2015 St. Louis Rams Free Agency: An Early Guide to the Market
The St. Louis Rams ended the 2014 season with three consecutive losses, and the miserable ending to a disappointing season will have the team searching for answers in free agency.
The draft is always the primary rebuilding tool, but the Rams cannot afford to sit idly by in free agency. The numerous young players St. Louis secured as a result of the Robert Griffin III trade will start hitting the market after the 2015 season, so the Rams need to show a sense of urgency before the window closes.
Approaching the offseason with urgency may result in overspending and taking a few gambles, but so be it. Chances are, with all the promising talent on the roster, the Rams will be in a much better position to make a playoff run over the next year or two than they will be five years from now.
If spending in free agency puts St. Louis in a questionable cap situation five years down the road, the fans really won't care as long as they see immediate results; and Jeff Fisher shouldn't care either, considering he won't be here by then if things keep going the way they are.
That's the mentality the Rams need to adopt this offseason. We'll see how things play out, but this is no time for a timid approach.
In the meantime, this article will outline the 2015 free-agency market and provide you with a general outlook, including St. Louis' in-house free agents, top targets at positions of need and more.
Note: All contract information in this article is from Spotrac.com.
In-House Free Agents
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The Rams only have several free agents that must be re-signed, but luckily, there are no star players hitting the market this year.
Here are the top unrestricted in-house free agents the Rams need to review:
WR Kenny Britt
In 2014, Kenny Britt played in all 16 games for just the second time since entering the NFL, and he recorded the second-highest yards total of his career (748). Britt was horribly underutilized during the first half of the season, and his numbers suffered due to St. Louis' shaky quarterback situation.
If the Rams get a real passer under center, Britt will easily break out as a 1,000-yard receiver. St. Louis needs to retain him. Thankfully, it's unlikely he'll want to leave the franchise that's currently reviving his career.
T Joe Barksdale
Joe Barksdale was excellent for the Rams at the right tackle position in 2013, but his play took a sharp decline this past season. This was likely due to the dreadful play from the interior offensive line, which put Barksdale in a difficult position.
If the Rams solidify the interior, there's no reason why the 25-year-old tackle can't bounce back. He needs to be re-signed.
TE Lance Kendricks
Lance Kendricks is St. Louis' best run-blocking tight end, and he can also serve as a fullback. He's a decent pass-catcher as well—he has over 25 receptions and 250 yards in each of his four NFL seasons.
Kendricks has not come close to living up to his status as a second-round draft pick, but he's still a valuable player in his own unique way. It wouldn't be a disaster if Kendricks walks, but it'd be nice to have him back.
DE Alex Carrington
The Rams signed Alex Carrington from the Buffalo Bills in free agency a year ago. They hoped he would thrive in a rotational role, but that didn't happen. He recorded just one tackle all season and was banged up for most of 2014.
The Rams have young, talented defensive linemen on the roster with smaller contracts, such as Ethan Westbrooks, so there's really no reason to retain Carrington. Instead, it'd be better to give a young guy a real shot at some playing time.
G Davin Joseph
Davin Joseph was brought in as the "sixth man" for the offensive line, but injuries immediately forced him into the starting lineup. Needless to say, he did not thrive.
Joseph was the weakest link not only on the offensive line, but on the offense as a whole. He's had a nice career, but it's time for him to hang up the cleats.
QB Shaun Hill
Shaun Hill was brought in as an experienced No. 2 to take over in the likely event that Sam Bradford goes down with another injury. Unsurprisingly, that's exactly what happened, and Hill was forced to start eight games for the Rams.
Hill had a few solid games, particularly against the Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins, but he mostly struggled. He made ridiculous turnovers that veterans usually avoid, and his accuracy, even on short passes, was horrendous.
Hill has no role in St. Louis, not even as a No. 3 quarterback.
Other Free Agents
OL Mike Person
LB Will Herring
S Rodney McLeod (Restricted)
C Tim Barnes (Restricted)
QB Austin Davis (Restricted)
RB Calvin Middleton (Restricted)
FB Todd Anderson (Restricted)
TE Cory Harkey (Exclusive Rights)
RB Chase Reynolds (Exclusive Rights)
G Brandon Washington (Exclusive Rights)
Possible Cuts
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The Rams have handed out some hefty contracts to a few very unproductive players, so there's a good chance the team will trim the fat in an attempt to save money.
