2012 NFL Free Agents: St. Louis Rams Adding Cap Space for Top Free Agents?

The St. Louis Rams started cleaning house on Monday, as the team cut five players in transactions that will save the team almost $20 million in cap space for the 2012 season. 

With room to maneuver under the cap, might there now be a free-agent spending spree in the near future for the Rams? St. Louis will certainly have the money to make several offers to free agents this offseason. 

First, the moves: St. Louis sent cornerback Ron Bartell, defensive end James Hall, center Jason Brown and defensive tackles Fred Robbins and Justin Bannan packing on the day before free agency begins.

According to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, cutting Bartell ($6.25 million) and Hall ($3 million) will save the Rams $9.25 million. Releasing Brown ($2.8 million), Robbins ($4 million) and Bannan ($2.75 million) saved another $9.55 million. Altogether, the Rams cut $18.8 million on their 2012 cap Monday. 

As of March 11 (Sunday), the Rams were just $1.2 million over the 2012 cap—which the NFL set at $120.6 million (via Pro Football Talk). Adding the $1.2 million with $18.8 in released savings gives the Rams an even $20 million of wiggle room as free agency begins. 

While the Rams have six first-round picks and four second-round picks over the next three NFL drafts, it's possible they will get aggressive on the open market. 

Potential free-agent targets could be cornerback Cortland Finnegan, defensive end Jason Jones and receiver Pierre Garcon. 

Finnegan and Jones both played under new Rams head coach Jeff Fisher in Tennessee, so bringing two productive players with him to St. Louis makes a lot of sense. 

However, Finnegan will be commanding a big number on the free-agent market and should have several suitors willing to battle the Rams for his signature. He was a Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection in 2008 under Fisher after emerging as one of the NFL's top cornerbacks during Tennessee's 13-3 season.

Jones is expected to have a strong market too, despite a down year in 2011 that saw him switch positions from defensive end to tackle. From 2008-10, Jones had 12.5 sacks and six forced fumbles. 

Garcon, who may want to follow Peyton Manning wherever he signs this offseason, is looking for the big deal he's earned over the last couple of seasons. From 2010-11, Garcon caught almost 140 passes for nearly 1,750 yards and 12 touchdowns.

If the Rams can land a couple of impact free agents and then nail their number of high draft picks in April, they can be competitive again in the NFC West. Remember, this team is just a year removed from playing in a knockout game for the West title against the Seattle Seahawks.

Signing a player such as Finnegan, Jones or Garcon would also give the Rams more wiggle room during the draft. Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reported Monday that the Rams may also be looking into trading their No. 6 overall pick, which would only add to the vast draft wealth they've acquired over the last week or so.