Rams notes: Rams add undrafted free agents to roster
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_40f29389-a9bc-5ef5-a681-93a4c894289c.html
At the end of the NFL draft Saturday night, Rams coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead met at Rams Park with members of the media to discuss the team’s selections.
But they still had some work to do, namely the “eighth round’’ of the draft — or the addition of undrafted rookie free agents.
It’s been an area of strength for Fisher and Snead, who wrapped up their fourth St. Louis draft Saturday. The team’s roster features a number of productive players who joined the team as undrafted free agents, including Pro Bowl punter Johnny Hekker, starting safety Rodney McLeod and special teams contributors Daren Bates, Benny Cunningham, Marcus Roberson and Trey Watts.
With 73 players under contract or drafted over the weekend, the Rams only needed to sign a handful to approach the 90-man offseason roster limit. And there’s always a chance they’ll need a spot or two to sign veteran free agents.
“Really (our current roster) affects the numbers, how many players you need,’’ Snead said. “So obviously we need less when there’s more under contract presently. Post-draft, instead of signing 30, you may only need 15, so that’s really all it does.’’
Snead also noted that this year’s draft wasn’t as strong as some other years.
“This draft is probably a little less deep than last year,’’ he said. “Last year, you get a (cornerback) Marcus Roberson in free agency, I don’t know if we’re getting a Marcus Roberson this year in free agency.”
Fisher added: “Or a Rodney McLeod.”
Still, the Rams — like every team in the NFL — will add a number of players, hoping to find a guy or two who can beat the odds and find a way to earn a spot on the regular-season roster as an undrafted free agent.
Since the draft, the Rams have signed or agreed to terms with 13 undrafted rookies.
One of the more intriguing prospects is two-sport standout Bradley Marquez, a wide receiver from Texas Tech who spent the summers of 2012 and 2013 playing minor-league baseball for the Kingsport (Tenn.) Mets. A 16th-round draft choice of the New York Mets in 2011, he batted .254 with a homer, 11 RBIs and four steals in 36 career games as a rookie-ball outfielder.
He has decided to put his baseball career on hold while giving football a try.
At Texas Tech last fall, the 6-foot, 203-pounder played in a number of different receiving spots and finished with a career-best 65 catches for 821 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Another receiver to watch is Tyler Slavin, a 6-foot-2, 215-pounder from Division II New Mexico Highlands. Slavin, who transferred to the Cowboys after two seasons at Arizona, caught 119 passes for 1,418 yards and had 17 touchdowns last fall. He had double-digit catches in six of 11 games, finishing with 17 grabs two times.
The Rams’ group also features a pair of running backs from Texas — former Longhorn Malcolm Brown and Texas State’s Terrence Franks.
Brown, a physical 5-foot-11, 224-pounder, finished his four-year stay in Austin with 2,678 yards, 27 touchdowns and 11 100-yard games. Not bad statistics for someone who battled injuries early and a crowded backfield late in his Texas career.
Franks played in 12 games but made just two starts last fall at Texas State. The 5-foot-10, 214-pounder had a career day against Idaho, rushing for 284 yards and three touchdowns, in just 15 carries, in a 35-30 Bobcats win. He finished the season with 712 rushing yards and scored 11 times.
Some other Rams signings of special note:
• Projected as a fifth- or sixth-round selection, Iowa defensive tackle Louis Trinca-Pasat posted the following on Twitter: “Officially signed with the St. Louis Rams. Thank God Rams have given me one more opportunity. Those who overlooked me will regret it.”
The 6-foot-1, 290-pounder was a three-year starter in Iowa City and had career bests in tackles (65), tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (seven) as a senior.
• Safety Jay Hughes of Mississippi State missed the final 12 games of his junior season because of an Achilles tendon injury but bounced back strong as a captain and team leader last fall. He played in all 13 games, making 12 starts, and had a pair of interceptions as the 10-3 Bulldogs reached the Orange Bowl. His father, Tony, is assistant head coach at Mississippi State.
• Two other FCS defensive backs who bear watching are cornerback Imoan Claiborne of Northwestern State of Louisiana and rangy safety Jacob Hagen of Liberty (Va.) University.
Claiborne (5-11, 187) is a physical man-to-man defender who had three interceptions and four fumble recoveries as a senior last fall. He also played in the Senior Bowl.
Hagen is a ball-hawking free safety with size (6-3, 215) and big-time production — 108 tackles, including 5½ for loss, eight interceptions, seven pass breakups and four forced fumbles last fall.
DAVON WALLS TO THE JETS
Davon Walls, the Brooklyn native who starred at Lincoln University in Jefferson City last fall, will be sticking close to home after signing as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets.
Walls, who spent time at five colleges since 2009, was kicked off the team at Syracuse in 2013 after being charged with felony burglary for stealing $950 worth of electronic equipment. After fulfilling the terms of his probation, the charges were reduced to misdemeanor trespassing.
He eventually found his way to Lincoln, where he excelled in one season under coach Mike Jones, a former Rams linebacker.
In 11 games last fall, Walls, a 6-6, 295 defensive lineman, had 17½ tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
OTHER NFL SIGNINGS
Missouri State tight end Gannon Sinclair signed with the Arizona Cardinals. A 6-7, 280-pound transfer from the North Dakota College of Science, Sinclair started 12 games as a senior for the Bears last fall, finishing with 18 catches for 258 yards with a team-high seven touchdown receptions.
• Missouri S&T cornerback Will Brown, a Hazelwood West High product, will have a minicamp tryout with Tennessee.