The St. Louis Rams are sending signals that they plan on being very judicious this year during the first weeks of free agency. Why?
In the first two years with the duo of Jeff Fisher and Les Snead at the helm, the Rams spent almost $176 million during the first days of free agency. The Rams gambled on Courtland Finnegan, Scott Wells, Jake Long, Kendall Langford and Jared Cook. The results from their free agent signings have been a mixed bag. Not a lot of bang for the buck.
Finnegan has been told by the Rams that they are parting ways. Wells never was healthy and lost his job to rookie Tim Barnes. Langford has played a lot better than he did when he first got to St. Louis, but Long and Cook didn’t play up to the value of the generous contracts. I still have this image in mind of Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware making Long look like he had cement boots on.
Rumor is the Rams may cut guard Harvey Dahl and that would put the Rams $15 million under the salary cap. NBCSports.com reported the Rams have interest in left tackle Jared Veldeen, who recently played for the Oakland Raiders and is still young at 26.
Roger Saffold plans on testing the free agent market. Saffold was solid at right guard, yet he’s very injury-prone. He played okay at left tackle and never became that bookend tackle that anchors the offensive line.
Strong safety Jarius Byrd (Buffalo Bills) is also on the Rams’ radar. Other options at that position are T.J. Ward (Cleveland Browns) and Donte Whitner (San Francisco 49ers). Cornerbacks Aquib Taleb (New England Patriots) and Brandon Browner (Seattle Seahawks) will still have a few suitors, despite recent history of off-field issues.
Should the Rams spend money during free agency, I’d like to see it at the wide receiver position. This young and unproven group of players needs some veteran leadership in the worst way, such as James Jones (Green Bay Packers), Jacoby Jones (Baltimore Ravens) and Jerricho Crotchery (Pittsburg Steelers). Before you dismiss Crotchery, he caught 10 touchdown passes last season on just 46 catches and was the only receiver to go over 1,000 yards with Brian Schottenheimer as offensive coordinator while playing for the New York Jets.
The Rams have to spend smart if they choose to fill a couple of important spots on the roster prior to the NFL Draft. Because what happens between now and the draft could provide a better understanding of what will happen when it’s time for the Rams to use or move their second pick.
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