St. Louis Rams Center Scott Wells Restructures Contract

With the large contracts of James Laurinaitis, Chris Long, and Sam Bradford, the Rams have been tight on cap space as of late. It was reported yesterday by Field Yates and later confirmed that one big contract that the Rams were dealing with was restructured and that was the contract of center Scott Wells.

Wells has yet to play 16 games in a St. Louis Rams uniform since the team picked him up in 2012. Wells played in only seven games in his first season with the team and then played 12 games last season.

Since coming into St. Louis as the league’s fourth best center according to Pro Football Focus, Wells has underperformed to say the least. Since being a Pro Bowler in 2011 with the Packers, Wells has yet to grade in the top 20.

I guess you could add Wells to the list of overpaid free agents that didn’t work out in the Les Snead and Jeff Fisher era. There was no doubt the Rams needed him when they signed him, but he certainly hasn’t panned out and there is no question the Rams will be looking for his replacement soon.

Wells was set to make $5.5-million in 2014, but that has been reduced to only $1-million. According to Nick Wagoner, Wells received a roster bonus of $1.65 million upon execution of the restructure and can earn up to $850,000 in per game roster bonuses for the 2014 season.

Wells also restructured his deal for the 2015 season and instead of once again making $5.5-million, he will only be making $2-million, but will be receive a $1.75 as a roster bonus.

The Rams will be able to use this extra cap to extend Robert Quinn who will be going into the last year of his rookie deal next season and there is no doubt that the Rams will be looking to lock him up long term.

There was no question that Wells was being overpaid as he was being paid as the league’s 10th best center. The Rams now have some cap space to work with for the future instead of having in being taken up by a player who most likely will spend some portion of the season on the sideline.