They can do better than a comp pick next year.
This is indeed Akers' contract year, but because he pretty much missed so much of the 2021 season that year doesn't count as an accredited season. So even though he'll have 4 years with the team after this season he will only have 3 accredited seasons. Which makes him a RFA.
The Rams can, if they want to, place an Original Round / Right of First Refusal tender on him, which should be around $2.7M. If no one bites then they get one more year of Akers on the cheap. But if someone makes him an offer the Rams can - and probably will - let him go and get a 2nd round pick in return.
AlbaNY_Ram
