NFL Free Agents 2012: St. Louis Rams Sign DT Trevor Laws to Bolster Run Defense

The St. Louis Rams may have moved one step closer to solving their run defense woes on Wednesday night, picking up former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Trevor Laws via free agency.  Laws played reporter in the transaction on his Twitter account, and the news has since been verified.

In Laws, the Rams pick up a 26-year old with the potential to serve in a starting or rotational interior lineman role.  He has yet to meet the expectations associated with being drafted in the second round, but Laws still possesses some of the physical skills needed to make a positive impact in St. Louis.

He posted a career-best 20 tackles in 2011 while playing in 14 games for the Eagles, and he has totaled 57 tackles and five sacks during his four pro seasons.

At 6'1" and a shade over 300 pounds, Laws has the frame to anchor the middle of a defense, along with some unique athleticism dating back to his decorated high school wrestling career.

Only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers allowed more rushing yards than the Rams in 2011, and new head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead appear dedicated to making sure that that will change in 2012. 

The Rams recently hosted Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox for a pre-draft visit, and it is likely that the team will further address the defensive line during the draft.