Will Kenny Britt Be This Season’s Free Agency Steal?

Unlike years past, the St. Louis Rams didn’t make a huge splash in free agency. In 2012, the team went after Cortland Finnegan, and then last season the Rams got Jake Long and Jared Cook. 2014 was different however in the sense that the Rams re-signed the players that they needed e.g. Rodger Saffold, and then signed smaller name free agents that didn’t break the bank

It isn’t necessarily a bad thing that the Rams didn’t go after the big name guys like Jairus Byrd and others. Most of the time those players don’t play up to expectations. For example, in 2010 when the Philadelphia Eagles put together the so-called “dream team” in free agency, it turned out to be a complete disaster. The Rams have had this same issue with their own free agents, most recently, Cortland Finnegan.

Getting a player that costs more, doesn’t always mean that you’re getting a better player. In 2012 the Rams got another free agent, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, who was arguably the teams best offseason acquisition and he wasn’t a guy that was hyped up a lot.

One player that the Rams got in free agency this season that didn’t force Les Snead to spend a lot of money, was wide receiver Kenny Britt. Although Britt has had his fair share of troubles on and off the field there is no question that he has a lot of talent and can bring a spark to the offense.

"“He was out here just talking back and forth with our DBs letting them know that he was going to beat them, and sure enough first two, first three routes are one-on-ones,” Bradford said. “He runs two go-routes for touchdowns so his spirit, it’s just been great for us.”"

Britt may not have been as hyped up in free agency as Eric Decker, one of the top free agent wide receivers who was signed by the Jets, but there is no doubt that Britt very well could have as much, if not more production than Decker.

In the NFL, general managers are always looking to get a talented player for a cheap price. Britt is costing the Rams $1.4-million where as Decker is costing the Jets almost $7-million, and going from a Peyton Manning ran offense to an offense ran by Geno Smith or Michael Vick, there will almost certainly be a drop off in production.

On the other hand, Britt has only had 974 total receiving yards and seven touchdowns over the past three seasons combined, but previously he had almost 1500 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first two seasons. If Britt works out great, if not then the Rams aren’t going to be in a bad cap situation, whereas if things don’t work out for Decker, the Jets are going to be in trouble.

There is no doubt that Britt has the talent to be one of the Rams best receivers, and it certainly sounds like he and Bradford are starting to build some chemistry. Although the Rams didn’t do anything exciting in free agency, Britt may be one of the most talked about players at Rams camp this summer, and one of the most exciting players to watch in 2014. The former Titans receiver could very well be known as this season’s big free agency steal.