Rodney McLeod going to Eagles 5 yr 37mil
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Replacing Rodney McLeod won't be easy for Rams
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/27527/replacing-rodney-mcleod-wont-be-easy-for-rams
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- With safety Rodney McLeod on his way to Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Rams don't necessarily have an obvious replacement for him.
Unlike at cornerback, where the Rams will certainly miss Janoris Jenkins but have E.J. Gaines returning from injury, the Rams will have to do some evaluating of their own players as well as of the free-agent market to see how they can fill that void. Competent free safeties are hard to find, which is why players like McLeod and Tashaun Gipson got lucrative deals in the opening hours of free agency.
For now, here's a look at some directions the Rams could explore:
IN-HOUSE OPTIONS
Cody Davis: The Rams re-signed Davis to a two-year contract on Wednesday rather than give him a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent. They did so largely because Davis is a special-teams ace and they want him around for that. But he's also the closest thing they have to a true free safety. He has the speed to run the alley but he's played only 26 defensive snaps in three NFL seasons. The Rams developed McLeod from undrafted rookie to starter, and coordinator Gregg Williams is adept at finding the best way to use his talent. Perhaps Davis will at least get a chance to compete.
Maurice Alexander: Alexander doesn't look the part of a free safety who can play as much in the single-high role that Williams often asked of McLeod. In fact, he was the injury replacement for strong safety T.J. McDonald the final four games of the season. At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Alexander is probably best served to fill a role in their big nickel defense, similar to what the Rams had Mark Barron doing before he moved to linebacker last year. But again, Williams is creative enough that he could probably concoct ways to have McDonald and Alexander on the field together as the primary safeties.
Christian Bryant: Bryant earned his way off the practice squad and onto the active roster for the first time in 2015 and was used mostly on special teams. That's probably where his value is moving forward, though he had a strong training camp and preseason last year that opened some eyes to his potential. Bryant was a seventh-round pick in 2014 and is more likely to be fighting for a roster spot than a starting job, but he's at least more of a natural free safety than Alexander and is almost exactly the same size as McLeod.
Lamarcus Joyner: We're putting Joyner here only because he had experience playing safety at Florida State. When Rams coach Jeff Fisher has been asked about playing Joyner at safety in the past, he has made it clear the preference is to keep him as the nickel corner. With Jenkins on the way out, the Rams still need Joyner to fill the nickel role, and they were pleased with his progress in 2015 after he struggled as a rookie. Having him change positions now could lead to regression.
STILL ON THE MARKET
Eric Weddle: The Rams didn't want to extend to the $7 million-plus annual average to keep McLeod, so it's probably unlikely they'd want to go to that or possibly beyond to get the most accomplished safety on the market. Teams like Oakland and Pittsburgh have been connected to Weddle, and though 31 he's still a top safety. As a bonus, he could instantly become a leader on a defense that has lost two of them this offseason. It's possible he'll have signed elsewhere by the time you read this, but he's still worth checking in on to see if he could be had on a shorter deal.
Reggie Nelson: Like Weddle, Nelson is a true center fielder, and he's not exactly the young, ascending free agent the Rams would prefer. Nelson is 32 but he's coming off a season in which he posted a career-high eight interceptions. He's been linked to Tampa Bay and Minnesota, but as of Wednesday night a deal didn't appear imminent. If he could be had for a reasonable price on a shorter deal, he could be worth a look.
Rashad Johnson: In case you haven't picked up on it, there's a theme here. Three top safeties all still available after the first surge of free agency. What do they all have in common? They're all 30 or older. Johnson is the youngest of the trio, having just turned 30 in January. He had five interceptions in 2015 and four in 2014 and seems to be playing better as he gets older. Of course, playing in a secondary with the likes of Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu has helped his cause. But while Johnson would come with the added bonus of weakening a division rival, he shouldn't break the bank or get a long-term commitment.
The draft: Of course, the Rams could wait until the draft, and if they don't make a move in the interim, we'll re-evaluate the prospects available closer to that time.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/27527/replacing-rodney-mcleod-wont-be-easy-for-rams
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- With safety Rodney McLeod on his way to Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Rams don't necessarily have an obvious replacement for him.
Unlike at cornerback, where the Rams will certainly miss Janoris Jenkins but have E.J. Gaines returning from injury, the Rams will have to do some evaluating of their own players as well as of the free-agent market to see how they can fill that void. Competent free safeties are hard to find, which is why players like McLeod and Tashaun Gipson got lucrative deals in the opening hours of free agency.
