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Rams' free-agent focus should be keeping their own
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...-free-agent-focus-should-be-keeping-their-own
Here are the moves the Los Angeles Rams should consider when free agency opens at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday:
Re-sign S/LB Mark Barron: Now that the Rams have all but ensured they're keeping at least one of their free-agent cornerbacks by tagging Trumaine Johnson, the next priority should be Barron. The team released James Laurinaitis in order to move Alec Ogletree to middle linebacker and bring back Barron to play weakside linebacker. That plan goes off the rails if Barron doesn't return, and it would create another big need for a team that already has plenty of them. Coach Jeff Fisher has said the team "desperately" wants to keep Barron. It's expected that they'll do so.
Re-sign DE Williams Hayes: Much like with Barron, the Rams already made a corresponding move in anticipation of having an in-house option ready to step in. In this case, they released Chris Long thinking Hayes can be his replacement. That doesn't mean they won't start planning for the future at defensive end in the draft, but bringing back Hayes is imperative. He loves Fisher, and the Rams love him. It would be a surprise if the Rams didn't get this done, though Hayes should draw interest on the open market.
Re-sign S Rodney McLeod: The Rams used a second-round tender on McLeod as a restricted free agent last year because they were aware of how teams around the league view him. Which means McLeod will garner a lot of interest on the open market this time around. The Rams want to keep him because free safeties who can play as much single-high as McLeod does are hard to find. He has his faults, but there's no obvious replacement on the roster and drafting free safeties has proved difficult for most teams.
Kick the tires on Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler: Finding a quarterback solution should be a higher priority, but it doesn't seem like there are a lot of appealing options available. Osweiler is poised to land a lucrative contract despite having started just seven games in his career. The Rams should at least check in to see what the cost and length of a potential deal might be. Osweiler hasn't really proved himself, and there's no guarantee he'd be an upgrade over what they have, but there were some signs that he could be good.
Re-sign CB Janoris Jenkins: Even with Johnson secured, the Rams will still attempt to keep Jenkins. They put a lot of time and effort into developing both cornerbacks and would prefer not to see them spend their peak years elsewhere. Jenkins is going to be expensive and should have no shortage of suitors, but if his price doesn't skyrocket the Rams will stay in the bidding and attempt to keep both starting corners for the long haul.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...-free-agent-focus-should-be-keeping-their-own
Here are the moves the Los Angeles Rams should consider when free agency opens at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday:
Re-sign S/LB Mark Barron: Now that the Rams have all but ensured they're keeping at least one of their free-agent cornerbacks by tagging Trumaine Johnson, the next priority should be Barron. The team released James Laurinaitis in order to move Alec Ogletree to middle linebacker and bring back Barron to play weakside linebacker. That plan goes off the rails if Barron doesn't return, and it would create another big need for a team that already has plenty of them. Coach Jeff Fisher has said the team "desperately" wants to keep Barron. It's expected that they'll do so.
Re-sign DE Williams Hayes: Much like with Barron, the Rams already made a corresponding move in anticipation of having an in-house option ready to step in. In this case, they released Chris Long thinking Hayes can be his replacement. That doesn't mean they won't start planning for the future at defensive end in the draft, but bringing back Hayes is imperative. He loves Fisher, and the Rams love him. It would be a surprise if the Rams didn't get this done, though Hayes should draw interest on the open market.
Re-sign S Rodney McLeod: The Rams used a second-round tender on McLeod as a restricted free agent last year because they were aware of how teams around the league view him. Which means McLeod will garner a lot of interest on the open market this time around. The Rams want to keep him because free safeties who can play as much single-high as McLeod does are hard to find. He has his faults, but there's no obvious replacement on the roster and drafting free safeties has proved difficult for most teams.
Kick the tires on Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler: Finding a quarterback solution should be a higher priority, but it doesn't seem like there are a lot of appealing options available. Osweiler is poised to land a lucrative contract despite having started just seven games in his career. The Rams should at least check in to see what the cost and length of a potential deal might be. Osweiler hasn't really proved himself, and there's no guarantee he'd be an upgrade over what they have, but there were some signs that he could be good.
Re-sign CB Janoris Jenkins: Even with Johnson secured, the Rams will still attempt to keep Jenkins. They put a lot of time and effort into developing both cornerbacks and would prefer not to see them spend their peak years elsewhere. Jenkins is going to be expensive and should have no shortage of suitors, but if his price doesn't skyrocket the Rams will stay in the bidding and attempt to keep both starting corners for the long haul.