Here are a few big-name players looking at the chopping block:
QB Sam Bradford
There's little doubt that the team wants Bradford back under center and healthy, but it's hard to say whether that's feasible. Either way, it'll be very interesting to see how the Rams approach the Bradford situation this offseason.
Bradford's presence on the 2014 roster was good for a $17.61 million cap hit, and he didn't even play a single down. His 2015 cap hit won't be any easier to swallow at $16.58 million.
For a player who has missed 31 of 80 possible starts since joining the NFL and has suffered three season-ending injuries in his last six seasons (dating back to college), there's no way the Rams will bring Bradford back at his current rate and simply hope for the best.
Cutting Bradford will save St. Louis nearly $13 million in cap space. He can be re-signed at a more reasonable price, and the extra money will either allow the Rams to pursue a high-end player in free agency or extend someone who's already on the roster (such as Janoris Jenkins or Michael Brockers).
T Jake Long
When the Rams signed Jake Long during the 2013 free-agency period, they made sure his contract was very team-friendly, which is not surprising given his injury history. Long is only guaranteed another $2.5 million, so the Rams can save $8 million by cutting him this offseason.
Long suffered another torn ACL this season, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com, so a 2015 comeback seems very far-fetched. The Rams will take the $8 million savings and pursue a player capable of contributing next year.
DT Kendall Langford
Kendall Langford has a $7 million cap hit in the upcoming season, and St. Louis can save $6 million by parting ways with him.
It's not that Langford doesn't have value as a rotational player. It has more to do with Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers locking down the starting jobs, making Langford's contract just too expensive for a No. 3. Instead, look for the Rams to pursue a low-end free agent or a mid-round draft pick as a replacement.
C Scott Wells
Whether it's the bad snaps, weak run blocking or nonexistent pass protection, the play of Scott Wells in 2014 has been abysmal. The Rams will search for a new center this offseason, and it's likely the team's biggest need other than quarterback.
According to Wells' contract, he's due $4.75 million in 2015, and cutting him will save the team $3.75 in cap space. That little chunk should help the Rams pursue a center in free agency.
Offensive Line Targets
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The Rams desperately need help on the offensive line and will look to address the issue in free agency. Here are a few of the big-name offensive linemen on the market this year:
G Mike Iupati, San Francisco 49ers
Mike Iupati—the No. 17 overall draft pick in 2010—will become a free agent this offseason. He's a high-end option, but the Rams need to keep him on their radar.
Iupati will immediately be St. Louis' best offensive lineman. He'll improve the run blocking overnight, and it's frightening to think how wide the run lanes will be with Iupati playing alongside Greg Robinson. Not only that, but signing him away from the 49ers will weaken a division rival, and that's always a plus.
He's still young (27), so he certainly won't be cheap. He'll require a top-tier contract for a guard, which should average out close to $8 million per year.
C Stefen Wisniewski, Oakland Raiders
At only 25 years old, Stefen Wisniewski is already one of the best centers in football. He's excellent at opening run lanes and keeping the quarterback upright, and he could potentially man the center position in St. Louis for the next decade if signed.
The Raiders will do everything in their power to retain him, and that might include slapping him with the franchise tag. If he does hit the market, he'll be paid like an elite center—about $8 million per year.
G James Carpenter, Seattle Seahawks
After being a part-time starter in his first three years, James Carpenter finally won the starting left guard spot in Seattle and played reasonably well. He's not on Iupati's level, but he's still a monumental upgrade over Joseph and should come at a fair price.
Signing Carpenter will hurt Seattle and improve the offensive line without breaking the bank. If the Rams can lure him in for a visit, he'd certainly be worth a look.
C Brian de la Puente, Chicago Bears
If the Rams fail to secure Wisniewski, Brian de la Puente is another intriguing option at center. He doesn't fit the Rams' power-running mentality, but he's an accomplished pass protector and will keep the quarterback upright.
The 29-year-old has struggled with injuries this year, so that's definitely something that needs to be reviewed. If he's healthy, he'd be a great addition and an improvement over Wells.