For now, here's a look at some directions the Rams could explore:
IN-HOUSE OPTIONS
Cody Davis: The Rams re-signed Davis to a two-year contract on Wednesday rather than give him a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent. They did so largely because Davis is a special-teams ace and they want him around for that. But he's also the closest thing they have to a true free safety. He has the speed to run the alley but he's played only 26 defensive snaps in three NFL seasons. The Rams developed McLeod from undrafted rookie to starter, and coordinator Gregg Williams is adept at finding the best way to use his talent. Perhaps Davis will at least get a chance to compete.
Maurice Alexander: Alexander doesn't look the part of a free safety who can play as much in the single-high role that Williams often asked of McLeod. In fact, he was the injury replacement for strong safety T.J. McDonald the final four games of the season. At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Alexander is probably best served to fill a role in their big nickel defense, similar to what the Rams had Mark Barron doing before he moved to linebacker last year. But again, Williams is creative enough that he could probably concoct ways to have McDonald and Alexander on the field together as the primary safeties.
Christian Bryant: Bryant earned his way off the practice squad and onto the active roster for the first time in 2015 and was used mostly on special teams. That's probably where his value is moving forward, though he had a strong training camp and preseason last year that opened some eyes to his potential. Bryant was a seventh-round pick in 2014 and is more likely to be fighting for a roster spot than a starting job, but he's at least more of a natural free safety than Alexander and is almost exactly the same size as McLeod.
Lamarcus Joyner: We're putting Joyner here only because he had experience playing safety at Florida State. When Rams coach Jeff Fisher has been asked about playing Joyner at safety in the past, he has made it clear the preference is to keep him as the nickel corner. With Jenkins on the way out, the Rams still need Joyner to fill the nickel role, and they were pleased with his progress in 2015 after he struggled as a rookie. Having him change positions now could lead to regression.
STILL ON THE MARKET
Eric Weddle: The Rams didn't want to extend to the $7 million-plus annual average to keep McLeod, so it's probably unlikely they'd want to go to that or possibly beyond to get the most accomplished safety on the market. Teams like Oakland and Pittsburgh have been connected to Weddle, and though 31 he's still a top safety. As a bonus, he could instantly become a leader on a defense that has lost two of them this offseason. It's possible he'll have signed elsewhere by the time you read this, but he's still worth checking in on to see if he could be had on a shorter deal.
Reggie Nelson: Like Weddle, Nelson is a true center fielder, and he's not exactly the young, ascending free agent the Rams would prefer. Nelson is 32 but he's coming off a season in which he posted a career-high eight interceptions. He's been linked to Tampa Bay and Minnesota, but as of Wednesday night a deal didn't appear imminent. If he could be had for a reasonable price on a shorter deal, he could be worth a look.
Rashad Johnson: In case you haven't picked up on it, there's a theme here. Three top safeties all still available after the first surge of free agency. What do they all have in common? They're all 30 or older. Johnson is the youngest of the trio, having just turned 30 in January. He had five interceptions in 2015 and four in 2014 and seems to be playing better as he gets older. Of course, playing in a secondary with the likes of Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu has helped his cause. But while Johnson would come with the added bonus of weakening a division rival, he shouldn't break the bank or get a long-term commitment.
The draft: Of course, the Rams could wait until the draft, and if they don't make a move in the interim, we'll re-evaluate the prospects available closer to that time.
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There was a major reason that Cody Davis played only 26 defensive snaps in three NFL seasons.....
Rodney McLeod started every game for three seasons. There was little need to have Cody play deep safety. In 2015 both Joyner & McLeod would trade off at times Nickle to FS/ FS to Nickle but not often. So Joyner did get some action there. I actually fine with looking long & hard at what Cody Davis & Christian Bryant have to bring in TC & pre season. I think we will be surprised (in a good way) by what we will see.
With DC Gregg having Mark Barron cemented now as a full time starter @ WSLB'er & both strong safeties TJ McDonald & Mo Alexander both healthy we are sure to see several defenses that contain & work all three of them (Mark/TJ/Mo) on the field at the same time as the (Big plus Nickle). Having our main three CB's (Roberson/Johnson/Gaines) could send Lamarcus Joyner if needed @ deep safety easily.
Rodney McLeod started every game for three seasons. There was little need to have Cody play deep safety. In 2015 both Joyner & McLeod would trade off at times Nickle to FS/ FS to Nickle but not often. So Joyner did get some action there. I actually fine with looking long & hard at what Cody Davis & Christian Bryant have to bring in TC & pre season. I think we will be surprised (in a good way) by what we will see. With DC Gregg having Mark Barron cemented now as a full time starter @ WSLB'er & both strong safeties TJ McDonald & Mo Alexander both healthy we are sure to see several defenses that contain & work all three of them (Mark/TJ/Mo) on the field at the same time as the (Big plus Nickle). Having our main three CB's (Roberson/Johnson/Gaines) could send Lamarcus Joyner if needed @ deep safety easily.