much after the Rams’ Week 16 loss to the 49ers.

“My intention is to play football. We’ll see if it works out,” he said.

With the 2019 season in the books, Whitworth has some time to reflect on his future in the NFL and with the Rams. If he does return for another season in 2020, it’s clear which team he wants to play for.

“Hopefully, the opportunity will be here,” Whitworth told Gary Klein of the L.A. Times on Monday. “Obviously, anytime you’re a free agent, you’ve got to listen to everything and figure out what’s best for you.

“But of course, for me and my family, being a Ram would be No. 1, without question.”

That’s a pretty strong statement from the veteran left tackle. Even at his age, Whitworth is playing at a high level and remains an above-average player at a premier position.

The Rams don’t have a clear-cut replacement for him, either, which would make his return to Los Angeles that much better for both sides. Money will of course be a factor with the Rams not exactly flush with cap space, but they can create $16.8 million by simply restructuring Jared Goff’s deal.

When asked if he would take a pay cut to stay with the Rams, Whitworth wouldn’t give a firm answer.

“You let all that play out and just figure out where everything is,” he said. “For everyone else you have to speculate. For me, I know the product. I know what I bring and they do, too, so it’s just us finding common ground.”

Free agency will begin in March, so the Rams have some time to work things out with their veteran left tackle. Keeping Whitworth for one more year at a reasonable price would be Option A for the team, giving them another year to find an heir to his throne at left tackle.

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8 offseason moves to make the Rams Super Bowl contenders again in 2020

The Rams should consider making these eight moves in order to get back to the Super Bowl next year.

After three-plus months of battling and trying to right the ship, the Los Angeles Rams came up short of their primary goal this season: making the playoffs. In a year where the NFC was littered with Super Bowl contenders, the Rams’ 9-7 record wasn’t enough to get them into the dance.

After making the Super Bowl last season, heading home at the end of December is certainly not something the Rams saw coming. But, it’s the reality of not playing up to the standards and failing to find any sort of consistency over the course of 17 weeks.

Now, the Rams enter the offseason with endless questions. Will Wade Phillips be back? Will they trade Todd Gurley? What is Gerald Everett’s future? Can Sean McVay find his magic again?

No matter what happens this spring, the Rams will likely be considered one of the more dangerous teams in the NFC just based on the core they’ve built with Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey and Jared Goff. If they want to get back to the Super Bowl again, though, here’s a list of moves they should consider making.

Re-sign Cory Littleton

The Rams will probably have to decide between keeping Littleton or Dante Fowler Jr. If they can find a way to keep both, they absolutely should. But given their top-heavy roster with Jalen Ramsey still to pay, it’s hard to imagine them coming up with the funds to extend all of them. Quality pass rushers like Fowler are hard to find, but so are linebackers in the mold of Littleton.

He can do it all for the Rams, from covering running backs to defending the run to blitzing off the edge or up the middle. He finished the season with 134 tackles (six for a loss), 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles (four recoveries), two interceptions and nine passes defensed.

Here are all the players with at least 130 tackles, 3.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions this season: Cory Littleton.

That’s it.

He’s a unique linebacker who can do everything in the middle of the field for a defense, and someone the Rams must find a way to keep. They just have to hope Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Samson Ebukam and their other young pass rushers can step up in Fowler’s place if he leaves.

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