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Quarterback Targets
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Once every blue moon there's a blockbuster quarterback who hits free agency, such as Drew Brees in 2006 or Peyton Manning in 2012. Unfortunately for the Rams, who would certainly be an appealing franchise for such a free agent, this is not one of those years.
There are no clear answers at quarterback on the market this year, but there are some interesting No. 2 options with starter potential.
Mark Sanchez had some solid moments under center in Philadelphia, but he continues to suffer from turnovers. On the bright side, he has plenty of experience in Brian Schottenheimer's system, and he's better than Hill and Austin Davis.
This will depend heavily on the personal relationship between Schottenheimer and Sanchez. If Schotty knows he can work with Sanchez and feels he has potential, this could be a realistic move for the Rams.
QB Brian Hoyer, Cleveland Browns
In 13 starts, Brian Hoyer led the Browns to seven wins—more than Hill and Davis combined—and he didn't have much to work with since wide receiver Josh Gordon was unavailable for the majority of the year.
Hoyer put up with the relentless Johnny Manziel media buzz and handled the situation with class by simply tuning out the noise and doing his best. If he goes to a team like St. Louis, where there's no circus in town, he might surprise some people by becoming a reliable long-term starter.
Hoyer had a bit of a meltdown at the end of the year with seven picks in his final three starts, but you can't really blame him since everyone screamed "Manziel!" every time he made the slightest error.
If the Rams bring Bradford back for another year as the unquestioned starter, Hoyer would be an excellent contingency plan as the No. 2.
QB Ryan Mallett, Houston Texans
With only 42 career passing attempts in four seasons, there's not enough tape to form an accurate opinion on Ryan Mallett. All we know is that he's still young (26), he has excellent potential and he has a canon strapped to his shoulder that he refers to as his "arm."
After dealing with noodle arms such as Hill, Davis and Kellen Clemens the last two years, it'd be nice to finally see some arm strength under center, which will finally allow the offense to utilize the deep-ball speed of Tavon Austin, Chris Givens and Stedman Bailey.
Mallett is an incredible gamble, but he has talent and is worth a look.
Miscellaneous Targets
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Offensive line and quarterback seem to be the only glaring needs for the Rams this offseason. The team is loaded with talent and is basically set at every other position, but that doesn't mean the Rams can't supplement that talent with a few promising pickups.
Here are some random free agents capable of thriving in St. Louis:
WR Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers
Brian Quick was the No. 33 overall draft pick in 2012 and was finally having a breakout year in 2014, but that was spoiled thanks to a season-ending shoulder injury. Due to the extent of the injury, there's no guarantee that he'll be 100 percent by the start of next season, so the Rams could be on the lookout for another No. 1-caliber receiver to team up with Britt.
Michael Crabtree finished the year with a mediocre 68 catches and 698 yards, but he was coming off an injury year. If given another year to heal, he could very well get back to his 1,000-yard form, as we saw in 2012.
He doesn't have the best reputation as a team player, but neither did Britt. If Fisher feels Crabtree can contribute, he's worth a look.
LB Sean Weatherspoon, Atlanta Falcons
The Rams have few if any needs on defense, but they certainly wouldn't mind picking up a third linebacker to team up with Alec Ogletree and James Laurinaitis.
Sean Weatherspoon has been one of the better defenders in Atlanta throughout his career, and he would be a major upgrade over Jo-Lonn Dunbar. If his price tag isn't outrageous, he'd be a decent pickup.
DT Dan Williams, Arizona Cardinals
If the Rams cut Langford this offseason, they'll need a new No. 3 defensive tackle. It's likely they'll look for a cheap option in the draft or free agency, but Fisher values the defensive line over all other positions, so you never know.
If the Rams want a young, high-end tackle to combine with rising stars Donald and Brockers, Arizona's Dan Williams is a great option. He'll likely look to re-sign with Arizona or find a starting job elsewhere, but he'd still make an excellent pickup.
S Devin McCourty, New England Patriots
For whatever reason, Fisher places absolutely zero value on coverage safeties. Between T.J. McDonald, Mo Alexander, Rodney McLeod and Mark Barron, it appears the Rams are only interested in fielding strong safeties who can hit and play run support.
Since the coverage was horrendous this past season, it's possible that Fisher will change that approach and look for a good coverage safety. If that's the case, Devin McCourty is one of the top options available.
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