PFF on Rams releasing Gurley, Matthews

PFF Free Agency Analysis

Los Angeles Rams release Clay Matthews

The Rams signed Matthews to a two-year, $9.25 million deal last offseason to start opposite Dante Fowler Jr. at edge, and that is what he did. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, the result was the worst season in Matthews' career. He earned just a 54.2 overall grade on the year, struggling in run defense and missing 12 tackles in 44 tackling opportunities. The pass-rushing numbers don't look bad at first glance — 40 pressures in 280 pass-rushing snaps — but he benefitted from attention placed on his teammates, namely Aaron Donald. 24 of those 40 pressures for Matthews were designated as cleanup or unblocked opportunities. All of that led to Matthews being expendable. The Rams will look to fill his snaps with someone else in 2020.

Los Angeles Rams release Todd Gurley

In many ways, Gurley is the poster child for the debate centered around running back value. After a 2017 season in which he earned a top-5 PFF grade at the running back position, performing at a high level both as a runner and receiver out of the backfield, the Los Angeles Rams extended Gurley a four-year, $57.5 million offer with $45 million guaranteed. It looked as if things were going well again in 2018 as Gurley ran for 17 touchdowns and caught another four in one of the league's most efficient offenses. However, towards the end of the season and into the playoffs, chronic knee injuries began to limit Gurley. That carried over to 2019 behind a significantly worse offensive line. He didn't put up nearly the same production as a runner, and he managed just a 34.8 grade as a receiver. That resulted in the Rams releasing Gurley on Friday prior to a deadline that would have triggered an additional $10.5 million in guarantees in his contract. Still, they must eat over $20 million in dead cap, signaling the dangers of paying big money to the position.