Free agents the Rams could realistically target at every position

[theramswire.usatoday.com] Free agents the Rams could realistically target at every position


Cameron DaSilva
March 13, 2022 9:01 am PT

Free agency isn’t where the Los Angeles Rams typically make big splashes. That’s not going to change this offseason as they will most likely focus on their own free agents before looking elsewhere for potential additions.

There will be some affordable players they could target once the market settles down a little bit, however. First, they’ll need to get under the salary cap, but there will be players on their radar this March.

Below are some realist targets for the Rams at every position this offseason.

Quarterback
N/A
The Rams don’t need to sign a quarterback in free agency, and it’s hard to imagine them doing so. John Wolford is an exclusive rights free agent and will be easy to retain, and Bryce Perkins is also on the roster behind Matthew Stafford. The Rams would rather roll with those three than bring in an outside player.


Running back
Tarik Cohen
James White
J.D. McKissic
Phillip Lindsay
Raheem Mostert
Sony Michel is a free agent and though there’s a chance the Rams will bring him back, it seems unlikely given the depth they already have with Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson Jr. and Xavier Jones. A receiving back like Cohen, White or McKissic would make sense, but the Rams can go without adding any free agents at this position.


Wide receiver
Cedrick Wilson
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Will Fuller
John Ross
If Odell Beckham Jr. comes back, the Rams aren’t going to sign any other receivers. They already have Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and Van Jefferson as the starters, with Tutu Atwell and Jacob Harris still wanting to prove themselves, too. Wilson is shifty, Valdes-Scantling is a bigger receiver and both Fuller and Ross could be downfield weapons.


Tight end
Maxx Williams
Hayden Hurst
Jared Cook
Very simply, the Rams can just bring back Johnny Mundt to remain their TE2 in competition with Kendall Blanton and Brycen Hopkins, who will both return behind Tyler Higbee, too. So in all likelihood, the Rams aren’t going to target a free-agent tight end besides Mundt, even as enticing as it would be to bring in Cook for one year.

Offensive tackle
Tom Compton
Dennis Kelly
Mike Remmers
The Rams like the tackles they have on the roster already, seeing promise in Alaric Jackson and Chandler Brewer behind Rob Havenstein. If Andrew Whitworth retires, Joseph Noteboom would likely become a top priority, and re-signing him would solve any issues the Rams might have at left tackle.

Guard
Connor Williams
James Daniels
Alex Cappa
Mark Glowinski
Trai Turner
Rodger Saffold
This position hinges on whether Austin Corbett is retained. If not, the Rams should be in the market for a new starting guard, and all the above players would make sense either at left or right guard. A reunion with Saffold would be fun, while signing Daniels would give the Rams some position flexibility on the interior.

Center
Matt Paradis
Ben Jones
Austin Blythe
Mason Cole
Brian Allen should be one of the Rams’ top priorities in free agency, hopefully bringing him back as their starting center again next season. Paradis and Jones would be solid options as plug-and-play starters, while Blythe and Cole carry more uncertainty. The best way to address center is by simply re-signing Allen to an extension – a well-deserved one, too.

Defensive line
Maurice Hurst
Bilal Nichols
Zach Kerr
Tim Settle
Sheldon Richardson
It’s highly likely that the Rams’ starting defensive line will remain the same next season, with Aaron Donald, Greg Gaines and A’Shawn Robinson all on track to return. But with Sebastian Joseph-Day hitting free agency, the Rams could afford to add some depth on the interior – be it at nose tackle or defensive end. Hurst is a promising player, while Kerr and Richardson can play multiple positions. The same goes for Nichols, who’s a good run defender.

Outside linebacker
Uchenna Nwosu
Dante Fowler Jr.
Lorenzo Carter
Takk McKinley
Justin Houston
Melvin Ingram
Charles Harris
This is the position the Rams could add multiple players at. Von Miller should be their No. 1 target, but with Ogbonnia Okoronkwo also becoming a free agent, depth at this position is a huge concern. The Rams couldn’t go wrong with any of the above players, which is a mix of young and old. Houston or Ingram on a one-year deal would be wise and cap-friendly, while Nwosu offers more upside.

Inside linebacker
Bobby Wagner
Kyzir White
Kyle Van Noy
Jordan Hicks
Cory Littleton
Alexander Johnson
Anthony Walker
Jayon Brown
Who knows if the Rams will actually address this position, which has mostly been ignored compared to other spots in the last few years. But there are some really good options available, led by Wagner. White is great in coverage, and Brown is just a step below him. Littleton excelled in the Rams’ scheme and Van Noy brings versatility as an off-ball linebacker and pass rusher.

Cornerback
Donte Jackson
Rasul Douglas
Ahkello Witherspoon
Levi Wallace
Jason Verrett
D.J. Reed Jr.
The Rams might need a new No. 2 cornerback if Darious Williams departs, which wouldn’t be a surprise at all given their reluctance to extend defensive backs. Jackson, Douglas, Wallace and Reed would all be surefire starters, and Witherspoon would have a good shot to be, as well. Verrett is injury-prone and never stays healthy, but he’d be a low-risk, high-reward upside.

Safety
Jaquiski Tartt
Malik Hooker
Jabrill Peppers
Ronnie Harrison
Marcus Maye
There’s a good core of young safeties on the Rams’ roster already, from Jordan Fuller and Taylor Rapp to Terrell Burgess and Nick Scott. So in all likelihood, they won’t feel it’s necessary to add a safety in free agency. But if Rapp is a cap casualty and they don’t trust Burgess again in 2022, there are solid veteran options available. Maye is probably the best of the bunch but he’s also coming off a torn Achilles, so that’s something to consider.