Breaking News: Rodger Saffold Signs 5-Year $42.5M With Raiders

November 11, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; St. Louis Rams tackle Rodger Saffold (76) blocks San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) during the fourth quarter at Candlestick Park. The 49ers and the Rams tied 24-24. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

If it wasn’t already official, it is now. The now former offensive tackle/guard for the St. Louis Rams has signed a 5-Year $42.5 million contract with $21 million guaranteed to join the Oakland Raiders.

The Rams certainly would have liked to retain Saffold as he was developing into a pretty good guard on their offensive line, but they weren’t going to break the bank to do it. The Raiders are paying Saffold $8.5 million a year, and the Rams certainly were not going to match that.

What is even more concerning, is that according to Tony Softli, Saffold will be playing offensive guard in Oakland, which is exactly where the Rams would have played him at. It was thought that Saffold would be playing left tackle after they lost Jared Valdheer to the Arizona Cardinals.

To put all that  into perspective Rams left tackle Jake Long got a four-year, $34 million deal with $16 million guaranteed and an $8.5 million average from the Rams last offseason, and Long has made Pro Bowls.

Saffold’s contract makes him tied for the second highest paid guard in the NFL with Logan Mankins of the Patriots who got $8.5 million a year and $21.5 million guaranteed, and behind Carl Nick’s $9.5 million a year, $25 million guaranteed.

To replace Saffold the Rams could be in play for Chiefs guard Geoff Schwartz as well as the New York Giants.

In other news in the early makings of this free agent frenzy, 49ers safety Donte Whitner will be leaving the 49ers and head to Cleveland, Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby will also be heading to Cleveland, the 49ers have released Carlos Rodgers, the Jaguars signed guard Zane Beadles, and the Redskins landed Cardinals wide receiver Andre Roberts, and as mentioned earlier the Cardinals signed Valdheer.

Keep up with the free agency fiasco with us on Twitter @ramblinfan and keep checking back as we will be posting any Rams rumors as well as any Rams signings that occur.