Rams retain Travin Howard, Coleman Shelton with ERFA tenders

[theramswire.usatoday.com]

Cameron DaSilva

The Los Angeles Rams are bringing back two of their own free agents. The team announced on Thursday it has tendered both linebacker Travin Howard and offensive lineman Coleman Shelton as exclusive rights free agents.

The ERFA tender is for one season and when it’s used on a player, he cannot negotiate with other teams. So the only way Howard and Shelton won’t be back with the Rams next season is if they’re released at some point this offseason.

A player becomes an exclusive rights free agent when he has fewer than three accrued seasons and his contract expires. Each player will make the league minimum next season.

Howard was in line to potentially start last season alongside Micah Kiser but he suffered a knee injury in camp and missed the entire campaign. He played 102 defensive snaps in 2019 but primarily played special teams.

Shelton was an undrafted free agent in 2019 and has appeared in 26 games since, though he’s only played 23 offensive snaps. Like Howard, he primarily plays special teams.