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Rams free-agent preview: Defensive ends
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/16691/rams-free-agent-preview-defensive-ends
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The free-agent market is scheduled to open March 10 and teams may begin negotiations with those poised to hit the market beginning March 7. We'll count down to that with a position-by-position look at what the St. Louis Rams have in place, who is set to hit the market, what they might need and who might fit the bill.
Under contract: Robert Quinn, Chris Long, Eugene Sims, William Hayes, Mason Brodine, Ethan Westbrooks
Pending free agents: None
What's needed: There probably isn't a position on the Rams that is better stocked than this one but just like anything else in football, being well stocked can be a fleeting proposition. Quinn is the team's MVP two years running and the Rams rightly went to great lengths to lock him up to a long-term contract last year. The Rams now have Quinn under contract through the 2019 season. After that, the Rams might find themselves in position to start planning for the future sooner than later. Long is coming off an injury-plagued season and is due to count $12.5 million against the cap this year and $14.25 million against it next year. He'll need to have a strong bounce back year this year to ensure he sees the final year of that deal. As for Hayes and Sims, both are under contract at reasonable prices this year but they also have expiring contracts after the season. That duo gives the Rams excellent versatility and with the lack of depth at defensive tackle, it's reasonable to assume both will stay in St. Louis this season. Westbrooks is entering his second season and the Rams still believe in his potential. Brodine sat out the year with an injury after spending some time at tight end in last year's training camp. This is probably his last chance with the Rams. There's no pressing need here right now but the Rams may look closer at this position with an eye toward the future.
Possible fits: The pickings are mostly slim with Buffalo's Jerry Hughes headlining the class. Carolina's Greg Hardy will also be available and will represent an interesting case study for those wanting to see the lasting effects of off-field issues. More than likely, the Rams won't be in the market for a free agent type if they make any additions to the position at all.
Verdict: It's hard to see how the Rams could make a free-agent addition at defensive end work. More likely, any new bodies that come in -- barring a surprising subtraction -- would come through the draft.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/16691/rams-free-agent-preview-defensive-ends
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The free-agent market is scheduled to open March 10 and teams may begin negotiations with those poised to hit the market beginning March 7. We'll count down to that with a position-by-position look at what the St. Louis Rams have in place, who is set to hit the market, what they might need and who might fit the bill.
Under contract: Robert Quinn, Chris Long, Eugene Sims, William Hayes, Mason Brodine, Ethan Westbrooks
Pending free agents: None
What's needed: There probably isn't a position on the Rams that is better stocked than this one but just like anything else in football, being well stocked can be a fleeting proposition. Quinn is the team's MVP two years running and the Rams rightly went to great lengths to lock him up to a long-term contract last year. The Rams now have Quinn under contract through the 2019 season. After that, the Rams might find themselves in position to start planning for the future sooner than later. Long is coming off an injury-plagued season and is due to count $12.5 million against the cap this year and $14.25 million against it next year. He'll need to have a strong bounce back year this year to ensure he sees the final year of that deal. As for Hayes and Sims, both are under contract at reasonable prices this year but they also have expiring contracts after the season. That duo gives the Rams excellent versatility and with the lack of depth at defensive tackle, it's reasonable to assume both will stay in St. Louis this season. Westbrooks is entering his second season and the Rams still believe in his potential. Brodine sat out the year with an injury after spending some time at tight end in last year's training camp. This is probably his last chance with the Rams. There's no pressing need here right now but the Rams may look closer at this position with an eye toward the future.
Possible fits: The pickings are mostly slim with Buffalo's Jerry Hughes headlining the class. Carolina's Greg Hardy will also be available and will represent an interesting case study for those wanting to see the lasting effects of off-field issues. More than likely, the Rams won't be in the market for a free agent type if they make any additions to the position at all.
Verdict: It's hard to see how the Rams could make a free-agent addition at defensive end work. More likely, any new bodies that come in -- barring a surprising subtraction -- would come through the draft.