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Rams will have plenty of competition to keep their own
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...-have-plenty-of-competition-to-keep-their-own
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Little more than 24 hours from the start of the 2016 NFL league year, competition for the Los Angeles Rams' many key free agents is heating up.
This year's free-agent market comes with the salary cap at an all-time high and plenty of teams flush with cash to spend. Which means it could take more than one might expect to sign players in the first wave. Some might call it overpaying, but exorbitant prices might just be the norm in this market.
Already, Indianapolis signed tight end Dwayne Allen to a four-year deal worth a little less than $30 million, and the expectation is that Baltimore guard Kelechi Osemele will break the bank in a new deal with Oakland.
For the Rams, their top targets aren't exactly lacking in suitors, either. That doesn't mean the Rams won't be able to keep some of their own. They have the cap space to do it. They just might have to pay more than they wanted to ensure it happens.
Here's a quick roundup of what's been reported and what's possible for some of the team's primary free agents after one day of the open negotiating window:
DE William Hayes -- The Rams want to bring Hayes back and Hayes has said he'd like to return. But they might not be able to do it as easily as some would have thought. Kent Somers of AZCentral.com reported that the Cardinals have interest in Hayes and it's believed they are going to make a push to land him. The New York Giants and Miami Dolphins have also been linked to Hayes in various reports.
CB Janoris Jenkins -- After the Rams declined to tag Jenkins in favor of fellow cornerback Trumaine Johnson, it was clear that Jenkins would not only hit the market but probably head to the highest bidder. There haven't been a lot of specifics tied to Jenkins yet but there are apparently many teams that have expressed interest. Jacksonville, San Francisco, Oakland and Miami are among the teams that are expected to pursue the top corners. Jenkins could land a huge deal before all is said and done.
S Rodney McLeod -- McLeod is also not lacking for teams interested in retaining his services and he's expected to get a bigger deal than many might have originally expected. Like Hayes, the Giants also have been connected to McLeod as a solution for their woeful safety situation. The Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns have been brought up as landing spots for McLeod. It's been quite a rise for a player who entered the league as an undrafted free agent and is now among the top two or three safety options on the market.
LB/S Mark Barron -- This is one of the more difficult situations to read as there hasn't been a team in particular that's been named, but there have been indications that he's got many teams willing to make a push for him. Pro Football Focus named Barron the player most likely to be overpaid this offseason. And while you can debate the meaning of overpaid, chances are good he's going to get a lucrative deal either with the Rams or elsewhere.
DT Nick Fairley -- Fairley's market might not be too hot right away, but teams are already looking into contingency plans if they lose key guys on their defensive line. The New York Jets have apparently viewed Fairley as a possible replacement for tackle Damon Harrison. The Philadelphia Eagles have also been linked to Fairley.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...-have-plenty-of-competition-to-keep-their-own
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Little more than 24 hours from the start of the 2016 NFL league year, competition for the Los Angeles Rams' many key free agents is heating up.
This year's free-agent market comes with the salary cap at an all-time high and plenty of teams flush with cash to spend. Which means it could take more than one might expect to sign players in the first wave. Some might call it overpaying, but exorbitant prices might just be the norm in this market.
Already, Indianapolis signed tight end Dwayne Allen to a four-year deal worth a little less than $30 million, and the expectation is that Baltimore guard Kelechi Osemele will break the bank in a new deal with Oakland.
For the Rams, their top targets aren't exactly lacking in suitors, either. That doesn't mean the Rams won't be able to keep some of their own. They have the cap space to do it. They just might have to pay more than they wanted to ensure it happens.
Here's a quick roundup of what's been reported and what's possible for some of the team's primary free agents after one day of the open negotiating window:
DE William Hayes -- The Rams want to bring Hayes back and Hayes has said he'd like to return. But they might not be able to do it as easily as some would have thought. Kent Somers of AZCentral.com reported that the Cardinals have interest in Hayes and it's believed they are going to make a push to land him. The New York Giants and Miami Dolphins have also been linked to Hayes in various reports.
CB Janoris Jenkins -- After the Rams declined to tag Jenkins in favor of fellow cornerback Trumaine Johnson, it was clear that Jenkins would not only hit the market but probably head to the highest bidder. There haven't been a lot of specifics tied to Jenkins yet but there are apparently many teams that have expressed interest. Jacksonville, San Francisco, Oakland and Miami are among the teams that are expected to pursue the top corners. Jenkins could land a huge deal before all is said and done.
S Rodney McLeod -- McLeod is also not lacking for teams interested in retaining his services and he's expected to get a bigger deal than many might have originally expected. Like Hayes, the Giants also have been connected to McLeod as a solution for their woeful safety situation. The Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns have been brought up as landing spots for McLeod. It's been quite a rise for a player who entered the league as an undrafted free agent and is now among the top two or three safety options on the market.
LB/S Mark Barron -- This is one of the more difficult situations to read as there hasn't been a team in particular that's been named, but there have been indications that he's got many teams willing to make a push for him. Pro Football Focus named Barron the player most likely to be overpaid this offseason. And while you can debate the meaning of overpaid, chances are good he's going to get a lucrative deal either with the Rams or elsewhere.
DT Nick Fairley -- Fairley's market might not be too hot right away, but teams are already looking into contingency plans if they lose key guys on their defensive line. The New York Jets have apparently viewed Fairley as a possible replacement for tackle Damon Harrison. The Philadelphia Eagles have also been linked to Fairley.
