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theramswire.usatoday.com] Best free agents still available for the Rams
Cameron DaSilva
March 24, 2022 7:02 am PT
Aside from re-signing some of their own players and bringing in Allen Robinson, the Los Angeles Rams have remained relatively quiet in free agency. Robinson is their only outside signing, but that doesn’t mean the Rams aren’t poking around other options.
With the first wave of free agency complete, here are the best players still available at positions the Rams could target. That doesn’t mean they will sign any of them, but there are still some starting-caliber players out there.
Linebackers
Bobby Wagner
Kyzir White
Kyle Van Noy
Anthony Barr
Alexander Johnson
Wagner is clearly the best option here and he might be the best player left on the market. The Rams have met with him and there’s mutual interest in a deal, but if that doesn’t come to fruition, there are other available free agents who could help the Rams defense. White is good in coverage, Van Noy and Barr are versatile and Johnson is a good run defender.
With Ernest Jones and Travin Howard already in the picture, the Rams shouldn’t break the bank for a linebacker. Wagner would be ideal at a hometown discount, but it remains to be seen if he’d be willing to take less to play for the Rams.
Edge rushers
Jadeveon Clowney
Derek Barnett
Trey Flowers
Melvin Ingram
Justin Houston
Jerry Hughes
Carlos Dunlap
Takk McKinley
Arden Key
Finding a pass rusher should be the Rams’ top priority. They held a spot for Von Miller, but he picked the Bills, leaving the Rams without their top edge rusher. Clowney, Barnett and Flowers would all be good targets if the Rams don’t open their checkbook for Wagner, but there are also cheaper options available.
Ingram, Houston, Hughes and Dunlap are all proven veterans who should be in the Rams’ price range. McKinley and Key are younger pass rushers who wouldn’t be Day 1 starters, but they could be valuable rotational pieces.
Cornerbacks
Stephon Gilmore
Kyle Fuller
Jason Verrett
Bryce Callahan
Dont’e Deayon
P.J. Williams
Steven Nelson
Priority No. 2 should be cornerback. The Rams lost Darious Williams and are now left with Robert Rochell and David Long Jr. as starters alongside Jalen Ramsey. It’s a decent group, but certainly a drop-off from last season and the year prior. If the Rams really want to improve their secondary, they’ll find a way to bring in Gilmore, who’s surprisingly still available – which might suggest his market isn’t as hot as expected. Fuller and Callahan both have experience in a Vic Fangio system, which the Rams currently run, while Verrett is a good outside corner when he’s able to stay healthy – which, admittedly, isn’t very often.
The Rams could still bring back Deayon as depth at nickel corner, which would be a good idea. Williams and Nelson are also good options, with Williams being a solid slot defender for the Saints. He also brings good size (6-foot) and physicality as a hitter.
Wide receivers
Odell Beckham Jr.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Will Fuller
Wideout shouldn’t be a position of need for the Rams – not after signing Allen Robinson. However, they still have interest in bringing back Odell Beckham Jr., so clearly they’re not done at this spot. He should be the only receiver they consider signing.
Elsewhere, Valdes-Scantling is a big receiver with good speed, too, which fits the Rams’ desire to add different skill sets at wideout. The same goes for Fuller, who’s oft-injured but brings good speed outside. Still, the Rams should stick to Beckham as their only wide receiver target.
