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Rams free-agent preview: Specialists
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/16632/rams-free-agent-preview-specialists
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: Greg Zuerlein, Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide, Michael Palardy
Pending free agents: None
What's needed: The Rams took care of their most pressing piece of business in this area before the season ended, signing Hekker to a contract that could keep him in St. Louis through 2020 if he plays it out. Hekker remains one of the best punters in the league with the added bonus of providing the ability to throw the ball on fakes. Hekker is going nowhere and is a legitimate weapon at a position where those are hard to find. McQuaide is also under contract for the foreseeable future with a deal that takes him through the 2017 season. You don't hear much about McQuaide but that's a good thing given his position. He's as solid as it gets among long snappers. Zuerlein has one year left on his deal and represents perhaps the most pressing question for the Rams when it comes to specialists. For the most part, Zuerlein has been good for the Rams but he's also had some hiccups along the way. He missed a short field goal and mis-hit a kickoff that led to a touchdown against Kansas City and later missed two field goals and an extra point against Washington. Zuerlein still boasts one of the strongest legs in the league though and indications are the Rams would like to keep him. There might not be a rush to do it but a contract extension could come up before the season. Palardy comes to St. Louis as a camp leg.
Possible fits: With no needs evident, no sense in getting in to possible outside additions.
Verdict: The Rams have more pressing business at the moment than signing players who can't be free agents until after the season to extensions. They have their upcoming free agents to take care of and then will explore the available free agents before heading toward the NFL draft. So if anything happens with Zuerlein, it likely wouldn't happen until the summer or possibly near the start of the season. The Rams and Hekker struck a deal late in the season so even if nothing gets done before then, there's still plenty of time to get a further evaluation of Zuerlein through the 2015 season if the Rams choose to go that way.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/16632/rams-free-agent-preview-specialists
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: Greg Zuerlein, Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide, Michael Palardy
Pending free agents: None
What's needed: The Rams took care of their most pressing piece of business in this area before the season ended, signing Hekker to a contract that could keep him in St. Louis through 2020 if he plays it out. Hekker remains one of the best punters in the league with the added bonus of providing the ability to throw the ball on fakes. Hekker is going nowhere and is a legitimate weapon at a position where those are hard to find. McQuaide is also under contract for the foreseeable future with a deal that takes him through the 2017 season. You don't hear much about McQuaide but that's a good thing given his position. He's as solid as it gets among long snappers. Zuerlein has one year left on his deal and represents perhaps the most pressing question for the Rams when it comes to specialists. For the most part, Zuerlein has been good for the Rams but he's also had some hiccups along the way. He missed a short field goal and mis-hit a kickoff that led to a touchdown against Kansas City and later missed two field goals and an extra point against Washington. Zuerlein still boasts one of the strongest legs in the league though and indications are the Rams would like to keep him. There might not be a rush to do it but a contract extension could come up before the season. Palardy comes to St. Louis as a camp leg.
Possible fits: With no needs evident, no sense in getting in to possible outside additions.
Verdict: The Rams have more pressing business at the moment than signing players who can't be free agents until after the season to extensions. They have their upcoming free agents to take care of and then will explore the available free agents before heading toward the NFL draft. So if anything happens with Zuerlein, it likely wouldn't happen until the summer or possibly near the start of the season. The Rams and Hekker struck a deal late in the season so even if nothing gets done before then, there's still plenty of time to get a further evaluation of Zuerlein through the 2015 season if the Rams choose to go that way.
